PAINTING THE HOME

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3714, 12 October 1926, Page 2

PAINTING THE HOME

HINTS FOR STAINING AND KALSOMINiNG [By J. Blumenthal, in the Sydney ‘ Sun.’] Every housewife likes to see Tier home clean, bright, and with a good appearance. One of the principal and important ways of keeping a home spick and span, and pleasing to the eye, is by tlie use of paint. Many a woman tries her hand with the paint and kalsomine brush, but usually with unsatisfactory results. There are ways of getting good results, but the work has to be gone about in a careful and methodical manner.

The two most important factors in securing a pleasing job is preparing the work and using good brushes. Painting looks n simple process, but it is one of the most difficult trades in the complexity of the technique required in its varied branches. Painters of twenty years’ experience are constantly learning numerous points and knacks which result in securing a, hotter job.’ If the work is too formidable for the householder’s ’prentice hand, lie sure that a skilled and reliable tradesman is employed. Kalsomining is a most frequentlyattempted task. It looks so simple. But, as few painters worthy of the name will ever guarantee a kalsomine job except under certain expensive conditions, the difficulties can be seen. Being forewarned, let us proceed. If the room to be done has been kalsomined previously, the old kalso mine must first be removed. . Under no circumstance will the job turn out a success if this is not done; in fact, the new coat will look worse than tlie old, especially if it is a different color to the last. To wash off, soak a portion of a wall at a time, frequently. until the water penetrates to the wall; then either scrape it off with a broad knife or wash off with the brush or rags. When finished, clean up mess, then with a little plaster of Paris mixed with water to which a little of the kalsomine is added, damp any holes or cracks with water and fill up, using a knife to do so. To stop the suction in walls, mix a little size or glue, about half a cup to a quart or more of water, and give the walls a coat. All kalsomines, distempers, and water paints should be put on, if possible, in one coat, as succeeding coats have a tendency, to rub up the first one. The reverse is true or oil paints. Mix the kalsomine up to a thick paste, and leave it set for at least an hour; better still, leave it set overnight. The method of applying is important. First close doors and windows to prevent draughts; the kalsomine must be kept as wet as possible Take a wall at a time, and work your shortest length to prevent showing a long edge. That is, work a stretch from 'picture rail to skirting, and about a yard wide, and immediately follow up the next stretch covering the wet edge of old stretch first. Always cover edges first and finish the brush-over gently to prevent thicknesses. Have the kalsomine so that it will work easily, like butter. When the room is finished, immediately open doors and windows to create a draught, as quick drying is essential. Jf the first coat is not too successful, on the following day—and not before—give > another coat with kalsomine thinned down. In doing ceilings, it is best to work on a scaffold formed by a plank cn two pairs of steps. It is necessary to either wash ceilings off or wasli them over lightly. Kitchen ceilings in particular should be well washed with water to which has been added some dissolved alum, to counteract grease and smoke. It is the fashion now to use waterpaints, but they have disadvantages. They are very hard, but when they start to chip and peel that part will come off easily enough, hut the rest will not, with the result that the ceiling has a rough and surface, displeasing to the eye. Kalsomine has the advantage that it can be easily cleaned right off. However, the waterpaint will be better for the kitchen and laundry on account of the continual expansion and contraction caused by heat and steam, but kalsomino will do for the other rooms. Use in the same manner as on walls. See that the kalsomine brush is of good quality bristles, not too short, and no less than Sin wide. As pointed out previously, painted work is better for more than one coat; and two thin coats are better than one thick one. Painters never buy readymade material. They purchase the basic ingredients, and mix (o (lie correct consistency, according to the nature of the job. But on account of lack of knowledge in mixing, and on grounds of economy, the householder had hotter purchase the ready-made material. First kill (he grease on woodwork or walls by giving it a thin coat of limcwash, or, hotter still, washing if off with a weak solution of soda or soap. If the color is the same as already on, one coat should Vic sufficient , providing the brushes are decent. To make a hotter job with two coats, tLin out a portion of the paint with turpentine and use it as a first coal—the remainder to ho (he final coat. To get. good results always work systematically. In painting a door start on the panels first, then do the middle stiles and rails, and then the two end stiles. Do the rest of the work in a similar manner. Staining floor margins is a job irequcntly undertaken. The. stains used are frequently more paint than stain. A stain can only be put on tlie natural clean wood when it penetrates; staining on top of old stain is really painting with (lie while load eliminated. A good general paint stain can be made with burnt umber , either in oil or powder, mixed with turps, and a little varnish to hind it. When dry varnish it, as it will be dull. A one-coat Job can lie made with umber mixed with varnish. Spirit stains arc not satisfactory on top of old work, as they quickly chip off. Jn varnishing use an outside oak varnish, or, hotter still, what is known as hard church oak varnish, which is specially made for scats and doors, and is comparatively cheap.

When a man goes to the dogs many of his friends hark at him. If you want to get tip with the lark, go to hod without one. There is nothing known to a man as exasperating as an infernally patient woman.