It`s painting season.™ Paint smart.

Painting Season Primer
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
It’s painting
season.™
Paint smart.™
We’ll show you how.
Professional
Tips For Faster,
Smarter Painting
Projects
®
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
Painting Season Primer
www.wagnerspraytech.com
It’s painting
season.
Painting Season Primer
www.wagnerspraytech.com
Contents
TM
First, a refresher..................................................... 2 - 3
Yes, painting season. It’s that time of year when the days grow
longer and we’ve got the three-day weekends to make the most
of it. It’s the time of year when we paint.
Prep and cleanup.................................................. 4 - 10
Introduction................................................................... 4
We paint because the house hasn’t been painted in five years and
it could use it. We paint because everything looks better with a
fresh coat. We paint because we have no idea who chose that
color, or why, but it’s got to go. We paint because the neighbors
are painting. We paint because the new couch would really look
great against Harvest Wheat. We paint because it’s on “the list.”
We paint because we’re leaving one home for another and we
want to help the “old” home find new owners. We paint because
our new home is perfect but perfection can be improved upon.
We paint because our family is growing. We paint because our
family is growing up. We paint because we spent the whole winter
wondering what it would look like painted Cardinal Red. We paint
because it didn’t look so great Cardinal Red.
Color and material........................................................ 5
Tool prep....................................................................... 5
Surface prep.................................................................. 6
Cleanup......................................................................... 8
Interior............................................................... 11 - 17
Introduction................................................................. 11
Tools............................................................................ 12
Doors, windows and trim............................................ 13
So this is painting season… paint. Paint something because you
can. Paint something old to make it new. Paint something new to
make it yours. Paint something because Wagner helps you paint it
faster. Paint something because Wagner helps you paint it smarter.
Whatever your reason, it’s painting season – paint something.
Techniques................................................................... 14
Color considerations................................................... 16
Exterior.............................................................. 18 - 30
Paint smart.
™
Introduction................................................................. 18
A little more prep........................................................ 19
Painting....................................................................... 20
Trim tips....................................................................... 23
Staining........................................................................ 26
Five smart ideas.......................................................... 27
Read this primer cover to cover.
®
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
The time it takes to read will be brief.
The amount of time it saves will be vast.
®
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
Painting Season Primer
www.wagnerspraytech.com
First,
a refresher
Paint types.
Don’t know the difference between latex, alkyd and epoxy? We
don’t blame you. Here’s a quick reference to help you choose the
right paint for the job.
Latex is almost the universal choice for both interior and exterior
walls. It’s easy to see why. It produces beautiful, even results and
all you need for cleanup is water. Look for 100% acrylic content.
Take care of the painting season
fundamentals and they’ll take care of you.
Alkyd (formerly known as “oil-based” paint) still prevails with pros
who want an enamel with high-gloss finish, slow-dry smoothness,
and durability. It’s used primarily on exteriors and mineral spirits
are best for cleanup.
Before you begin applying paint to any surface, take the time to
review the fundamentals of paint and painting. You may already
know this stuff but even painting season pros can occasionally
make rookie mistakes. And any misstep, no matter how small, can
affect the flawless results you want.
Epoxy paint typically comes in two parts (a resin and a hardener)
that create a chemical reaction when mixed. The result is a very
hard, shiny surface ideal for masonry and concrete surfaces like
garage floors.
So dig into this refresher and rediscover what it takes to paint fast
and paint smart.
Invest in the best tools.
Primer is more than watered-down paint.
You have hundreds of options for getting the job done. But there
are only a few options for getting the job done right. Investing
in better tools and equipment is just that – an investment in your
results.
Primer may look like watered-down white paint, but it
is formulated to seal the surface and help the new paint
adhere. Use it in the following situations:
What’s your sheen?
• If you are going to paint over oil-based paint with
a latex paint
Flat sheens are hard to clean but they really show off color. Gloss
sheens clean easily but can obscure color with reflections. When
choosing your sheen, decide whether ease of cleaning or true color
is your highest priority.
