Handyman Services: Tips to the “Painting Contractor” Don’t Reuse Old Spackle!

Handyman Services specialize in home repairs and small remodeling projects. Handyman Services are equipped to handle a number of home repairs on a homeowner’s to-do list, including squeaky doors, running toilets, drywall repairs, painting and more.

Handyman Services Number one Tip: Never Reuse Old Spackle!

When preparing walls to be painted or wallpapered, you might find it necessary to patch some holes. A good handyman knows the importance of using the right product on the right surface. If the walls to be repaired are plaster, then the old-time spackle is fine to use on minor holes. Painting Contractors prefer to use a softer, lighter weight product for use on drywall such as Durabond.

Though most people try to be conservative with products they pay for, it is better to use a new container of spackle. Maybe you have some left over from the last time you patched some holes. Most likely, this was some time ago and you will find that the spackle has dried and thickened. The professional handyman knows to just throw this out, but the average homeowner will want to try to rejuvenate this product by adding water or mixing in some new spackling. This will be like adding sand to the new product. The product will be less effective; it will lose strength and smoothing ability. It will come off the trowel lumpy and be difficult to smooth out.

The old-time spackle isn’t as workable as newer, lighter weight products that are available today. It doesn’t smooth easily and it dries very hard. This is OK on plaster walls, but on paper-covered drywall, one is likely to tear the paper as they try to smooth the spackle. A newer age, lightweight spackle is a more workable product that dries quickly and can be painted within 30 minutes. Very small nail holes that you run across while painting can be filled and painted immediately.

In addition to patching holes, the rest of the surface must also be prepared. Before painting on a surface previously painted with latex paint, use a deglosser or liquid sandpaper to remove the gloss and clean the surface. This will make the next coat of paint adhere more firmly to the surface with minimal, if any, sanding required. The tackiness will normally disappear within an hour. Oil-based paints should be lightly sanded or primed with a quality primer like Kilz, before applying a fresh coat of latex paint.

Your freshly painted or newly wall papered room will look great for years if the surface is properly prepared. The extra time and effort spent on preparing the surface is well worth it in the end. The paint goes on smooth, covers evenly and adheres to the surface, for a durable finish that looks great. The same applies to wallpaper. With these tips you will be proud to have a freshly painted or newly wallpapered room that looks like it was done by a professional handyman or a painting contractor.

Paul Doughty owns HandyPro Handyman Services, specializing in home repairs and improvements for consumers and businesses in Manitou Springs, Fountain, Monument, Colorado Springs and nearby cities and communities in El Paso County, Colorado.

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Colorado Springs Handyman Services has Tips for the Painting Contractor

When you handyman service applies a fresh coat of paint to the new home you just purchased, you probably prefer they use a latex or water-based paint. There are certain rules painting contractors use when preparing the pre-painted surface before applying fresh paint, to ensure proper adhesion, good coverage and a long-lasting finished project. Before applying fresh paint to an already painted surface, a good handyman will determine whether it was previously painted with latex or oil-based paint. The handyman knows he could experience problems when painting with latex, if he is painting over a surface with oil-based paint, without first using a primer. Some people just go ahead and prime when in doubt; however, painting contractors advise that it is better to minimize the number of paint coats on a surface.

Is it Latex or Oil Base?

There are several ways painting contractors will use to determine if an existing paint is latex or oil. Oil paints are smooth while latex paints have a more rubbery feel; this is easier to see with glossier paints than with flat or matte finish paints. Another method is to rub an area of the painted surface with alcohol or a paint de-glosser or liquid sandpaper. If the surface becomes slightly tacky or a small amount of the paint is removed then the existing paint is latex. This should not happen with oil-based paint.

Prep the Surface First

Your painting contractor should use a de-glosser or liquid sandpaper to remove the gloss and clean the surface before painting on a surface previously painted with latex paint. This will make the next coat of paint adhere more firmly to the surface with minimal, if any, sanding required. The tackiness will normally disappear within an hour. A surface where oil-based paint was used should be lightly sanded and primed with a quality primer like Kilz, before applying a fresh coat of latex paint.

If there are holes to be filled, the handyman should use proper filler. The old-time spackle is fine for walls of plaster, but today’s softer walls of paper-coated drywall are better filled with a softer product. Spackle works best when the container is new; it dries out over time. Attempting to renew it by adding moist spackle to it is like adding sand to new spackle. It also causes it to lose strength, go on the wall lumpy and it’s hard to smooth with the trowel. A newer, lightweight spackle is a workable product that dries quickly and can be painted over within 30 minutes. This is great if you’re in the middle of painting and you notice a small hole that was missed in preparation.

Proper preparation is important before applying a fresh coat of paint; an unprepared surface will result in an unsatisfactory finished project. The rewards of a durable finish are well worth the extra effort in preparation of the surface.

Paul Doughty owns HandyPro Handyman Services, a one-stop, professional, honest handyman service that does a wide variety of jobs with high-quality workmanship. Paul Doughty serves consumers and businesses in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Monument, and neighboring cities and communities in El Paso County, Colorado.

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HandyPro Handyman Services completes everything on your to-do list; in over 1600 service categories including Carpentry, Plaster & Drywall, Acoustic Ceilings, Grout Tub, Fix Leaky Faucet, Home Warranty/Maintenance, Paint Home, Caulk Bathtub, Replace Locks, Garage Doors, Cabinets & Countertops, Fix Running Toilet, Repair Squeaky door, Install Molding and Trim, Security Services, Stained Glass, Door Repair/Install, Wall Repair, Painting Kitchen, Insulation, Concrete & Masonry, Repair Gutters, Remove Wallpaper, Replace Ceiling Fan, Caulk Awnings and Siding, Install Shelves, Organizers, Ceramic Tile, Window Well Covers, Replace Bathroom Fan, Draperies, Blinds and Shades, Glass & Mirror, Decks, and much more just ask!!