4. Matching old paint and blending touchups
Tools & Material: Razor Blade, Joint Compound or Spackle, Trowel, Paint Brush
One of the most common problems with touching up an older house is the inability to match the paint. Some paints are lost over times and others are outdated or have gone bad. But there is a way to avert these problems. Most people try color samples and swatches. This can be risky due to lack of an eye for color or difference in sheen. The best technique is to cut a 1” by 1” sample directly from the wall using a razor blade. Once it is outlined and cut deep it can be peeled off using the edge of the razor blade. Most major hardware stores have color matching machines that get next to perfect matches on color. Remember to ask what sheen the sample is, otherwise the color won’t blend to the original surface. Patch the damaged area with spackle later and cover it up with your touchup paint.
Blending touchup color with old walls can sometimes be difficult. Either the touchup color is a bit off from the original formula or the wall has been weathered throughout time and taken an aged look. One way to cure this problem is avoiding painting in blocks or straight lines. Once an area has been touched up, thin out the paint on your brush and gently feather around all sides of the touchup area. This creates a more gradual blend from the new color to the old and is less detectable to the eye.
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