DRJ PAINTING

A flawless paint job is mostly preparation and only a little painting. Before a tin is even opened, walls need to be clean, sound and smooth — washed down, sanded, filled and spot-primed. Skipping these steps is the number one reason DIY jobs end up patchy or peeling. Here's how to prep your walls properly...

Picture-hook holes, furniture dents and hairline cracks turn up on almost every wall, and paint won't hide them — it highlights them. Filling gyprock correctly is one of the most satisfying prep jobs and the key to a dead-flat finish. Here's how to patch cracks and holes the right way before you paint...

Do you really need a primer, or is it just an extra coat? Sometimes you can skip it — often you can't. Bare plasterboard, fresh patches, glossy surfaces and dramatic colour changes all need the right undercoat to bond and cover properly. Here's when a primer matters and how to use it...

Ceilings are the job everyone dreads — the drips, the sore neck and roller spray in your hair. But with the right roller nap, a sensible sequence and a few simple tricks, painting a ceiling can be clean and quick. Here's how to get an even, mark-free ceiling without the mess...

Fresh gyprock is thirsty, and its porous paper face drinks paint unevenly — which is why a topcoat straight onto new plasterboard looks blotchy and patchy. The fix is a dedicated sealer before your finish coats. Here's how to paint new plasterboard for a smooth, even result...