use paint shieldSo you want to get rid of those patchy walls without damaging your furniture edges, shingles or unwanted areas? Well, if you want to paint it yourself instead of hiring it out, I bet it’s a topic you’d find interesting. Read on to know effective ways of using a ‘paint shield’ to mask those areas and get a smooth texture.

A paint shield is an essential protective tool for doing paint jobs. It’s held along the trim while painting. It can be reused, which makes it environmentally friendly.

These tips will help you paint straight edges and avoid splattering then improve the quality and save your precious time.

Use a Drywall Knife Instead

Paint Shield Top

  • You don’t need to be a pro or buy any specialized tool to be one. An essential full blade drywall knife will help you work steadier, neater and faster. A drywall knife makes a good, easy to use paint shield when painting adjacent surfaces with different colored paint.
  • Just hold the knife firmly against one surface while painting the adjacent surface. As you pull the brush with one hand, follow along with the knife in the other. Then remove the drywall knife, wipe off any paint with a damp cloth, position it further down, and repeat. This is much more durable than a regular shield.
  • Specifications: Since drywall knives come in different sizes and lengths, use a 6inch or 8inch knife is an ideal. When painting next to moldings, ceilings or in the vicinity of doors and windows, let’s use a 12inch large knife.

Make Use of those Cardboard Scraps

Cardboard Scraps

  • If you only want to paint a particular part of the house such as the exterior then using cardboard shields is the best low-key substitute for expensive metal and plastic spray shields.
  • Another professional way to use cardboard shields is slipping them above a metal flashing and below the shingles two inches deep. Also, overlap each end of the cardboard about 2 inches to keep paint from bleeding between them.
  • To make the process more effective, using more number of cardboards (as many as available to slide in) is recommended.
  • Specifications: Cardboard paint shields can be commonly found at hardware stores (or even if you look through your kid’s science project materials lists).

Ranging from 10’x30’ to 12’x 36’always remember the critical rule of moving from top to bottom when using a cardboard shield to paint since you don’t want to ruin the lower edges of the wall.

Acute or Obtuse but Never Perpendicular

Acute or obtuse

  • To avoid additional patches or wavy lines is to make sure the edge is always at a certain suitable angle. Besides, when painting a wall, make sure to tilt the shield upwards to avoid the ceiling from unnecessary paint marks.
  • The shield will help accumulate the paint that builds on to the shield. In the process, it will help you create a beautiful surface.

Keep it Clean

Keep it Clean

  • Go back to the roots and remember in middle days when you were taught how to get the perfect paint job done. The thumb rule was to regularly clean the brushes in water (and then also replace the dirty water at regular intervals). Well, you can also apply this set of rules to painting a house.
  • Quick tip: if you cover the edge of that little shield with tin foil, you won’t have to clean it up every time you are done.

Using a Spray Gun

Using Spray Gun

  • Using paint shields in the context of spray guns is crucial since it requires proper technique in order not to damage the protective area.
  • We should hold the sprayer about 5-10inches from the surface. Make sure to point the gun inwards towards the surface for the best spraying posture.
  • Quick Tip: You have to be firm and steady with the spray gun. Move the spray gun parallel to the surface in sweeping up and down motion. A more natural way is sidewise, i.e., left to right or vice versa.

If you are new to this painting type (which you probably are), Please practice the swinging motion to create an even and smooth surface. This task will help you in getting the sense of balance and weight. Also, you should keep handy some moist paper towels to clean up nicely.

Edges are Vital

Edges are Vital

  • It is better to avoid aiming for the perfect wall edges even if you are hanging across the corner; it is likely to get onto the walls, floor or the ceiling. Let’s stop painting close to the edges to get a neat finish. Ambitious is a good thing but also remember to be careful when painting.
  • Also, make sure if you use the shield as the protection, it maintains a certain distance from your painting device. (Say 2-3”). This is to ensure that you do not accidentally spray off the edge.

Conclusion

These are a few useful tips and techniques to keep in mind before taking on the massive responsibility of painting a part of your house yourself. Well, we all have that little crafty little kid in us so go ahead pick up that brush (and the shield, of course) and get going.

Finding the right answer to this vital question that is How to use a paint shield is essential as it will help you in achieving incredible results.