8 Common Faux Finish Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them

If you are embarking on your first faux painting project, then it's worth ensuring that you've mastered the essentials. Beginners may make some errors that prevent them attaining the effect that they're looking for.

1. Poor materials yield poor results. With the right brushes and paint and importantly, a properly prepared surface, you will be well on the way to achieving the look you want. A surface painted with flat paint will not give you good results and subsequent layers will dry too fast to allow you to attend to mistakes.

Low gloss paints will give you a brighter finish than flat paint, which has a dulling effect on subsequent layers. The best base coat is satin or eggshell paint that dries slowly, giving you time to attend to any problems.

2. Forget fancy equipment. You don't need it and you can find economical substitutes for specialist equipment. Buy quality paint and paintbrushes instead of splurging on gimmicks. As a paint palette try using ice cube trays. They have the added advantage of storing more paint. Almost any soft sponge will serve as an applicator and you don't need to buy one from an art supply shop.

Don't waste that paint! You can always stick it in the freezer rather than letting it harden. Another money-saving tip is to use dishwashing liquid for cleaning brushes. You can buy fancy cleaners but a grease-cutting dishwashing liquid works just fine with water-based paints and with stencil creams, which are partially oil-based.

3. Proper surface preparation is a priority. That means more than just filling holes and cracks. If you don't want an uneven finish you will need to seal the patches with a water-based sealer before applying further layers. Otherwise your finish will be blotchy. You can mix acrylic paint with the sealer if you don't have the original paint - you do need to match the original paint color if you don't want to spoil your finish.

4. Keep oil and water-based paints separate at all costs. Knowing the ingredients of your paints can save you from catastrophe. For example, don't assume that latex paint is an oil paint. It is partly water and so will not mix with oil paint.

5. Clean conditions help create a neat finish. This applies especially to your brushes, which need to be thoroughly cleaned. If you don't clean them properly you may end up with streaky paint and strange colors. You don't need specialist cleaners but just running brushes under the tap is not enough. Cleaning pads for children's art brushes are available for much less than the professional version.

You need to maintain a clean working environment, especially when working for others. Small splashes on carpets can be handled without chemicals. Try nail scissors. Wait until the paint is dry. Adding water just spreads it. Then snip the soiled ends, strand by strand. This won't work on larger patches, so make sure you use drop cloths as a preventative measure. For disasters that can't be trimmed out, try product called Goof Off.

6. Wet and dry don't mix. If you're using glazes you need to make sure that you're not creating areas where wet paint meets dry edges. The dry paint won't spread at the meeting point and the join will show. Plan to paint areas in one session, without a break. That includes, telephone, tea and toilet interludes. The hotter the weather the faster you will need to work before areas of glaze dries.

7. You may not recognize your painting style, but everyone has their own unique technique. That's why collaborative efforts don't work. People can work together as long as they work on different layers or walls, not different sections of the same layer/wall. Your style can even change during a day: pre- and post-lunch. Plan your sessions and breaks to maximize uniformity in technique.

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January 27 2009 | Home Improvement | 1 Comment »

Home Built Wind Generator – Roll Your Own And Reduce Your Bills

It may seem implausible to you to dispense with your utility company, but for many people this is becoming a reality. And the motivation is many fold. however, top of the reasons is that it can save money.

It goes without saying that electricity bills go up each year and don't seem to go down. Why this is the case is a subject of debate but the reality is that most of the raw materials that are used in power stations as finite materials that get more expensive to obtain. Whatever the reasons for the rises it is spurring people on to look for alternatives. And one such alternative is a home built wind generator.

Why a Home Built Wind Generator?

Well, why not is the best possible answer.

Upon installing your wind generator, you have a pretty much maintenance free source of free energy. Sounds like a good reason to me, however there are a few caveats. You need to be situated in an area that gets an adequate amount of wind. You also need a plot of spare land on your property to locate the turbine.

Kits Vs Home Grown

The popularity of alternative energy has encouraged many products to be launched in the home built wind generator field. Basically, you can buy a kit or you can buy plans and build the generator from scratch. The kit is easier to put together and requires less expertise but will cost more. If you do it yourself you have more scope to customize your turbine for your location or needs.

If you like a challenge or have some DIY skills then the kit is your best bet. Prices will vary depending on what your requirements are but it is a more cost effective solution than paying professionals to install a wind turbine.

If you have the skills and want to build a wind generator from scratch then you'll find a book or website that can show you how to build one (Some websites and products even come as videos if you prefer learning that way). The materials for your generator can be purchased second hand on places like ebay if you are on a budget.

It is all a matter of your mechanical and electrical abilities as well as craftiness in substituting materials. However, hopefully the end result is a home built wind generator that actually produces a little energy.

For most people, a home built wind generator will be used to supplement their existing grid power. It may provide enough power to run some of your kitchen appliances each month. This can knock a bit off your energy bills.

Having a wind generator is also better for the environment and puts less reliance on dwindling fossil fuels.

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January 25 2009 | Home Improvement | No Comments »