• If you are painting an area newly patched with
spackle or wood filler
•T
o cover rust bleeds, knots, water stains or
smoke damage
• To ease the transition between contrasting colors
•T
o assure a good bond on weatherworn aluminum or
steel siding
•B
efore painting with latex, use an alkyd primer on
silicone caulk and on any vinyl siding that’s shiny or
relatively new
®
2
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
3
Painting Season Primer
www.wagnerspraytech.com
COLOR AND MATERIAL
Prep and cleanup
No. 1
Invest in quality paint.
Add years of life to your
paint job (and easier, better
application) by using highquality materials.
Painting fast and painting smart starts
before you do any painting at all.
It’s painting season. The days are longer. The air is warmer.
And you have visions of Avocado Green and Straw Yellow. But
sometimes painting season feels more like prepping season.
Tedious prep work and cumbersome cleanup can steal all the fun
out of fresh redecorating ideas and beautifully stained decks.
No. 2
Get a real color test.
Wagner believes painting season is for painting. It only comes
around once a year, so we need to make the most of it.
See how your color
options will really look
by priming and painting
2’ x 2’ samples directly
on your wall. View the
samples in sunlight,
shadow and evening
lamplight.
That’s why Wagner makes the entire process faster and smarter.
In fact, painting fast and painting smart starts before you do
any painting at all. Prep smart and the rest of the job (including
cleanup) is a snap. And Wagner has the time-saving tools and timesaving tips to make sure prepping smart means prepping fast.
TOOL PREP
No. 3
Go with canvas.
Avoid tracking paint by using a canvas drop cloth to absorb
drips and splatters without bleeding through and without
transferring them to your shoes.
No. 4
Embrace electricity.
Prep faster (and with fewer blisters) by
removing switch and receptacle plates
and other hardware with an electric
screwdriver.
®
4
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
5
No. 10
No. 5
Steam wallpaper.
Lose the lint.
Remove old wallpaper
(even layered or painted
wallpaper) with the
chemical-free Wagner 705
Power Steamer. As you
steam, score the paper
with a utility knife to help
the steam penetrate the
material.
Remove lint from your
roller cover by working
over the nap with packing
tape.
No. 6
Prime your roller cover.
Set up your cover for maximum
absorption with a light spray of
clean water.
No. 11
Eat paint.
SURFACE PREP
Cut exterior prep time in
half by removing peeling
paint, feathering edges and
abrading the surface all in
one step with the Wagner
PaintEater.
No. 7
Bag the hardware.
Keep hardware organized by dropping the fasteners from
towel bars, locksets and other fittings into a small baggie.
Tape the bag to the fitting.
No. 8
Peel-and-strip old woodwork.
Bag the fixture.
Protect fixtures by placing
a garbage – or dry-cleaning
– bag over hanging lights
or ceiling fans. Use masking
tape to hold the bag in place.
WARNING: Tape the switch
to the “off” position so hot
bulbs won’t melt the plastic.
Old woodwork with built-up paint may
contain lead materials. Remove the paint
safely by applying a paste and plastic strip.
Let the paste set. The paint should peel
away when the plastic strip is removed.
No. 13
Tame hairline cracks.
No. 9
Plug anchor holes.
Mark anchors and avoid painting over the holes by plugging
them with a matchstick.
6
No. 12
Fill hairline cracks with
latex painter’s caulk.
Smooth with your finger or
a slightly damp rag and let
it set before painting.
7
Prep and clean up
No. 14
No. 18
Puncture the paint can.
Shape the putty.
Fill cracks or nail holes in rounded molding
by using a flexible kitchen spatula. It will
conform to the molding, applying the
putty smoothly and neatly.
No. 15
Mask wall-to-wall carpeting.
Protect wall-to-wall carpeting by tucking
the adhesive edge of masking paper
between the carpet and the wall. Use a
trim guard or the Wagner Trim It as an
added defense.
No. 16
Turn down the heat.
