How to touch up interior wall paint?
February 8, 2009 11:41 AM Subscribe
Is there a way to accelerate the fading of interior latex paint to hide an unfaded spot revealed by unmounting a flat screen TV mount?
I am leaving my apartment and need to touch up the area on which my flat screen was mounted on the wall. The wall is a light bluish gray. But the wall color directly beneath the the space occupied by the mount itself is darker than the surrounding wall. Interestingly, the line is sharp around the wall plate. There is no fade to account for the darkness that was sure to preside immediately behind the TV as well. Does exposure to air make paint fade as well?
I have the same can of paint that was originally used to paint the wall, and would like to avoid repainting the entire wall if at all possible.
Are there any tricks to touch up this wall quickly and easily?
I am leaving my apartment and need to touch up the area on which my flat screen was mounted on the wall. The wall is a light bluish gray. But the wall color directly beneath the the space occupied by the mount itself is darker than the surrounding wall. Interestingly, the line is sharp around the wall plate. There is no fade to account for the darkness that was sure to preside immediately behind the TV as well. Does exposure to air make paint fade as well?
I have the same can of paint that was originally used to paint the wall, and would like to avoid repainting the entire wall if at all possible.
Are there any tricks to touch up this wall quickly and easily?
How long have you been in the apartment? Depending, it could be considered normal wear and tear. The same thing would have happened if you had other kind of wall hanging.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:08 PM on February 8, 2009
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:08 PM on February 8, 2009
Interestingly, the line is sharp around the wall plate. There is no fade to account for the darkness that was sure to preside immediately behind the TV as well.
Could be a chemical reaction with the metal of the mounting plate, or with its coating. In any case, I think you're kidding yourself here. Paint the wall and be done with it. Aren't there some screw holes that need to be patched anyhow?
posted by jon1270 at 12:28 PM on February 8, 2009
Could be a chemical reaction with the metal of the mounting plate, or with its coating. In any case, I think you're kidding yourself here. Paint the wall and be done with it. Aren't there some screw holes that need to be patched anyhow?
posted by jon1270 at 12:28 PM on February 8, 2009
It'll take what, 30 minutes to roll the wall? Just do it be done. Otherwise your in danger of spending hours looking for a shortcut.
posted by COD at 1:01 PM on February 8, 2009
posted by COD at 1:01 PM on February 8, 2009
Any solution would involve detailed and finicky masking of the area, and careful application of something to bring it to almost match, but it won't quite match and look just as bad or worse.
Or in other words, just paint the wall. Or if you're moving out, leave it for the landlord. Seriously. They already have the paint and roller and someone who will do it cheap and just ding you for a couple bucks off your deposit. Or maybe they won't even charge you if they're going to paint the unit anyway.
posted by Ookseer at 2:41 PM on February 8, 2009
Or in other words, just paint the wall. Or if you're moving out, leave it for the landlord. Seriously. They already have the paint and roller and someone who will do it cheap and just ding you for a couple bucks off your deposit. Or maybe they won't even charge you if they're going to paint the unit anyway.
posted by Ookseer at 2:41 PM on February 8, 2009
Nthing the no-chance consensus.
Assuming that there was someway to replicate the fading over a vastly shorter amount of time, how are you going to be able to judge how long to apply treatment X? You'll run the very real risk of not either not creating nearly enough fade, or - worse - causing too much fade.
Discuss it with the landlord
posted by puffmoike at 4:16 PM on February 8, 2009
Assuming that there was someway to replicate the fading over a vastly shorter amount of time, how are you going to be able to judge how long to apply treatment X? You'll run the very real risk of not either not creating nearly enough fade, or - worse - causing too much fade.
Discuss it with the landlord
posted by puffmoike at 4:16 PM on February 8, 2009
Try washing the wall. Unless the sun shines directly on that wall, I doubt it's actually faded.
posted by gjc at 6:44 PM on February 8, 2009
posted by gjc at 6:44 PM on February 8, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:43 AM on February 8, 2009