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Description

Aim: To get young people to plan and learn how to use DIY skills safely. Introduction: This activity introduces to the group different DIY skills and to get them thinking about the planning processes associated with such work. Taken from the BB Company Section Discoverer Pro Pack, Skills, Life Skills K1

Resources

Activity 1
• flip chart pad
• Pens
• Paper
• Tape measure
• Ladder

Activity 2
• Paint colour chart
• Paint price lists
• Computer / calculator
• Paint Calculator’ template / spreadsheet

Activity 3
• Brushes
• Paint
• Rollers
• Dust sheets
• Ladders

Instructions

Activity 1 - What Needs to be Done ?

Aim: To get the young people to think about what needs to be done to paint a room.

Instructions:
• Identify a small room That needs painting.

• Planning your decorating:
Tell the group That planning sounds boring but it does save time in the long run and is crucial in getting a job like decorating done. It helps you think the job through, make all those difficult decisions about colour scheme, and get together everything you need before you start work. Ask the group what they need to do to plan this project? Write the answers onto a flip chart pad and then get them to work out what needs to be done first. You should end up with a list like the one below:

a. What’s the budget?
b. choose a colour — Who decides on the colour?
c. Measure the room
d. Preparing the room — Rubbing / washing down and filling
e. What’s going to be done? Walls / Woodwork / Ceiling
f. Painting
g. clearing away
h. When will the work be done?

• Tell the group what the budget for the room is and if any specific colours have been requested.
• Ensure the group has considered that the walls/woodwork may need to be rubbed/washed down, and that there may be holes which require filling.
• The group should decide if they are only going to paint the walls, for example, or if they are also going to paint skirting, ceiling, radiators, windows, doors, etc. In some cases there may be a picture rail or dado rail in the room.
• Get the group on the flip chart pad to draw a basic 3D diagram of the room. Label the drawing with measurements of the walls, windows and doors.

Tips / Advice:
The leader should be sure to request permission from the church or owner of the premises in which the work will be taking place and ensure that all users of the facility are aware of the work if it means the room will be out of use for a period of time.

Safety Issues / Risk Assessment:
Instruct the young people to be careful with the tape measures and not to climb on any furniture whilst measuring the room. Depending on the room it might be necessary to use a ladder, which needs to be used responsibly.

Activity 2 - Preparations Before Starting Work.

Aim: To work out what materials are needed to complete the project.

Instructions:
• Bring to the group some colour charts and paint price lists.

• In pairs or as a group, ask the young people to work out how much paint they need and how much it will cost. You might like to use the ‘Paint Calculator’ template / spreadsheet or get them to make a spreadsheet themselves (have the formulas in the example spreadsheet ready to help if necessary) to calculate the amount and cost of the paint.

• Instruct the group to think about what equipment they need to actually paint the room, e.g. paint brushes, paint, floor coverings etc.

• The group should think about who will do what and how everyone can be involved. Also get the young people to think about the length of time the work will take.

• Ensure the young people consider what they might need to protect areas / items such as carpets / flooring, switches, etc.

Tips / Advice:
It is often better to overestimate how much paint you need rather than have too little.

Safety Issues / Risk Assessment:
The leader should carry out a risk assessment based upon the work which is to be carried out in the next practical activity. This should pay particular attention to the use of steps/ladders, etc.

Activity 3 - Painting the Room

Aim: To get your young people to learn how to paint a room.

Instructions:
Instruct the young people to:

Prepare all the equipment and protect the floor and other areas as appropriate. A leader with some experience (or a skilled painter/decorator who might be willing to come in and help with this activity) should then demonstrate some techniques and tips for painting as below:

1. Using a Brush:
• Choose a brush that is the right size:
— Window frames 25mm
— Door panels 75mm
— Walls 100mm

• Grip large brushes around the handle and smaller brushes like a pencil.
• Flick the bristles against your hand to remove dust.
• Dip the brush into a pot about 1/3 of the bristle length and brush against the pot to remove excess paint.

2. Painting:
• Start at the top of the wall applying the paint in all directions. Do not apply the paint too thickly.
• Finish with light brush strokes and a fairly dry brush, working in a criss-cross pattern. Lift the paint finally on an upward stroke.

3. Cutting in:
• Achieve a neat finish along walls or ceiling edges by first painting with a brush, before switching to a roller or pad.
• Paint four or five overlapping strokes at right angles to the edge.
• Cross-brush over the painted area in a long, sweeping motion, keeping parallel with the edge.

4. Using a roller:
• You can cover an area more quickly with a roller, but you may need to apply more coats.
• Fill about one third of the roller tray with paint
• Dip the roller into the paint, and then run it lightly on the ridged part of the tray.
• Push the roller backwards and forwards alternating diagonal strokes at random.
• Do not apply too much in one coat and do not work too fast.

5. Recap:
• Get the group to state what they are going to do, e.g. cutting in, rolling, and cleaning up.

Tips / Advice:

• Cleaning brushes immediately after use is the best option if possible:
— To clean the brushes after use, get as much out as possible by brushing it on newspaper, wiping with a rag and pushing the brush hard against the edge of the paint pot and squeezing out as much paint as possible.
— You can even lay the brush flat on the newspaper and push down the length of the bristles with a paint scraper.
— Rinse any water based paints under a running tap. Slightly warm water is best and work your fingers through the bristles as you flush.
— A drop of fairy liquid will not hurt and the water should be crystal clear before you finish.
— When you have been using oil based paints, put on some household rubber gloves and tip some white spirit into a paint kettle or bowl.
— Put the brush in and work the white spirit into the bristles well.
— Repeat in clean white spirit until it remains fairly clear.
— Only a little white spirit is needed in the bottom of the bowl or kettle but remember white spirit is cheaper than good paint brushes.
— When you are sure the brush is clean, swap the white spirit for hot, soapy water, work the bristles thoroughly and finally rinse out under a warm tap.
— Shake as much of the water out as possible and run the brush gently up and down a sheet of newspaper.
— Wrap the brush, in its natural shape, in 5 or 6 sheets of newspaper thickness and hold together with an elastic band.

• If you do not have a wall that you can paint, you could make a free standing wall and just do the third activity along with putting up a shelf and hanging wall paper.

Safety Issues / Risk Assessment:
• Close supervision of the group is necessary to ensure appropriate use of the equipment, especially on ladders and whilst using the paint. It is probably best if a leader does the hardest to reach areas.
• Get the group to identify any risks at the beginning of the session.
• The leader responsible for the activity should have undertaken a written risk assessment before starting this practical activity with the young people.

For full details see the BB Company Section Discoverer Pro Pack, Skills, Life Skills K1

Tags

• company
• decorating
• discoverer
• DIY
• DIY Project
• Life skills
• painting
• skills

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