Painting and decorating: beginner guide

Tools, prep, order of work, finishes and wallpaper, with the names you will hear on UK jobs. Tap a name in the list to see where it is in the photo.

1. Basic tools

The minimum kit to paint a room. Good brushes and rollers give a better finish and last longer.

1. 1Paint tinBote de pintura
2. 2Roller (9 inch)Rodillo de 9 pulgadas
3. 3Roller trayBandeja del rodillo
4. 4PaintbrushesBrochas
5. 5Masking tapeCinta de carrocero
6. 6Caulk gunPistola de sellador (caulk)
7. 7Filling knifeEspátula de masillar
8. 8Sanding blockTaco de lijar
9. 9Extension poleAlargador (pértiga)
10. 10Dust sheetTela protectora

Show the list of names

N.º	English (UK)	Spanish	What it is / what it is for
1	Paint tin	Bote de pintura	Holds the paint; stir before use.
2	Roller (9 inch)	Rodillo de 9 pulgadas	Paints walls and ceilings fast.
3	Roller tray	Bandeja del rodillo	Loads the roller evenly.
4	Paintbrushes	Brochas	Cutting in, edges and woodwork.
5	Masking tape	Cinta de carrocero	Protects edges you do not want to paint.
6	Caulk gun	Pistola de sellador (caulk)	Pushes caulk out of the tube.
7	Filling knife	Espátula de masillar	Presses filler into holes and cracks.
8	Sanding block	Taco de lijar	Smooths filler and old gloss.
9	Extension pole	Alargador (pértiga)	Screws into the roller for ceilings.
10	Dust sheet	Tela protectora	Covers floors and furniture.

2. Preparing the surface

The finish depends on the prep: fill, sand, dust off, caulk the gaps and seal new plaster. Water, smoke or marker stains: stain-block primer before the paint.

1. 1Filled holesAgujeros rellenados
2. 2Sanding blockTaco de lijar
3. 3Hop-up (step stool)Taburete escalón
4. 4Bare new plasterYeso nuevo sin pintar
5. 5Mist coatMano de fondo diluida
6. 6Masking tapeCinta de carrocero
7. 7Skirting boardRodapié
8. 8Window boardAlféizar interior
9. 9Dust sheetTela protectora

Show the list of names

N.º	English (UK)	Spanish	What it is / what it is for
1	Filled holes	Agujeros rellenados	Filler left proud, then sanded flat.
2	Sanding block	Taco de lijar	Sand filler flat; dust off after.
3	Hop-up (step stool)	Taburete escalón	Low, stable platform for reaching.
4	Bare new plaster	Yeso nuevo sin pintar	Very thirsty: needs a mist coat first.
5	Mist coat	Mano de fondo diluida	Watered-down emulsion that seals new plaster.
6	Masking tape	Cinta de carrocero	Keeps wall paint off the skirting.
7	Skirting board	Rodapié	Gap above it is sealed with caulk.
8	Window board	Alféizar interior	Woodwork: sand, prime or undercoat, then gloss or satin.
9	Dust sheet	Tela protectora	Cotton or poly-backed; tape the edges.

Prep products, in order

Show table

N.º	English	Spanish	When
1	Filler	Masilla (filler)	Holes and cracks in walls and ceilings.
2	Sanding	Lijado	After filler dries; also keys old gloss.
3	Caulk (decorators’ caulk)	Caulk (sellador acrílico)	Gaps between skirting, frames and wall; paintable.
4	Mist coat	Mano diluida (mist coat)	First coat on bare new plaster, emulsion thinned with water.
5	Stain block	Imprimación antimanchas	Covers water, smoke and nicotine stains.
6	Primer / undercoat	Imprimación / fondo	Primer on bare wood or metal; undercoat builds colour under gloss.

3. Order of work

Top to bottom: ceiling, walls, then the woodwork last (windows, doors, skirting).

1. 1Ceiling – firstTecho – primero
2. 2Cutting inRecorte con brocha
3. 3Walls – secondParedes – segundo
4. 4Roller on poleRodillo con alargador
5. 5Window frame – thirdMarco de ventana – tercero
6. 6Door – thirdPuerta – tercero
7. 7Skirting – lastRodapié – al final
8. 8Roller trayBandeja del rodillo
9. 9Dust sheetTela protectora

Show the list of names

N.º	English (UK)	Spanish	What it is / what it is for
1	Ceiling – first	Techo – primero	Paint the ceiling first so drips land on unpainted walls.
2	Cutting in	Recorte con brocha	Brush a band at corners and edges before rolling.
3	Walls – second	Paredes – segundo	Roll in sections, keeping a wet edge.
4	Roller on pole	Rodillo con alargador	Saves the ladder on walls and ceilings.
5	Window frame – third	Marco de ventana – tercero	Woodwork comes after walls.
6	Door – third	Puerta – tercero	Panels first, then the flat parts.
7	Skirting – last	Rodapié – al final	Last, so dust from the floor does not stick to wet walls.
8	Roller tray	Bandeja del rodillo	Roll off excess paint on the ramp.
9	Dust sheet	Tela protectora	Stays down until the last coat is dry.

