Three handy DIY painting tips

Dry days make good painting days, so make the most of summer's dry weather and get cracking with your DIY painting project before the season's out!

There's a few tips and tricks to painting a house that can make your job just that extra bit easier and maybe even save you some money - here are three handy pointers.

Clean walls = great painting finish!

Get your painting off to the perfect start by cleaning the walls so your paint glides on nicely.

Scrape off any old paint and sand the wall surface so that your new colour will look slick and smooth.

Giving your walls a wipe with a sponge can also help to get the paint to stick better.

Work your brush down

Don't let your paintbrush wander haphazardly - begin your painting at the top and then work your way down as this can help to prevent streaks.

Keep your brush and roller in tip top shape

Remember to stop to clean your brush if you have been painting for over an hour. If you keep using your brush without cleaning it for a long period of time, the paint sitting higher on the brush will start to dry, "gumming" up your paint job and ruining the brush.