Hyde Park Apartments

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Prep 

As you have probably heard before preparation is the key to a good job. In many cases the prep takes longer to do than the actual painting. If a room to that is to be repainted is in reasonably good shape you may be able to get by without an extensive prep. If the previous job was done well that is a big help.

First Step: Get a good idea of what you are getting into look around the room for the obvious Repairs: Water stains, large holes, cracks, and so forth. These are things that will absolutely need repair

Second Step: (optional prep) Take a close look. Does the old paint appear to be bonded well? If large areas are pealing from a prior coat of paint, you will probably have to totally remove the pealing layer of the pealing section to prevent this from continuing.

Is there much debris in the previous paint that should be sanded out, are there runs sags heavy brush marks that could require a lot of sanding to remove? Look at woodwork for chipped corners and dents, do you want to take the time to fill them? Are there lead hazards? These are things that could require a lot of extra work and create dust.

Third Step: Caulking joints filling nail & pinholes, sealing knots, washing surfaces, removing mildew, and dulling surfaces. These jobs are pretty much standard routine.

Getting Materials

Once you assessed your situation you can make a list of the materials you will be using. Having most of the materials on site before you start saves time from having to leave off to go to the hardware store.

Most Common Materials: 120 and 220 grit Sandpaper, latex caulk, spackling compound, masking tape, rags.

Other items to consider: Wood dough, joint compound, joint tape, stick on wall patch, disposable plastic drop cloths, masking paper, stain sealer, paint thinner, detergent, de-glosser, denatured alcohol tack cloth, paint strainers.

Tools: Drop cloths, step ladder paint brushes, buckets, roller covers, roller handles, roller pan, pan liners, extension poll, putty knife, dust brush, caulk gun, nail set, hammer, utility knife, wire to poke caulk tube, screw driver, sponge work light.

Other tools to consider: Joint knifes, poll sander

Personal Items: Goggles, work gloves, rubber gloves, hat, dust mask, respirator.

Beginning The Work

Clear out the room; move as much furniture as possible to another room. If large furniture is to difficult to move out, see it can be moved to the center of the room and covered with the plastic drop cloths. Take down pictures and curtains. Cover the floor with drop cloths.

Any washing you have decided can be done at this point. (See

Remove electrical wall plates (use caution), and cover outlets and switches with tape.

Next start the major wallboard repairs you will be doing: patch holes in wallboard, the larger repairs usually take several coats of joint compound, and you must allow dry time between each coat. Nail holes in wallboard can also be filled with joint compound.

Scrape any areas of loose paint, sand debris from prior coats of paint. If the prior paint is in very good condition the fine 220 paper can be used, but most often a coarser paper is needed for this purpose.

Seal stains and knots .Oil based stain sealers will work on most stains but the alcohol-based sealer should be used on knots

Glossy surfaces can now be dulled by sanding with 180 or 220 grit sandpaper (see Dulling Surfaces )

Fill holes in woodwork with spackling, wood dough, or other preferred wood filler using a putty knife. Nail holes in wallboard may be filled with spackling.

Caulk joints at door and window casings baseboards and other painted woodwork use an acrylic latex caulk. Caulking can often repair cracks at corners of walls and ceilings.

When the fillers (joint compound, spackling, wood dough) have dried sand any build up of filler flush with surface. Spot prime filled areas and bare wood with the sealer or other appropriate primer. Note if you will be priming an entire area spot priming is not necessary.

Surfaces Priming

Any patched or bare surfaces will need to be spot primed.

Now prime any areas such as the ceiling or walls that will get a full coat of primer. This step is optional and usually does not have to be done on previously painted surfaces ,but can often give the best results especially on discolored or splotchy ceilings..

Final Prep Steps

Check the primer to see if it needs any sanding to do before the first coat of finish paint is applied, hopefully there will be very little to do at this point. Check around the room for places that might have gotten missed during the prep stages. Seal any stains. If you decide to fill any holes, keep in mind that they should be spot primed before painting.

Clean the room. If you have not had allot of repairs to do, then you may be about ready to start painting .If you have created allot of dust try to eliminate the dust as much as possible. (See Dust section on our Health  page).

Dust A common method of clearing dust out cloth drop cloths has been to take them out and shake them. But you must know there are no lead paint issues and you feel you have an appropriate area to do so away from play areas, pet areas, and bird feeders ect. Other wise it is probably better to wash them. Plastic tarps can sometimes be swept with a broom. Disposable drop cloths can disposed of.

For more information on house painting tips and procedures visit HouseColour.com today!

So, you’re getting ready to move into your first place… Here’s a couple things you’re going to want to do to prepare yourself.

* When you’re selecting your first place, make sure you pay your rent! Seriously, experts suggest that when you’re looking for a place, the rent should be no more that 25-30% of your annual wages. You want that new place, you want to stay there, and you want to make sure that you still have the ability to order a pizza every once in a while (and have it delivered too).

* Make a budget before you sign a lease! Ask your landlord what the average utility bills are (if they are not covered in your rent). Take into consideration monthly food, transportation (gas, public transportation, car payments, etc.), renter’s insurance, entertainment, school loans, phone and other utilities, clothes and credit card bills. Make sure you know exactly what bills are covered in your rental costs and which ones you need to take care of yourself.

* If you use a real estate agent to help you find your apartment, be aware that they will usually charge you a fee for this service.

* Make sure your new place is really what you want, it’s pretty tough to break a lease, and if you do, there might be some severe fees you’ll have to pay as penalties. If you’re looking for a place that allows pets, or one that has a pool, or one that has central air conditioning, or even one that has a doorman, make sure you ask all those questions before you sign anything. If you visit Apartments.com to find your new place, all you have to do is select which apartment and community features you’re looking for, click one button, and there you have it…. All the places that fit your exact needs!

*The average security deposit is one and a half times the monthly rent but may vary depending on your lease agreement. Be sure that the refunding of your deposit is clearly understood and agreed on by all parties.

* Once you take a look at your income, you’ll need to decide if you’re going to want a roommate. If you get a roommate, make sure that both of your names are on the lease. If you’re the only name on the lease, if your roommate leaves, you’re stuck with the bill with not a lot of legal recourse. Make sure you speak with your landlord about what would happen to the rent if you were to lose your roommate.

All the research and prep work is finished! Now you’re ready to begin responding to apartment listings, checking out referrals, contacting property managers and viewing prospective apartment units.

When viewing a unit, make sure to check that it’s in functional order and what the surrounding neighborhood is like.

Also, make sure you bring all necessary materials when viewing available units, such a notepad or digital camera.

In large competitive markets, the best apartments can be snatched up in one day. If you live in such an area, be prepared to submit your application or sign the lease the same day. In these cases, it’s a good idea to bring:

• your checkbook
• two recent bank statements
• last year’s tax return (first page and the signature page)
• two recent pay stubs
• letter of employment
• letter of reference from a previous landlord or their contact information
• tape measurer
• camera and notebook

Once you’ve found the perfect apartment, you’re ready to begin the process of signing the lease.  Read up on how to sign the lease to avoid any errors or regrets.