The Fine Points of Whitewash Painting and the Equipment Used

We have left behind the cold and rainy days and welcomed sunny spring. As the weather warms up, all of nature enters a renewal process. The easiest and most effective way to achieve a similar renewal in our homes is, of course, to do interior wall painting. While some prefer to do it themselves, most choose to leave the work to a professional. In this context, we spoke with Mehmet Güler, who has dedicated years to his craft, about the intricacies of interior wall painting and the equipment used. Mehmet Usta, who has been practicing his profession since 1979, was first asked about the equipment he uses. Mehmet Usta said he uses brushes and rollers for painting, and tools such as scrapers, shovels, and plaster for preparation work. When asked about the preparations before interior wall painting—cleaning, sanding, and plastering the surface—Mehmet Usta responded: "You need to remove loose and swollen surfaces and then strengthen them. If cavities appear when scraping, these holes must be filled with plaster to achieve a smooth, even surface. Without a smooth surface, the paint looks poor. In the past, putty was also used for this process, but nowadays it is hardly used at all. On the base layer, a mixture of plaster is applied, and then satin plaster is applied on top to achieve a smooth finish."

When doing interior wall painting, extremely hot or cold weather certainly affects the duration of the work. Mehmet Usta explained this by saying: "If the weather is very hot, the paint dries too quickly and can form a crust at the edges of the bucket.

In very cold weather, the paint does not dry, causing time loss. Spring and autumn are more ideal for interior wall painting. Excessive humidity also slows down paint drying and can cause time loss," he said. When asked how the brand, quality, and characteristics of the paint used are selected—whether according to customer requests or the master's preference—Mehmet Usta said: "With unfamiliar, new customers, the selection is generally made according to customer requests. However, to our regular customers who know and trust us, we bring paint of our own choosing. Of course, we also prefer well-known, recognized paint brands." We wanted to find out what types of paints and colors have been more popular recently. Mehmet Usta said: "Earth tones, pastel colors, and warm tones have become quite popular lately. Currently, silicone-based paints are being used; plastic paints are very rare. In the past, there were solvent-based satins, but they have been phased out. The odor these paints emit during application disturbs both us masters and the household members living inside." Finally, we asked Mehmet Usta: "Every job has its mastery and tricks; what should be paid attention to in order to do good interior wall painting?" Mehmet Usta responded: "Some people pick things up quickly; if they have a natural aptitude, after seeing and applying the technique once or twice, their hand becomes accustomed and they can do it properly. Besides, the instructions for thinning and proportions are written on the paint itself. After paying attention to these, one can do their own interior wall painting themselves, although of course not as quickly as an experienced master who has devoted years to this work... But still, a job that a master finishes in 2-3 hours can take an amateur at most a full day, provided they have a natural aptitude for it," he concluded.