Q: I have grass cloth-covered walls in my dining area and living room. Rather than remove the grass cloth, I would like to paint over it. I have seen it painted, and the texture looks very good. Does it have to be prepared prior to painting? Should I use oil base or latex paint?
A: Variety is the spice of life. Our taste prevents us from recommending that you paint grass cloth, but rather brighten the existing one by slowly and carefully vacuuming the entire surface.If you must paint, however, you may elect to use either oil or latex paint with certain cautions:
- Use a flat (not shiny) finish.
- Thin the paint (2 parts paint to 1 part thinner or water).
- Apply the paint with a sprayer in very thin applications.
Using a high-gloss paint will tend to accentuate unattractive irregularities in the grass cloth that otherwise add to its beauty when in its natural state.
Thick paint will fill in the narrow spaces between the straw and may ruin the look you are trying to achieve. Use very thin layers of paint, checking the result after each layer dries to ensure the effect you want.
Applying wet coat over wet coat is not recommended for two reasons:
- The net effect of paint can't be determined until it dries.
- And getting the surface too wet may delaminate the paper from the wall.
Q: I have cracks in my stucco that have been patched, but they keep coming back. The filler the painter used is crumbling. He (the painter) said there isn't anything he can do. How can I make a permanent patch?
A: It may either be that your painter is not versed in stucco patch work or that you have substantial ground movement under your house. Try a paintable silicone caulk. Scrape the old patch material out of the cracks, make sure that the inside surfaces are free of paint and loose debris, and force the new caulk deep into the crack joint. And good luck.