If it’s too cold to turn
the heat off, reduce the
circulation of dust and avoid
uneven drying conditions
by covering vent grills with
plastic while you paint.
Paint that stays in the rim will dry, harden
and make it impossible to get an airtight
seal. Let excess paint drain back into the
can by puncturing three or four holes in
the rim.
No. 19
Save paint for next time.
1. Hammer the lid closed with a
rubber mallet while placing a
rag or newspaper over the lid to
capture flying paint.
2. Clearly mark each paint can with
a color swatch and the room or
location painted.
Save and organize your
unused paint with the
Wagner Paint Storage
and Touch-Up Kit.
No. 17
Watch your step.
Avoid tracking paint by
removing your shoes when
you leave the work area or
by using convenient Wagner
Shoe Protectors.
8
2.
3. Create a natural seal and prevent
air from drying the paint by storing
the can upside down.
OR
CLEANUP
1.
Touch-ups are inevitable. Follow these
three smart tips for saving and storing
your paint:
3.
No. 20
Dispose paint properly.
Never pour paint, stain or solvent down a drain or storm
sewer. For smart disposal advice, call 1-800-CLEANUP or
visit www.earth911.org.
9
Painting Season Primer
Shopping List
www.wagnerspraytech.com
Interior
Get a fresh look with a fresh coat.
Behr Premium Plus paint
Putty
Canvas drop cloths
Kitchen spatula
Electric rotary screwdriver
Masking paper
Packing tape
Trim guard, Wagner Trim-It
Spray bottle
Wagner Shoe Protectors
Small bags, baggies
Hammer and #X XXXX nails
Plastic sheeting,
garbage bags
Rubber mallet
Painter’s tape, Wagner
Mask-It tape applicator
Sash saw
Matchsticks
Wood chisel
Wagner 705 Power Steamer
Clean rags
Putty knife
Utility knife
Coarse, medium and fine
sandpaper
Wagner PaintEater
Foam roller cover
Paste
Tinted primer
Plastic strip
Wagner Paint Storage and
Touch-Up Kit
Latex painter’s caulk
This painting season, give your home a new look. You don’t have to
pack up and move. You don’t have to invest time and money in a
lengthy redecorating process. All you have to do is paint.
If you’ve always wondered what the living room would look like in
a vibrant Cardinal Red, find out. If you’ve noticed a little peeling in
the bathroom, put a stop to it. If the kids are asking for a new room,
indulge them.
With Wagner, it’s fast and easy to make an “old” home look like new
or to turn a tired room into an entirely new and exciting space.
And if you are moving, paint. Paint the home you’re selling to improve
its value. Paint the home you’re buying to make it feel like “home.”
There are a lot of reasons to paint this painting season. With
Wagner at your side, there are a lot of ways to make the entire
process faster and smarter.
Caulk gun
®
8
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
Doors, Windows and Trim
TOOLS
No. 21
Freeze the cover.
Keep roller covers from drying out between uses by storing
them in a plastic bag in the freezer. Thaw the cover by running
it (in the bag) under warm water.
No. 22
Extend your reach and coverage.
Reach high walls and ceilings, get more leverage and stop
for refills less often with the extended paint container
handle on the Wagner Paintmate Plus roller.
No. 23
No. 25
Spray or roll the doors.
Get quick results and a smooth finish by
power spraying or rolling interior doors:
(A) R
emove the door (label each on the
hinge edge), detach the hardware
and fasten the door to a stepladder
as shown.
OR
(B) S
uspend the door between two
sawhorses by fastening screws in the
top and bottom edge.
No. 26
Pull the cover in the corner.
In masked corners, the plastic insert in
the roller can leave a ridge. Soften the
edge by pulling the cover an inch or so
off the roller.
Saw the sash.
Use a sash saw to release
sash windows that are
painted shut. You might
need a putty knife or
wood chisel to complete
the job.
No. 24
Add some texture.
Apply professional
knockdown, orange peel or
popcorn texture with the
Wagner Power Tex texture
sprayer. The integrated
air turbine does away with
external air compressors
and long unwieldy hoses.
