Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/663

 Popular Science Monthly

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��mixture should be thoroughly stirred until it is uniform throughout. It may then be applied by brushing out to a thin coat on the new wood. The turpen- tine will serve to carry the paint into the pores of the wood and thus provide a good substantial bond. The paint, moreover, will dry rapidly to a • hard surface which will provide a permanent foundation for subsequent coats. Upon the priming coat depends the success of the whole painting job. Even if the coat looks thin, the hiding power of the paint should be sacrificed in order to ob- tain this thorough penetration and hard drying.

When the priming coat has become thoroughly hard and dry, which, as a rule, will take at least three days, al- though a week is better, all the nail holes and other imperfections in a wooden surface may be closed up with putty. There may then be applied the second coat of prepared paint as it comes from the container, without the addition of any material except a small quantity of turpentine if the paint is heavy. One pint of turpentine to a gallon of paint is generally sufhcient for this purpose. The turpentine will cause the second coat to dry with a semi-matt surface. After a suitable drying period, the third coat may then be applied. No turpentine or thinner should be added to the third coat of prepared paint, since it is desired to obtain a film rich in oil, that will dry to a high-gloss surface. When old sur- faces are to be repainted, all loose, scaled paint should be removed and rough, checked surfaces lightly sanded with fine sandpaper. The work may proceed for new surfaces as for the second and third

��coats.

��How to Paint Rooms

��A few years ago the use of paint was largely confined to exteriors of buildings. Interior walls were often left bare. Dis- coloration and dampness followed. The modern method is to decorate all in- terior wall .and ceiling surfaces with paints which are of a washable char- acter. These paints may present either a flat and light-diffusing surface, or a high-gloss, enamel-like surface. The flat or high -gloss paints are obtainable in prepared form. Before applying such

��paints to plaster or cement- wall surfaces, a wash treatment with a 25% water solution of zinc sulphate is advisable, in order to neutralize the lime present in, the wall. Later, when the walls are thoroughly dry, the paints should be ap- plied in two or three-coat work. High- gloss paints should always be applied over an undercoat of flat paint. Light cream color and the very light shades of pink, green, blue or very light gray give the greatest amount of light reflection in a room.

What Paints and Painting Cost

Paste paints cost about $3.00 to $4.00 per gallon, while prepared paints sell for $2.00 to $2.50 per gallon. A" paint in prepared form, ready for application, will cover from 300 to 1400 sq. ft. per gallon, depending upon the character of surface to which it is applied. On smooth iron surfaces, the greatest spread- ing rate is obtained, and on rough con- crete surfaces, the lowest spreading rate. On wooden surfaces the average spread- ing rate is about 900 sq. ft. per gallon, one coat. In estimating the amount of paint required for a surface, the total number of square feet should be calcu- lated by multiplying the width by the height, of each side. The total area should then be divided by 300, which will give approximately the number of gallons required to produce three-coat work. For instance, if the total area for the four sides of a house is 6300 sq. ft., 21 gallons of paint will be required for the work. If the cost of the paint is $2.35 per gallon, the material cost will be $49.35. The cost of labor for properly applying the paint should be figured at double the cost of the paint. To the total must be added cost of brushes, ladders, incidental materials, etc. It is readily seen, therefore, that the cost of the paint is a small part of the cost of painting, and for this reason only the best paint should be used in order to secure a job that will last for the longest time without repainting.

Why Good Paints Save Money The property owner should remember that it is a very good business proposi- tion to keep buildings of all types, especially dwellings and farm buildings,

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