step instructions for laying vinyl planks

Feature walls

Tip After positioning masking tape, run the side of the roll over the edges to ensure they are flat

For furniture and accessories, see ‘All eyes on me’ from page 13

MURAL

Our wall design was created for a wall 3.6m wide x 2.4m high. Work with paint quantities specific to your space and design. Ask at the Bunnings Paint Desk for help with this.

3Mask around the outside of the shapes with painter’s tape, working on one colour at a time. To mask around curves, tear off small sections, positioning the factory edge against the line.

Special effects

Update plain walls and tiled floors by combining paint with a few simple shapes and easy techniques

TOOLS & MATERIALS Safety equipment (gloves and mask)  Drop sheet  50mm angle cutter brush  270mm roller with tray  Pencil and eraser  Level 160mm roller with tray and spare covers  Sugar soap wipes  Primer Wall paint for the background (we used British

Paints ‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior in Custard Bake)  Braided nylon cord  Painter’s tape Wall paint in various colours (we used British Paints ‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior paint in Peaceful Bay, Kara

Sea, Green Seed, Perfect

Timing and Harvest View)

1Clean the wall with sugar soap wipes and position a drop sheet on the floor. Apply primer to the wall, cutting in around the edges with an angled brush, then using a 270mm roller to apply an even coat, leaving to dry. Apply two coats of background colour, leaving to dry after each coat.

4Use a mini roller to paint the design in stages, beginning with the lightest colours and finishing with the darkest. Apply two coats of each, leaving to dry thoroughly after each. Tip: Roll over the shape, taking the paint onto the tape for a smooth edge. 2 Mark the design on the wall with a pencil, using a level for straight lines. For circles and curves, tie nylon cord to a pencil, measure the length of the radius along the cord and hold this point on the centre of the circle with your thumb, then pull it taut to mark the curve. Tip: Mark smaller circles with a compass.

5After the second coat of each colour, remove the tape before it dries, pulling it away from the wall at 45°, scrunching as you go to avoid brushing the wall with wet paint. Remove any visible pencil lines with an eraser. Tip: Wait for each colour to dry thoroughly before taping over it to paint the adjacent section.

British Paints

Peaceful Bay

British Paints

Kara Sea

British Paints

Green Seed

British Paints

Perfect Timing

British Paints

Harvest View

British Paints

Custard Bake

Our pattern was created with a semicircle template the same width as the square tiles

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1 Monarch ‘Walls & Ceilings’ 130mm roller kit, $15.38, I/N: 1670263. 2 British Paints ‘Clean & Protect’ low sheen interior paint in White, $89/4L, I/N: 0093363. 3 FrogTape 24mm multi surface masking tape, $12.98/55m, I/N: 0088295. 4 Haydn ‘Leeda’ 50mm angle cutter brush, $22.98, I/N: 0307463. 5 Craftright 600mm aluminium spirit level, $13.50, I/N: 5660197. 6 Dulux Renovation Range Floors water based interior coating in White Satin, $79/1L, I/N 0116493. 7 Monarch 100mm mini foam roller refill, $20.61/pack of 10, I/N: 1670292. 8 GIB ‘Plus 4’ jointing compound, $24.79/4kg, I/N: 0441016. 9 Empire medium individual carpenter pencil, $1.45, I/N: 0125023. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

PAINTED FLOOR TILES

Painting floor tiles is a great project for a novice DIYer. Success relies on a squeaky clean, well-laid area with flat porous tiles and neutral grout.

TOOLS & MATERIALS Safety equipment (eye protection, mask and gloves)  Tape measure and pencil  Scissors  Stiff-bristled brush 4mm-nap 100mm microfibre roller with tray  38-50mm angled cutter brush  400mm x 200mm cardboard  Braided nylon cord  Sugar soap Primer (we used Dulux Renovation

Range primer) Water-based interior topcoat suitable for floors in various colours (we used Dulux

Renovation Range Floors in Turangi [lilac],

Lake Heron [light blue], Wharariki [dark blue] and Havelock North [bright peach])

1Draw a grid of the tiled area and sketch out the design, using fully coloured square tiles and semicircles the same width as tiles. Tip: Make a circle by drawing adjacent semicircles. Make pill shapes by drawing semicircles either side of the square tiles.