12
No. 27
Combo the cabinets.
Paint cabinets with a combo paint/spray approach. Remove,
sand and power spray the doors (backs first, then fronts) and
drawer fronts. Use the Wagner Control Spray to apply thin
layers with low overspray. Then paint the stiles and cabinet
sides in place, using a foam roller.
13
TECHNIQUES
No. 28
14
No. 29
No. 30
Paint top down.
Roll a “W.”
Keep a wet edge.
Paint the walls, beginning
with an upper corner and
work downward. Feed
paint directly from the
can to the wall with the
Wagner Roll ’N Go Power
Roller.
Get even coverage
by applying paint in a
large “W” (3 to 4 feet in
height). Fill in the “W”
without lifting the roller.
Avoid seams by overlapping
a wet edge as you paint
and by finishing the entire
ceiling or wall once you’ve
begun. If you stop midway,
you’ll leave a seam.
No. 31
Apply a floor-toceiling finish.
Cover the area using the
“W” technique. Then give
your wall a seamless finish
with long floor-to-ceiling
strokes using a lightly
loaded roller.
15
No. 32
Pull the tape before
it’s too late.
Pull masking tape back
on itself when the paint is
tacky – not wet, not dry – to
get the cleanest edge. If the
paint is dry, you’ll likely tear
off some of the paint.
No. 33
Fill the gaps.
Apply a thin bead of latex
painter’s caulk in gaps
between the baseboard and
the wall. Once painted, the
result is seamless.
COLOR CONSIDERATIONS
No. 34
Cover intense color.
Bridge the hue gap between the old and new color with a
tinted primer. It could save you an additional coat of paint.
No. 35
Keep faux low-contrast.
Use a low-contrast
combination (tan on taupe,
for instance) when painting
a faux finish. They are
generally more successful
than high contrast (tan on
yellow).
16
Shopping List
Plastic bags
Box of #X x 3” wood screws
Wagner PaintMate Plus
Roller
Sawhorses (x2)
Wagner Roll ‘N Go Power
Roller
Putty knife
Extra roller covers
Wood chisel
Sash saw
Wagner Control Spray
Wagner Power Tex Texture
Sprayer
Texture material
Coarse, medium and fine
sandpaper
Foam roller cover
Hammer
Flat head screwdriver
Painter’s tape, Wagner
Mask-It tape applicator
Electric rotary screwdriver
Latex painter’s caulk
X’ tall stepladder
Caulk gun
X’ length of utility grade
1” x 4”
Tinted primer
Don’t forget the paint.
Use this
chart to select the best paint sheen for your projects.
Interior
Bedroom/Living/
Dining Room
Kid’s Room
Hallway
Kitchen/Bath
Doors/Trim
Cabinets
Ceiling
Flat
Semi-Flat
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Semi-Gloss Gloss
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Stain
Latex
Latex
Latex
17
Painting Season Primer
www.wagnerspraytech.com
A Little More Prep
Exterior
No. 36
Mask as you go.
When covering windows, doors and trim, mask only what
you will paint that day. Plastic left overnight can blow off or
peel away.
Everything changes color (or grows brighter) in painting season.
The grass is greener. Trees sprout their leaves. Flowers bloom and
gardens boast a host of vibrant reds, yellows and greens. Nature
adds a fresh coat and it’s the perfect time of year for us to do
the same.
No. 37
Maybe the deck is showing the wear of a rough winter. Perhaps
the siding is fading in its ongoing battle against the sun. It could
be that a small touch like changing the color of the shutters (and
the front door) is just what your home needs. The dog has been
attacking the finish on the fence. The picnic table and the swing
set have seen better days. Or maybe you’re ready for a complete
exterior makeover.
Save your plants.
Cover your plants with
fabric drop cloths only.
Plastic will create a green
house effect that can
damage plants.
Whatever the reason, it’s painting season. The world comes alive
when nature adds new color. Your home will do the same when you
add a fresh coat. With Wagner tools and these fast, smart painting
tips, you won’t spend all summer doing it.
