Tips for Painting Architectural Columns

When we talk about columns many people assume that they are present just for the sake of support and bearing the load of the overall structure. While it may be true, their main purpose is to provide the extra touch of elegance and an attractive look.

It is important to understand that columns may not give a beautiful style to the architectural building if they are not painted and decorated right. Painting an architectural column can be tricky since it is difficult to choose the right color and style for the particular structure. One wrong move can ruin the whole building style and you will need to start the painting all over again.

For maintenance purposes, many people tend to go with the same color as before due to the fear of ruining the overall decorative style of the structure. However, choosing a new painting color can give your columns a fresh style and enhance the beauty of the building. If you want to learn a risk-free column painting job then hold up! This blog is just for you.

First Thing’s First

If you feel that it is necessary to erect scaffolding to your column then do it. Scaffolding is vital for the painting job depending on the height of the project. Moreover, with scaffolding, it is easier to paint multiple columns safely.

After that, it is vital to scrap the old paint using the relevant tools such as scrapers or wire brushes. Old paint needs to be stripped correctly to paint the new one evenly. After the stripping project is done then it is time to fill the cracks in columns with caulk and apply a coat of primer for a smoother paint job. Finally, move the scaffolding to another column and repeat the same steps.

After all the necessary steps are done to the total columns of the structure then it is time for the paint. Remember you must choose the right color for the column before even thinking about painting since the wrong paint will force you to re-do the project once again.

Paint the Column as Same as the Walls

If you want to give your columns a majestic and clever look, then you should paint them according to the color of your walls. Painting the column with the same color as the wall will help the column to blend in with the overall structure. Using the same color as walls is risk-free since it always works and doesn’t give any odd style to the overall building.

Same color columns don’t break the visual representation of the room which makes your room appear larger as well.

Want Something Different? Choose the Contrasting Color

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Choosing the contrasting color will give your column a more attractive and different look. Using contrasting colors is a bit risky but it makes your column stand out. For instance, if your walls are painted with light color then you might want to go with something darker for your column such as brown color. However, it is always advised to imagine the effect of the contrasting color you opted to give to achieve a better perception.

Want Solid Paint? Use the Brush

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For the ideal paint job, it is vital to use the paintbrush since most of your work will be done by the brush. It is fairly easy to use the paintbrush to cover all the narrow edges of columns and apply the second coat of paint correctly if it is needed. 

You need to choose a high-quality brush to last your painting job for longer. There are poor quality paint brushes available in the market which can destroy your whole hard work. High-quality brushes have tight bristles which means they don’t get loose and stuck in your painting job. Usually when bristles gets stuck in your paint then you need to reapply the paint again.

High-quality brushes have lenient bristles which don’t leave paint marks on the project. So if you want to paint your column without any error then you need to opt for the right paintbrush.

Faux Marble Painting

Painting Faux marble is a common technique for painting architectural columns. However, it is as simple as painting your column with the usual colors since marble faux painting requires practice.  

First, you need to prepare the base marble color and after that apply that color to your column and wait for it to dry. After that, mix the paint with a second marble color to prepare the glaze. After that, plunge the sea sponge into the mixed paint and apply it to the dried base color.

After this job is done you will see your column with a close marble look. It doesn’t produce the original marble look but it is a fine way to give your column a nice look closer to marble. This technique is cheaper than decorating your whole column with real marble.

Spray Paint Your Column

If you are a busy person and don’t have much time for painting your column then spray painting is your way to go. For many people manually painting with a brush can be tricky and after spending lots of hours he may not feel satisfied with his project. To save yourself from frustration, spray paint projects are a nice way to paint your column in no time.

Compared to brush, spray painting is quick and covers all the relevant areas of the project without rechecking them for any missing spot again and again. Moreover, the spray paint dries faster than the traditional paint which means you don’t have to wait anymore.

Furthermore, painting columns with sprays means you don’t need much practice and effort to get your job done right. The only thing you need is steady hands and a filled spray gun with paint and you are good to go. 

Spray painting means you are less likely to waste paint since it doesn’t spill while drying out which means it saves your money. In addition to that spray evenly distributes the paint across the column which means the color around your column doesn’t gather up in one place. 

Furthermore, there are fewer chances of spray bumps which mean your column painting job will look much more professional with spray paint. Spray paint gives you better control over painting as well since quick paint adjustments are easier with spray than with the brush. 

Lastly, you can paint multiple parts of the column without any problem using spray and you can control your spray pattern throughout the column as well. In short, if you want a fun column painting experience and you don’t have much time for the brush method then spray painting is just for you.

Final Word

Painting your column is not rocket science but practice is needed to get the desired results for your project. It is vital to choose the right paint color before making any decisions since the only right color will give you a satisfactory painting experience. 

Moreover, it is important to use the right quality tools for painting the column and achieve the results just like professional paintwork.

Finally, it is up to you if you want to go with the traditional paint or spray paint. Spray paint is a relatively easier and less-effort technique than brush paint but it is overall an expensive method. Moreover, brush paint should be your priority if you have enough time for your project since it provides a more professional and long-lasting paint job to your columns.