Natural Non-toxic Paints and Oils - Painting Tools and Accessories 

Helpful Tips and Tricks for DIY Painting

If you are doing your own painting, have a look at the painting tips we’re putting together to help DIY painters get the best results. We have enlisted the expertise of some excellent professional painters to demonstrate on-the-job techniques which means you can get a professional finish on your walls when you DIY. You use the same process whether you are painting a nursery for a new baby or painting (or repainting) your whole house; using non-toxic paint of course!

 Gather together your painting equipment

 A professional painter has expertise, experience, and all the right gear. Look through our videos to benefit from some of their expertise. The experience  you have to work on getting for yourself! The third part, the right gear is totally under your control. By Doing It Yourself you are saving the cost of a tradesman's time, so dont scrimp on the equipment you need! Gather together, beg borrow or buy, the equipment you need. Be prepared so that you are not interrupted from painting to get the gear you need. See the video for some sound advice regarding the tools you need for a good paint job.  Find all the equipment you need here

Painting Tip - Tools for DIY Painting - 8:31 minutes (8min:31secs)

Get organised

When you decide to do your own painting, remember that professionals have the right equipment for the job. You’re saving the labour cost by DIYing, don’t give yourself a handicap by skimping on the tools required! Our short video on setting up a workstation will help you get set up and stay organised and on task, which means you'll be finished quicker, enjoy it more and have a better result!

Find the tools you need here

Painting Tip - Setting up a Paint Workstation - 1:19 minutes (1min:19secs)

Preparation

Preparing the surfaces is the foundation of a professional result. Walls and ceilings need to be clean and dust free, we use a microfibre mop and a dilution of a natural all purpose cleaner to make this job much quicker and easier (that’s right, we mop the ceiling and walls).

Any holes or cracks need to be filled and sanded. If you are going to be using a ladder, see what the go is here, make sure you are safe!

Painting Tip - Standing on a Ladder Safely. 0:43 minutes (43seconds)

To prepare for painting, tape over the carpet at the skirting boards. This 40sec video shows you how. Spread drop sheets to protect your floor; keep in mind the tip to have the drop sheet double, and not to walk on plastic drop sheets (cover them with an old sheet or curtain, or at the very least with some newspaper). Use drop sheets even if you’re planning to sand the floorboards afterwards.

Find the tools you need here

Painting Tip - Using Masking Tape to Protect Carpet. 1:58 minutes (1min:58secs)

Woodwork needs a light sanding to enable the next coat to grip, this applies to all paints, not just natural paints. See our sanding tip here, it will save you time and frustration.

Find the tools you need here

Painting Tip - Using Sandpaper like a Professional Painter. 1:41 minutes (1min:41secs)

Painting Tip - Removing Powerpoint Covers. 0:28 minutes (28seconds)

Prime and Undercoat

Next you will need to prime any new surfaces and all repairs, which means any patch on the wall and ceiling that has ‘filler’ and any new sections of wall or ceiling. It's called Bio Wall Primer when it's used on walls and ceilings, and Bio Undercoat when it's used on woodwork.

Apply Bio Undercoat to any areas of new or bare wood or repaired woodwork.

Painting Tip - Dabbing - like a Professional Painter. 0:55minutes (55secs)

Painting

Now you’re ready to start painting! This is the best part, where things start looking better. Don’t take shortcuts now or you will undo the good work you’ve done so far!     

Start by cleaning up. Dust the ceiling and walls, if you’ve done any sanding there will be gritty bits of dust which will prevent you from getting a perfect finish. Again, you can use a microfibre mop to make this a 10 minute job.

Set up your ladder/s and/or planks as required.

 Stir the paint well, you can use a drill as shown in the video. If you notice lumps, strain these out using an ordinary kitchen sieve. Both Volvox Clay Decor and Bio Wall Paint are a non-toxic paint which means they are the safest and healthiest paint. They are also the best quality paint.  Find the tools you need here.

Now you're ready to start cutting in the cornices if you're painting the ceiling, the corners, around the windows and doors and along the skirting boards if you're painting the walls.

Check these videos for tips on using and storing your paint brush.

Roll the ceiling. See video tips for the best techniques to use. Do two coats if required.

Cut in the walls, at the cornices, in the corners of the room, along the skirting boards and around the windows and doors.

Roll the walls. Do two coats for a professional finish.

Painting Tip - Stirring Bio Paint with

an Electric Drill. 1:30 minutes (1min:30secs)

Painting Tip - Storing Paint Brushes - Like a Professional Painter. 1:04 minutes (1min:4secs)

Painting Tip - Using a Paint Roller without dripping paint. 2:42min (2min:42secs)