No. 38
Control Damage.
Because of chalking, blistering and other surface damage,
most homes need spot scraping and sanding. More serious
problems may require complete removal of old paint,
patching and/or replacing siding and trim, and tracking
any source of moisture damage. Before painting, use
the Wagner PaintEater to help create a stable, clean and
dry surface.
®
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.
19
No. 39
No. 42
Wash with power.
Use a shield.
Power washing is a fast way to remove loose paint and dirt.
While it is not a stripping tool, you may find that power
washing combined with some spot scraping and sanding
will be enough to prep your house.
Protect hard-to-mask areas
(without slowing down)
by using a handheld spray
shield. You can make your
own from a 2’ x 3’ piece of
hardboard.
1. Stake plants away from the exterior of the house and
cover them with drop cloths.
2. Cover all electrical fixtures.
3. Do not spray within 10 feet of power lines.
4. Hold the wand end at least 12 inches from the house.
No. 43
5. Never spray under siding.
Practice perfect spray technique.
PAINTING
Like any tool, a Wagner Power Painter
performs best when used correctly.
Remember these five tips:
No. 40
Get versatile.
Go from painting to staining
in a snap with the Wagner
Power Painter Wideshot
MAX. The innovative LockN-Go™ technology lets you
change materials or colors
on the fly while getting your
painting and staining finished
in a fraction of the time.
No. 41
“Hire” the crew.
If you’ve got a big job
(or lots of them), get
the powerful Wagner
Paint Crew. The 2,750
PSI piston pump sprayer
can distribute a gallon of
paint every five minutes
while giving your project a
professional quality finish.
20
1.
1. Keep the sprayer in motion before
and after you pull the trigger.
2. Point the gun away from the wall.
Pull the trigger. Then swing in to
about 12 inches from the surface.
2.
3. Move the sprayer back and forth
so the line of spray is always
perpendicular to the surface.
4. Overlap the spray by about a third
– the paint is heaviest in the center
of the spray pattern.
5. Get the best finish by spraying
multiple thin coats rather than a
few heavy ones.
3.
4.
21
No. 44
No. 48
Paint with an installment plan.
Painting your house is a big job. Lighten your load by
painting in installments with a Wagner Power Painter.
Attack the sunny side of the house first and work your
way around the house until you’ve covered every side.
Roll the foundation.
Use the Wagner Paintmate
Plus roller when painting
your masonry foundation.
The long nap on the
roller head will ensure the
smoothest coat and the
power trigger technology
will keep you rolling with a
simple squeeze.
No. 45
Use natural stopping
points.
Whenever painting large
areas, avoid seams and
overlaps by painting all the
way to the end of a wall or
into a corner.
No. 46
Spray from two directions.
To get complete coverage, sheet siding with vertical
channels or board-and-batten siding should be sprayed
from two directions.
No. 47
Don’t forget the lower edge.
With lap siding and shingle siding, coat the face of the
siding and then spray from below to cover the lower edge
of each course.
22
No. 49
Back roll sheet siding after spraying.
To smooth out spray seams and thoroughly work paint
into the surface, use a roller after spraying. This is called
“back rolling.”
No. 50
Go from painting to
staining in a snap.
If you have multiple painting
or staining projects in one
day, use the Wagner Power
Painter with Lock ’N Go
technology. It allows you
to easily change paint/stain
cartridges so you can keep
painting and make the most
of your day.
23
No. 51
No. 54
Give yourself enough drying time.
When painting in high humidity or if dew is expected,
allow your paint to dry for at least two hours before sunset.
TRIM TIPS
Make it two for the trim.
No. 52
Paint windows and trim first.
If you really want to paint fast and smart, take care of
the details first. Apply paint to windows and trim before
tackling the siding. That way you’ll avoid ladder marks in
fresh paint.
Consider a two-person
approach to trim. Have one
person cover the flat areas
with a four-inch roller cover
while the second painter
hits the trim details with a
two-inch sash brush.
No. 53
Flat-out easy.
