Painting interior woodwork and metal

Don't let chipped radiators and grubby woodwork spoil your room makeover. Follow our essential guide to preparing and painting interior wood and metal.

MDF
Although MDF has a smooth surface, water-based paints like emulsions are easily absorbed by the wood fibres. This makes the board swell and roughens the surface. Always choose an MDF primer to seal the material before finishing with a matt, satin or gloss topcoat.

Lead Paint
Paint on old woodwork (pre-1960) may contain lead that can be a hazard if stripped with a heat gun or sander. Buy a Lead Tester Pen from a DIY store to check if your old paint contains lead and follow the tips on removing it safely. Visit the FAQs on the British Coatings Federation website on www.coatings.org.uk website for more advice on the best way to deal with lead paint.

Time to complete job: Allow an hour for a radiator and two hours for a medium -sized window frame (excluding drying time).
Approximate budget: Less than £100 for an average house.

Tools and materials
Electric sander and abrasive sheets, wood filler, metal filler, filling knife, paintbrushes, steel wool, wet and dry paper, white spirit, clean cloth, masking tape, dust sheets, bucket, sponge, sugar soap, knotting, quick-drying water-based wood primer, metal primer, satin or gloss-finish wood and metal paints


Sanding the woodwork Repair any cracks with wood filler and dab knotting (a resin sealer) over any exposed knots. Sand smooth. Tip: If the wood is new and has any very dark brown or black knots that are loose, prise them out and fill in the holes with wood filler.	Cleaning Wipe over bare wood with a cloth dampened with white spirit to take off any sanding dust. Wash the old paintwork with soapy water or sugar soap to clean off any grease and dirt.	Sealing Seal any bare wood with a quick-drying wood primer. Work the brush well into any mouldings. Don't overload the brush or the paint will form drips on the surface. Leave to dry thoroughly. Tip: A small brush with an angled bristle top is best for painting narrow beadings or around small window panes.

Undercoat and topcoat Check the instructions on the can of your chosen topcoat and apply an undercoat if recommended. Let dry. Brush on the topcoat. Try to use only the top third of the brush and start with smooth vertical stokes. Then brush the paint out horizontally and finish off with light brush strokes in the direction of the wood grain. Try to tackle one frame or panel at a time. Don't take a break halfway through painting a frame - you will create a line between the old and new paint. Tip: Cut down on brush cleaning by simply putting the bristles of your brushes in a bucket of water overnight. This will keep them pliable and ready to use the next morning. Dry off with a cloth before starting work.	Painting metalwork Use steel wool or wet and dry paper to smooth and remove as much rust from the metalwork as possible. Use masking tape and newspaper to protect surrounding surfaces. Seal any holes caused by rust with a metal filler. Coat all bare metal with a metal primer to prevent any further corrosion. Seal with a topcoat of metal paint. You can buy quick-drying gloss, hammered or satin-finish metal paint. Tip: An aerosol will give the best finish on smooth metal surfaces such as kitchen appliances or radiators. Always use a heat-resistant radiator paint for radiators.