4. Wallpaper basics

Start next to a window or in a corner from a plumb line. Always follow the soak time and paste type on the roll label.

1. 1Hung lengthTira colocada
2. 2Plumb lineLínea de plomada
3. 3Pasting tableMesa de encolar
4. 4Paste tubCubo de cola
5. 5Pasting brushBrocha de encolar
6. 6Smoothing brushCepillo de alisar
7. 7Plastic smootherEspátula alisadora
8. 8Snap-off knifeCúter de cuchilla
9. 9StraightedgeRegla
10. 10Wallpaper rollRollo de papel
11. 11Bucket and spongeCubo y esponja

Show the list of names

N.º	English (UK)	Spanish	What it is / what it is for
1	Hung length	Tira colocada	Each strip is a length (or drop).
2	Plumb line	Línea de plomada	Vertical guide for the first length.
3	Pasting table	Mesa de encolar	Narrow folding table for pasting lengths.
4	Paste tub	Cubo de cola	Mix the paste as the packet says.
5	Pasting brush	Brocha de encolar	Spreads paste on the back of the paper.
6	Smoothing brush	Cepillo de alisar	Pushes out air bubbles.
7	Plastic smoother	Espátula alisadora	Alternative to the brush.
8	Snap-off knife	Cúter de cuchilla	Trims at ceiling and skirting; snap the blade often.
9	Straightedge	Regla	Guides the knife for a straight cut.
10	Wallpaper roll	Rollo de papel	Check batch number on every roll.
11	Bucket and sponge	Cubo y esponja	Wipe paste off the face and the skirting.

5. Finishes: matt, silk, gloss; water or oil based

The more sheen, the tougher and easier to wipe, but wall defects show more. Water-based: dry fast, low smell, wash out with water. Solvent (oil) based: harder on woodwork, slower to dry, clean up with white spirit.

Types of finish

N.º	English	Spanish	Where
1	Matt	Mate	No shine; hides small marks on walls and ceilings.
2	Silk	Satinado (silk)	Slight sheen; easier to wipe, shows wall defects more.
3	Eggshell	Cáscara de huevo (eggshell)	Low sheen; walls or woodwork.
4	Satin (satinwood)	Satinado para madera (satinwood)	Mid sheen for woodwork.
5	Gloss	Brillo (gloss)	High shine, hard-wearing for woodwork and metal.

Manufacturer figures (data sheets)

N.º	Figure	Source
1	Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt (water-based): up to 17 m²/L; recoat 2–4 h; do not apply below 8 °C.	Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt – product data sheet
2	Dulux Trade Supermatt on new plaster: first coat thinned up to 1 part water to 3 parts paint; up to 18 m²/L.	Dulux Trade Supermatt – product data
3	Zinsser B-I-N (shellac stain-block primer): touch dry 15 min; recoat 45 min; up to 12.5 m²/L.	Zinsser B-I-N – product specification
4	Dulux Trade Quick Dry Satinwood (water-based): up to 12 m²/L; recoat 4–6 h.	Dulux Trade Quick Dry Satinwood – product data sheet
5	Dulux Trade High Gloss (solvent-based): up to 18 m²/L; touch dry 4–6 h; recoat 16–24 h.	Dulux Trade High Gloss – product data sheet
6	Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth (outside): up to 16 m²/L on smooth render; 4–6 m²/L on pebbledash; not below 7 °C.	Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth – product data sheet

Figures come from each manufacturer data sheet and apply to that product only: always read the tin you are using. Paint from before 1960 may contain lead: never dry-sand it (HSE – Lead). Ladders: HSE – Safe use of ladders and stepladders (INDG455).

Sources: Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt – product data sheet; Dulux Trade Supermatt – product data; Zinsser B-I-N – product specification; Dulux Trade High Gloss – product data sheet; Dulux Trade Quick Dry Satinwood – product data sheet; Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth – product data sheet; HSE – Safe use of ladders and stepladders (INDG455); HSE – Lead. Original text by Fixiz Academy.