Cutting in, skirting boards, cupboards and radiators

[MuBuPlu]

Hi there

I’m putting the second coat on my walls tomorrow after sealing and first coating.

1) The ceiling has had its second white coat today and is complete. I want to cut in the wall with blue paint but want to get the edges neat, where the wall meets the ceiling. Can I put tape on the ceiling already? Or can that damage the paint on the ceiling?

2) I need to paint the skirting boards. They have a gloss finish. Do I need to sand these down, then add an undercoat then add satinwood paint? If so, which undercoat is best?

3) Same issue regarding cupboards, is Sanding, undercoat then satinwood OK?

4) How about with radiators? It’s detached from the wall already. Do I prime it after sanding and before a specialist paint? Does it need specialist paint?

Thanks all.

 

[chappers]

be careful even supposed low tack tape for fresh paint can pull the paint off, personally I would just cut it in and if necessary touch up the ceiling if you stray with the blue. Any minor stray white on the walls will show less than blue on the ceiling.
As for the woodwork yep sand, undercoat and topcoat. get the undercoat colour nice and flat, before top coating x 2 lioght sand between undercoat and top coat. ideally use the same type undercoat as your topcoat.
Radiators I have never used specialist paint and have in the past both glossed and emulsioned rads, with and without undercoating/priming. Apparently you can't do that, but take it from me you can

 

[Nige F]

Not sure about emulsion on rads but if you can get the wall colour in oil based eggshell that looks good on rads.

 

[MuBuPlu]

CHEERS Both. Didn’t go for tape, but made it a little messy on the edges! There’s some blue on the ceiling. Any good tip to get that off?! Just go over with the white emulsion again??

 

[darkan9el]

Radiators generally require Enamel Paint but it’s a pain to paint with. Never use emulsion on a rad

Paint over the blue on the ceiling with white emulsion, trying to wipe or rub it off will end in tears

 

[misterhelpful]

Apparently you can't do that, but take it from me you can

Yep, Ive painted probably 100+ rads with emulsion (silk and matt) down the years and there's never been an issue. I imagine cheap nasty emulsions will crack/blister but if the paint is good quality, and the existing coating is sound, it should be fine. Always sand to provide a key first, though.
Generally, oil based gloss has been used, but this yellows in no time. White emulsion has the bonus of not yellowing...unless you smoke!!

 

[JohnD]

there's never been an issue.

OOI, and without wishing to be unpleasant, how do you know? Presumably you don't go back to all these houses for an annual inspection.

I find satinwood more durable and does not seem affected by heat.

 

[darkan9el]

The mere thought of painting a rad with emulsion makes me cringe. The heat from the rad can and will make the emulsion go soft and blister, if a DIY'er has had their little mitts on a rad and applied emulsion, they end up with very bad brush marks when they have painted the rad whilst it is still turned on, its practically a horror story I get why people do it, to camouflage a rad but it still shouldn't be done... in fact I forbid it lol

 

[JohnD]

... The heat from the rad can and will make the emulsion go soft...

and I have seen horrible cases where dirt and fluff have stuck to the softened paint and become irremovable.

 

[darkan9el]

and I have seen horrible cases where dirt and fluff have stuck to the softened paint and become irremovable.

Yes, it's not as if you can sand vinyl paints down.

 

[JohnD]

on other radiators, you can wipe away dust and fluff with a damp sponge, or hoover it off.

Few housewives or househusbands are equipped with sandpaper when doing the dusting.

 

[MuBuPlu]

Thanks everyone.

Next problem / question!

I stuck tape on the skirting boards before I painted and when I’ve ripped them off, some of the paint has come away off the wall edges with it. Not much, but it needs tidying up.

Can I just go back over the tears with a brush or does it need special treatment?

 

[misterhelpful]

OOI, and without wishing to be unpleasant, how do you know? Presumably you don't go back to all these houses for an annual inspection.

I find satinwood more durable and does not seem affected by heat.

Actually, I painted many residential and commercial properties annually, so I did get to see the longevity. I always told clients that asked that I could do it but wouldn't guarantee the outcome. If it was left to me, I would use gloss, satinwood, or radiator enamel on previously unpainted rads.
Don't get me wrong, I never went around recommending emulsion, but if a client asked if could it be done I would tell them that previous results had been good.
When you've painted literally thousands of them over the years, you have opportunities to try different methods....often with surprising outcomes.

 

[chappers]

I emulsioned every radiator in our house about 10 years ago as a temporary tidy up, intending to replace them. Finally got around to doing it this year before selling the house and although a little grubby and a bit of rust grinning through. every single one was fine, no cracking, blistering or anything.
But hey ho you can't do it apparently

 

[misterhelpful]

Yes, it's not as if you can sand vinyl paints down.

You can when they are correctly applied. Why do us decorators sand vinyl silk before applying vinyl matt when a change of finish is required?