Painting, part 2

After installing the drywall, mudding every seam and corner (multiple times), sanding and texturing...it is time to paint! Because of drying time for each application of mud and the texture, we had rooms at different stages of this process all at the same time. It was rather overwhelming for a couple weeks. We would start by warming the house, emptying the dehumidifiers, and sanding the sections of mud we had applied the time before. Then we applied some mud to the next section of drywall until we ran out of ready sections or the muscles in my wrist and shoulder could do no more. That is when we would move on to hanging some new pieces to mud the next trip out. After we had one section of the house completely ready for texture, we (actually Ben) would apply the texture and then once dry, I applied the primer and paint.

At the prospect of priming and painting 7500 square feet of drywall (exterior walls, interior walls and ceiling), I requisitioned a paint sprayer from my co-contractor. I highly recommend the Graco Project Painter Plus Sprayer from Lowe's, easy to set up and use and clean up was reasonable for a work site (no running water). I do prefer the look of paint applied with a roller, but shutter to think of the time it would have taken me! The major downside I found to the sprayer, is the uneven spray pattern caused by this amateur. I am sure after another house or two, I would have it down (the last couple of rooms look much better than the first) but since I don't have any intention of making this a career, I settled for touching up with a roller and a little help from my sis-in-law and hubby!

I am currently working on some detail painting, safari in the playroom for example, and do all of that work by hand. The sprayer causes some overspray, so touch up was needed and some smaller areas were done by hand with a roller just because set up and clean up for less than a gallon of paint would have been more work than I wanted to deal with. Overall, I love the colors and the "homey" feel the house is taking on!

Above: Mater Bath  ~  Below: Ben's Office

Above: Playroom  ~  Below: Living Room

I will post more specific "walk through" photos once the floors, curtains and such are done so you can really see my vision for each room.

Next post: installation of the storm shelter!