It wasn't too long ago I got a call from one of my young upwardly-mobile clients...he had just bought his first house and wanted me to bid on some miscellaneous repairs. One of these involved painting all the trim work. I asked him about painting the walls and he said "...don't worry 'bout the walls...I'm having a Paint Party Saturday!."

"A paint party?" I asked..."Yeah, all my buddies are coming over and we're going to paint the walls before you get here. I figured on saving some money that way," he said smartly and then added, " I'm supplying the free beer!"

Why did the words "Food Fight" come to my mind?

Needless to say when I arrived at the scene he commissioned me to include painting the walls, ceilings and cabinets along with the trim... and to include the costs of cleaning the floors!

Contrary to what most people think, there is a certain amount of skill involved in painting. Here are some commonly asked questions about interior painting and their answers:

1) Should I paint the ceilings the same color as the walls?

Everyone has an opinion on this question. Most upscale design-conscious people will paint the ceilings in a bright white or a paint labeled "ceiling paint." Ceiling paints have some minute amounts of added colors for a "glowing effect." The cost is a bit higher when you add the separate ceiling paint. There is nothing wrong with painting the ceilings the same color as the walls.

2) What color should I paint the trim and woodwork?

If you have very nice trim and woodwork then consider painting them a different color than the walls. If your trim is shabby or damaged then you could paint it the same color. This will take attention away from the trim. For color combinations check out paint store brochures.

3) What sheens, where?

Most people paint their walls and ceilings flat. Flat will help hide imperfections in the surface. If you buy a good quality paint you can lightly clean areas that dirty up easily if you use a flat. There is a current trend to paint walls in an egg-shell finish. This is slightly less shiny than satin. It's a good look but can be difficult to blend to a smooth finish. The higher the sheen the easier to clean, however, it will be easier to see defects in your walls. Trims usually are painted in a semi-gloss or gloss finish.

4) Should I cut in first or roll the walls first?

Cut in first. If the old color is close to the new color you may get away with one coat but you may have to cut in the trim a second time. Roll close to the edge very slowly...then fill in the rest with a roller.

5) Should I roll on the paint straight up and down?

No. To ensure a smooth finish you should roll on the paint first up and down completely to an area about 4 feet by 4 feet. Then diagonally cross over completely the same area.

Next time we will talk further about the incidentals of painting.