2To make the semicircle template for 300mm-square tiles, along one side of the cardboard, mark a 300mm line 50mm in and mark the centre point (150mm along the line). Tie nylon cord to a pencil, measure 150mm along and hold this point against the centre of the line with your thumb. Pull it taut to mark the semicircle with the pencil, then cut shape out with scissors.

3Thoroughly scrub tiles with sugar soap and a stiff-bristled brush, rinse, leave to dry and repeat this process at least twice (paint will not adhere to greasy or dirty surfaces). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to further prepare tiles as necessary, for example fill any cracks or holes with epoxy putty, sand glossy or semi-gloss finishes, clean with mould killer and remove silicone sealant. Follow the grid sketch to position the template on the tiles, marking semicircles with a pencil and using an X to mark tiles that are to be fully painted.

4Prepare primer as per manufacturer’s instructions (see label). Apply primer with a 4mm-nap 100mm wide microfibre roller and cut in with a 38-50mm angled cutter brush. Apply at least two coats, leaving eight hours between each coat.

5Prepare topcoat as per manufacturer’s instructions (see label). Apply topcoat to the tiles as in step 4. Work on one colour at a time, rinsing and drying the roller and brush between each coat. Once each section is coated, gently go over the surface in the same direction with an unloaded roller using minimal pressure. This will give a smooth consistent finish. Leave first coat to dry for at least eight hours before applying second coat. The floor can be used for light foot traffic after two days, but for best results leave it to cure for a week. Note: To prevent damage to your painted tiled floor (or any floor), avoid dragging furniture over it.

TOOLS & MATERIALS Safety equipment (eye protection, mask and gloves)  230mm roller with tray  175mm pointing trowel  Soft broom  12mm-nap 130mm roller  120-grit abrasive paper  Cloth  Primer Premixed plaster filler (we used GIB ‘Plus 4’ jointing compound) 450mm x 250mm plywood offcut Wall paint (we used PPG

Paints ‘Easy Coat’ low sheen interior paint in Gold Chateau)

PLASTER-FINISH WALL

Give an existing plasterboard wall a boost with texture and a pop of colour.

1Smooth over the surface, along corners and edges with 120-grit abrasive paper and wipe away any dust with a damp cloth.

2Use a large roller to apply primer and leave to dry.

3Scoop premixed plaster filler onto an offcut of plywood using a pointing trowel, mixing it in a back-and-forward motion to remove any air bubbles.

4Apply plaster onto the wall in small quantities, working in half-metre sections to create coverage of about 5mm thick. Drag the trowel lightly over the surface in a back-and-forward motion to create the finished texture. Leave to cure for 48 hours. Tip: Sweep over the wall with a soft broom to remove dust and loose plaster.

5Use a 12mm-nap roller to cover the surface with wall paint, applying two coats and leaving to dry after each coat. } PRO TIP

This plaster wall project is for indoors only and is not suitable for exterior walls

We painted the wall above the headboard in Porter’s Paints ‘Eggshell Finish’ in Timberline

TEXTURED HEADBOARD

Plaster was used to create a feature headboard for a bed; the same technique could be used on a full plasterboard wall.

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1 QLT By Marshalltown 5mm orange notched trowel, $4.49, I/N: 0107059. 2 GIB ‘Plus 4’ jointing compound, $24.79/4kg, I/N: 0441016. 3 Spreader & Jackson 175mm pointing trowel, $10.25, I/N: 0099391. 4 Monarch ‘Razorback’ 230mm 8 piece ultimate roller kit, $43.93, I/N: 1662022. 5 Porter’s Paints ‘Eggshell Finish’ broadwall washable paint in Petal Pink, $149/4L, I/N: 0162950. 6 2.4m x 18mm x 18mm UT dressed clear pinetrim radiata pine, $9.94, I/N: 0293156• . 7 Craftright folding saw horses, $39.85/pack of 2, I/N: 5828526. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. TOOLS & MATERIALS Safety equipment (eye protection, mask and gloves)  230mm roller with tray  175mm pointing trowel  6mm square-notch trowel  2 saw horses  12mm-nap 75mm roller  38mm paintbrush 2400mm x 1200mm x 10mm plasterboard sheet 120-grit abrasive paper with sanding block  Cloths  3-in-1 primer 4kg premixed plaster filler (we used GIB ‘Plus 4’ jointing compound) 450mm x 250mm plywood offcut Wall paint (we used Porter’s

‘Eggshell Finish’ in Petal Pink) Lengths of 18mm x 18mm dressed clear pinetrim radiata pine• (to frame bedhead)

1Position the plasterboard sheet on a flat surface at a working height that is easy to move around. Lightly smooth over the surface with 120-grit abrasive paper, then wipe with a damp cloth. Use a 230mm roller to apply primer. Tip: We set the sheet on a pair of saw horses to access from all sides.

