The Right Way To Paint Your Rec Room

Home recreation rooms are either planned or evolved spaces within the home. No matter whether your rec room was planned or just happened, the room should beckon to family members and be comfortable. Don't spend a lot of money on sprucing up your family rec room. Instead, paint your rec room for an easy new look that fits any budget. Here's how:

1) Start by washing the walls of the room with soapy water or an all-purpose cleaner. Allow to dry completely.

2) Move furnishings out or if that's not possible, to the middle of the room. Cover the furnishings and the floor with old sheets to prevent paint spatters. Tape the woodwork or other areas where you don't want to paint, using painter's tape.

Dangerous Combination

3) If the rec room is situated in the basement, you need to take care that there is plenty of ventilation. This is the area where most home water heaters and furnaces are situated. Heat and paint fumes can be a dangerous combination.

4) Prime the walls of the room. Since most rec rooms are located in basements, the walls are often unfinished cement or ancient paneling. A coat of best-quality primer will ensure that your walls are ready for color. Primer is applied with either a clean roller or brush and allowed to dry for 1-2 hours before you proceed with painting.

5) Paint the first coat of wall paint. Use a brush to cut-in the edges and corners and a roller for the large wall areas. Let dry for an hour or so and examine your paintjob to see whether or not a second coat of paint is needed. Repeat if necessary. Note: A very damp basement may hinder and prolong the drying time. You may want to obtain a dehumidifier for the duration. Use fans to speed the drying time, too.

Missed Areas?

6) Let the paint dry completely before you remove the painter's tape. Go slow and touch up any missed areas with the help of a sash brush.

7) Remove the sheets you used for drop cloths, hang to dry from your laundry line, then fold and store for future use. Replace the lids on paint cans containing leftover paint. You can tap around the lids with a hammer to make sure the seal is tight. Keep the paint away from water heaters and furnaces and store in a cool, dry area.