The Art of Painting: A Conversation with Rico De Paz

As we stood before the large wall, ready to begin our painting project, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The wall was enormous, and I wasn't sure if I was up for the task. "Gonna have a problem painting this big wall with this roller," I said to myself, feeling a bit overwhelmed. But just as I was about to start, my partner, Rico De Paz, appeared out of nowhere, wearing the same uniform as me. "Hey, wait a minute," he said, catching my attention. "You got the same uniform I do."

I looked at him in surprise, and we both burst out laughing. "Yeah we do," we said in unison, realizing that we were on the same team. Rico introduced himself, saying "I'm Jack Rico," but I knew that couldn't be right. He corrected me, saying "No, no, I'm Rico De Paz." It turned out that he was indeed Rico De Paz, the paint expert from Consumer Reports. I felt a sense of relief wash over me, knowing that I had found the right person to guide me through this painting process.

Rico explained that he had 13 years of experience testing paint and was eager to share his expertise with consumers like me. He told us that his team ran a battery of tests, including scrub testing to measure a paint's durability, and coverage testing to see how well it would hide and cover dark colors. "Step number one, preparation," he said, emphasizing the importance of preparing the surface before painting. We pushed aside newspaper clippings and masking tape, which wouldn't damage our walls.

As we began to prepare for the first coat of paint, Rico explained that we needed to use a roller, not a brush, to cover large surfaces like this wall. "There is no good brush," he said with confidence, "only rollers for walls." He went on to explain that rollers leave a much more uniform finish than brushes and are faster to work with. With the trim taped off, we were ready to start painting.

Rico pulled out a selection of paints from his toolbox, explaining that there are two main types: oil paint and water-based paint. "Water-based paint is great," he said, "it cleans up easily and doesn't have those pesky fumes." He told us that the best type of paint for most walls was water-based, as it had improved so much over the years. Rico also explained that paint consists of several different components to give it color and texture, which separate over time. "We need to stir it up," he said, "to make it nice and uniform."

As we dipped our roller into the paint, Rico began to demonstrate the four-step process for applying paint like a pro. The first S was saturation – getting the roller completely saturated in paint, with almost dripping off. Next came smearing the paint, making an X or W shape on the wall to ensure that there was no excess paint left. Then, we needed to spread the paint out using gentle strokes, creating a smooth finish. Finally, we smoothed it out to the end, overlapping our strokes.

Rico then shared three more quick tips from his expertise. If you noticed drips marks on your paint, wait until it dried and use fine sandpaper to remove them. Retouching areas with a brush would also help. Additionally, using a 1/4 inch nap roller for smooth walls and a longer 3/8 of an inch nap roller for rough or uneven walls would ensure that the paint gets into all nooks and crannies. When it came to cutting in around trim and windows, Rico recommended using a sash brush with angled bristles.

As we finished our painting project, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. "Hey, Rico, we're done," I said, relieved that the ordeal was over. Rico smiled and replied, "Well thank you so much for the tips, Rico. You did good." As we stood back to admire our handiwork, I turned to him and said, "Rico and Rico. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." He chuckled and added, "But I'm the first Rico, right?" We both laughed, realizing that we were indeed two Ricos, each with our own unique experience.

As I looked at Rico, I felt grateful for his guidance and expertise. And as he patted me on the back, saying "You'll need the practice," I knew that he was right. That's why he taught me in the first place.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enGonna have a problem paintingthis big wall with this roller.It's going to be a-- oh.Hey, wait a minute.You got the same uniform I do.Yeah we do.What's going on?I'm here to paint a wall.No, no.I'm here to paint the wall.No, I'm here to paint the wall.No, I'm here to paint the wall.Wait a minute, what's your name?Rico.I'm Rico.No, no.I'm Rico.Hold on a second.I'm Jack Rico.Oh, I'm Rico De Paz.Oh!I get it.You're the guy who'ssupposed to help and teachhow to paint this wall.You're Rico De Paz,the paint experthere at Consumer Reports.That's the whole combination.It's a great combo.All right!But before we start, we gotto do a little prep work.Rico De Paz has 13 years ofexperience testing paint.And he's eager toshare it so consumerscan make smart decisions.Rico and his team runa battery of tests,like scrub testing tomeasure a paint's durability,and coverage testing, tosee how well a paint willhide and cover a dark color.Step number one, preparation.Good prep will saveyou hours of heartache.Mask the areas you don't wantpainted with painter's tape,which won't damage the walls.Push her down.There you go.So now that we got all thenewspapers here, what's next?Take this out and the cover off.Why do you have to do that?Instead of having togo around the cover,you can just paint one theroller coarsely around there.And then when it's dry,just put the cover back.Nobody will know the difference.All right.With the trim taped,it's time to talk tools.I've been curious about thetype of brushes that we need.Actually, there is no goodbrush, only rollers for walls.Oh, OK.It goes faster, and also leavesa much more uniform finishon the wall.Now we got paint.There's oil paint,there's water paint,which is the rightone for most walls?Water-based paintshave gotten so good,there's really no reasonto buy an oil-based paint.In fact, we don'ttest them anymore.Water-based paint is great.OK, they clean up easily.And not a lot of fumes, either.They don't have that paint smellblasting for weeks at a time.According to Rico,paint consistsof several different componentsto give it color and texture.These componentsseparate over time,so Rico says we need to stir itup to make it nice and uniform.Let me give it a shot.Rico has been paintingwalls for years,and he says the four Smethod is the best way.The first S, saturation.First part of this is toget this roller completelysaturated in paint.The paint that'salmost dripping off.There we go.All right, nice and saturated.Now that wesaturated the roller,then second S in the groupis called smearing the paint.Make a W, or an X,whatever you want.The whole idea is to see thatthe roller has no paint on it.All the paint isnow on the wall.Yes.OK, now we want spatter.The next thing is to getthis paint and spread it out.So you can do that by-- withpushing it anywhere you want.Typically you do about a2 foot by 2 foot section.Last S is to smooth it out.So you go with the top.Just overlap the strokes.There you go.So you smooth itall out to the end.What about the second,third, fourth coating?If you get one of thereally good hiding paints,typically one coat will covereverything but pitch black.OK, so here's anotherquestion, Rico.I finished painting thewall, and I missed a spot.Do I go back with the roller?Just let it dry.A lot of times itlooks like you missedthe spot becausethat one spot wasdrying more than the others.And you may notneed to touch it up.Here are three morequick tips from Rico.If your paint has dripmarks, wait until it driesand use fine sandpaperto remove the drips.Then, retouch thearea with a brush.Two, use a 1/4 inch napruler for most smooth walls,and a longer 3/8 of an inch napruler for rough or uneven wallsto make sure paint getsinto nooks and crannies.Three, to cut in aroundtrim and windows,use a sash brushwith angled bristles.It will give youmuch better control.Hey Rico, we're done.Well thank you so muchfor the tips, Rico.You did good.Oh, by the way.I'm looking at this wall,and I think I have an idea.Rico and Rico.This is the beginning ofa beautiful friendship.But I'm the first Rico, right?I'm taller.I'm the first Rico.Yeah, but my first name is Rico.You know what, you're right.But you're going topaint my house first.What?You'll need the practice.That's why I taught you.\n"