Our Home - Part 4
Room by room, I started painting. If we were still working with the GC, the painting would have come later, but we were borrowing his scaffolding and he was going to need it back soon. I also reasoned that we could save time and money by not having to protect finished floors.
The painters were brought in by the contractor to do the primer and the exterior windows and doors and they gave me some tips when doing the walls and ceilings. They were adamant that I sand with a sanding pad on a telescopic pole between coats. They said to use 120 grit sandpaper after primer and 150 - 180 grit after the first coat. And to use a 15 ml roller.
I’ve never run my hand over the walls after priming a new build, so I’m not sure if this is normal, but they are rough. It was like the roller was rolled over the floor before doing the walls. Sanding that down was the hardest thing I’ve done so far. I can’t help but think that if the walls are dusted before priming, the painters would save themselves a lot of work.
I considered getting an electric sander, but that’s a big investment, and I can’t see myself needing it again when I’m finished with this job. So I just did it. I stood at the top of the scaffolding and sanded the 20 ft high peak of the primary bedroom. It was sweaty, exhausting work. When I was done, I dusted all the walls with a dry mop and vacuum. I can learn from others’ mistakes.
Next was painting. I actually enjoy painting. I’ve done a lot of it. I’ve re-decorated every apartment I’ve lived in and I’ve volunteered to paint friends’ flats countless times. I’ve used every kind of paint, but my favourite so far is Farrow & Ball. I used it in my last home in the Hackescher Höfen in Berlin. (Read about it here) . They use more pigment and less binding agents which gives the affect of seeing though the colour making it richer and deeper than mid-range paints.
I’ve had contractors convince clients to let them colour match the Farrow & Ball paint I’ve specced with Benjamin Moore. They’ve actually told the client that they can’t tell the difference. Well, maybe they can’t, but I certainly can. Their quality comes at a price, but when doing a small room, the extra cost is relatively low and the effect is well worth it.
I often paint the ceilings the same colour as the walls. Especially when the ceilings are low, it gives the effect of more height because you eye doesn’t catch the line of the ceiling as easily. When I calculated all the walls and ceilings that needed to be painted in my own home, Farrow & Ball was just going to cost too much. I decided, since the contractors like Benjamin Moore so much, I should experience their colours. For every room I went with a different shade. I wanted to see how they compare to the swatches and how they change in the light.
For even further savings I went with the contractor grade paint by Benjamin Moore called Ultra Spec Low Sheen. They say it’s not washable and that it doesn’t hold the colour as well, but I really like how it goes on. It’s thiner and more liquid than their premium grade, and I discovered that you can paint over a section of finished wall without seeing the brush or roller marks. Dare I say, it actually paints on like Farrow & Ball, minus the depth, of course.
I painted the whole house. I painted where the new section met the old and kept on going. The house is now various shades of cream, wheat, and white, colours that allow the rich tones of the marble, wood, and stone to shine. Next is the flooring.
To be continued…
