Practical Project Work
Practical project work tests planning and control: survey, protection, sequencing, material reconciliation and a clean handover on a real job.
Planning
- Survey the site: measure every surface, photograph existing defects, test moisture, check for lead paint, and note water, power and access.
- Prepare a sample patch or panel for approval, especially for shades and textures.
- Build a schedule: room order, coats, drying intervals, manpower, materials and access equipment.
- Protect first: mask switches, sockets, hinges, glass and floors; remove hardware; cover furniture.
Sequence and control
Top to bottom; ceilings, then walls, then wood and metal, then floors. Finish one room before moving on and keep the wet edge. Each day check consumption against the estimate, catch defects early, segregate waste and clean tools. Handover needs a snag list, touch-up with retained batch paint, a short cleaning demonstration, and the product labels and warranty left with the client.
Worked example
A two-bedroom flat with about 180 sq m of wall and ceiling, planned for six working days. Day 1: survey, protection, cleaning, crack filling. Day 2: full putty and dry. Day 3: sand and prime. Day 4: first emulsion coat on ceilings and walls. Day 5: second coat, enamel on three doors. Day 6: dry check, touch-up, snags, cleaning, handover. Reasoning: emulsion needs 4-6 hours between coats and about 24 hours before washing, while enamel on doors needs overnight drying, so doors come last.
Traps
Starting the second coat before the first has set; leaving masking tape on for days so it tears; mixing two batches mid-wall; beginning work without an approved sample.