3With the pointing trowel, scoop the plaster onto the sheet in small quantities, smoothing it over the surface. Use a notched trowel to distribute the plaster evenly and create uniform coverage of about 5mm thick.

5Lightly smooth over the surface with 120-grit abrasive paper to remove loose plaster and prevent flaking. Leave to cure for 48 hours, then wipe with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust. Apply primer over the surface and around the edges with a roller and leave to dry. 2Scoop the plaster onto an offcut of plywood using a pointing trowel, mixing it in a back-and-forward motion to remove air bubbles. Tip: We used the full plasterboard sheet for a double bed. For a single, score and snap the sheet in half lengthways, or buy a 1200mm x 900mm sheet.

4Clean the notched trowel with a cloth then, beginning at the top corner, move it across the sheet to create a wave pattern. Begin the second wave at the same point, moving in the opposite direction. Repeat to cover the sheet.

6Apply two coats of paint, over the surface and around the edges, leaving to dry after each. Enlist a second pair of hands to position the headboard against the wall and attach (see page 14). Tip: For a professional finish, cut 18mm x 18mm moulding to fit around the bedhead, butting at the corners and securing with construction adhesive.

STONE-EFFECT WALL

Use paint to create the illusion of different surfaces and materials for a room packed with personality. Contrast a textured stone effect along the top half of the wall, then pack a punch with colour-blocking around the bottom half. This works for small spaces with plasterboard walls and makes a home study an inspiring room to work in. PRO TIP

When buying paint to tint in your chosen colour, there are a variety of bases which can be used. These work with differing ranges of colour. The experts at the Paint Desk can advise which base is suitable for your colour choice

TOOLS & MATERIALS Safety equipment (mask and gloves)  Drop sheet  Paint stirrer  50mm angle cutter brush Roller with extension pole and tray Monarch ‘Effects’ 120mm paintbrush  Gap filler  180-grit abrasive paper  Sugar soap wipes  Painter’s tape Primer (we used British

Paints ‘4 in 1 Prep’ water based primer sealer undercoat in White) Stone-effect paint (we used Dulux ‘Stone

Effect’ design paint tinted in Dreamstone White) Wall paint (we used Dulux

‘Wash & Wear’ low sheen paint tinted in Ocean View Beach)

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1 Wagner 3.6m x 1.5m heavy duty canvas drop sheet, $19.90, I/N: 0249720. 2 Selleys ‘Spakfilla’ squeeze and scrape gap filler, $22.80/390g, I/N: 0182132. 3 Selleys ‘Sugar Soap’ wall and surface cleaning wipes, $6.49/pack of 25, I/N: 1210330. 4 Dulux ‘Stone Effect’ design paint, $62.50/1L, I/N: 8906912. 5 Dulux ‘Wash & Wear’ ultra deep low sheen paint, $53.90/1L, I/N: 1370166. 6 ScotchBlue ‘Original’ 55m x 36mm multi-surface painter’s tape, $11.96, I/N: 0142451. 7 Monarch wooden paint stirrer, $2, I/N: 1660993. 1Set out a drop sheet to protect the floor, then prepare the walls by filling scratches and dents with gap filler and leaving to dry. Smooth over the wall with 180-grit abrasive paper, removing excess filler and sanding away any marks. Clean the wall with sugar soap wipes, removing dust and grime.

2Mask over skirting boards and trim to apply primer, cutting into corners with a 50mm angled brush, then using the roller to coat the wall, leaving to dry.

3Use painter’s tape to mask around the area for the textured stone-effect finish, running the roll over the tape to ensure it adheres to the wall.

4Mix the stone-effect paint with a stirrer to evenly distribute the particles and pour into a tray. Apply the first coat with a medium-nap roller, leaving to dry.

5Working in half-metre sections, apply the second coat with the roller. While it’s still wet, use a 120mm brush in random, overlapping strokes to texturise the wall. Remove the tape and leave to dry.

6Use painter’s tape to mask along the base of the textured area of the wall, along skirting boards and trim. Apply two coats of paint with a roller, leaving to dry after each coat. ◆