Q: Can you tell me how to do a small painting project myself?

A: For best results they should be spray painted, and if they are raw wood, they need to be primed. A semi-gloss enamel is usually advised on wood.

I recommend you contact a professional painter to do that for you. It will be a little more expensive than doing it yourself, but if you are an amateur, I think you will be much happier in the long run. And you will probably find more painters available to do small interior jobs like that now than in warmer weather when many concentrate on working outdoors.

To locate some reputable painters, please return to our site at: http://www.servicemagic.com. Click on "Painting" and submit a service request for "Small Painting or Staining Projects" so we can match you with the ideal service professionals in your area to come give you bids.

If you still decide to tackle it yourself, I suggest you visit a specialty paint store (like Sherwin Williams or Kelly-Moore as opposed to a hardware or home improvement store that sells paint along with everything else). I have always found the staff in paint stores to be a wealth of information about everything including techniques, preparation and priming, best type of paint and color. They can also sell you all the materials you will need to do any type of painting.

Good luck! Kathy Maynard