Sidestep the difficulty
of painting edges of
trim where it meets the
siding. Use the siding
color on the edges and
paint the flats of the trim
with the trim color.
24
No. 55
Spray complex
shapes and deep
textures.
It’s best to use a sprayer
for complex shapes
like gingerbread and
lattice. Sprayers are also
ideal for coating cedar
shingles and deeptextured stucco.
25
Staining
No. 60
No. 56
Mix well.
If you need more than one container of stain, mix them
together to ensure color uniformity.
No. 57
Freshen it up.
To get rid of the greens and tans of pressure-treated
lumber or to freshen a weathered deck, spray on a
semitransparent stain. Use a hand pump sprayer for small
decks and a power sprayer for larger areas. Don’t forget to
prep with a deck brightener.
Five Smart Ideas
Catch the overspray.
When spraying fences or lattice, lean
a couple of pieces of inexpensive sheet
goods (hardboard or oriented-strand
board) against the back to catch any
overspray.
No. 61
Prune your plants.
Allow a minimum of a
one-foot gap between
trees and bushes and your
house. Plants can hold
moisture against a house,
causing mold and rot. The
gap allows drying air to flow
freely, extending the life of
your paint job.
No. 58
Condition the trim.
Even out stain penetration on trim with blotchy, uneven
grain by first coating the trim with a conditioner. You can
also use a gel stain to float the stain on the surface of
the wood.
No. 59
Disguise those imperfections.
Hide nail holes and other blemishes on finished woodwork
with stainable putty. It won’t absorb stain exactly like the
wood, but it’ll be close.
26
No. 62
Grab the ladder by the horns.
Reduce the chance of an accident, protect
siding and avoid denting gutters by using
a stand-off ladder stabilizer (sometimes
called “horns”).
27
No. 63
Shopping List
Install shutter spacers.
Reduce the accumulation of dirt and
debris behind shutters and lessen the
risk of staining or rot by installing shutter
spacers. As you remount the shutters,
push the mounting screw through a
one-inch length 1/4-inch aluminum tubing.
No. 64
Keep the sash moving.
Avoid loading paint into
the crevice between a
window sash and frame.
To keep the sash from
drying shut, move it several
times as it dries (using a
putty knife as necessary).
Painter’s masking tape
Box of 3” deck screws
Plastic sheeting
Sash saw
Canvas drop cloths
Putty knife
Wagner Power Painter
WideShot MAX
Wood chisel
Wagner Paint Crew
Coarse, medium and fine
sand paper
Hardboard (2’ x 3’)
Foam roller cover
Scrap sheet goods
Wood conditioner
Painter’s tape, Wagner
Mask-It tape applicator
Wood putty
Latex painter’s caulk
Pruning sheers
Caulk gun
Extension ladder
Tinted primer
Stand-off ladder stabilizer
Wagner PaintEater
1/4”Aluminum tubing
2” sash brush
Putty knife
Wagner Paintmate Plus
7’ Wooden stepladder
Don’t forget the paint.
Use this
chart to select the best paint sheen for your projects.
No. 65
Exterior
Make an easel.
Avoid the back-breaking
task of leaning over a
sawhorse to paint window
storms, sashes and shutters
by creating an easel out of
a ladder and two clamps.
Wood Siding
Metal Siding*
Vinyl Siding*
Masonry
Concrete
Outdoor Furniture/
Railings
Doors
Gutters
Porch and Step
Deck
*Use alkyd primer
28
Flat
Semi-Flat
Semi-Gloss Gloss
Stain
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex/Epoxy Latex/Epoxy
Latex
Latex
Alkyd
Latex
Latex
Latex
Alkyd
Latex
Latex
Latex
Latex
Sprayers
Surface Prep
Wagner has
the right tools for
every painting
project.
Tools & Supplies
Rollers
No. 66
If you’ve got a painting project, Wagner has the tools.
See the full line of fast, smart Wagner solutions at
WagnerSprayTech.com.
®
Paint Fast. Paint Smart.