How to Thin Latex Paint to Avoid Overlap

Lapping marks are areas in paint that have higher pigment concentrations than others, leaving an uneven look in the paint job. Thick paint often is fingered as the culprit. However, the more likely villains are poor paint quality and failure to maintain a wet edge by overlapping wet and dry layers. If there already is lapping on your first coat of paint, you can touch up the layer and remove the lapping marks by thinning the paint slightly.

Container
Paint stir stick
Paint tray
Paint roller

Instructions

- 1
  Pour the paint into a container that holds at least twice the volume of paint it will hold.
- 2
  Add one-quarter the volume of water to the container (one quart of water per gallon of paint).
- 3
  Stir the paint thoroughly for at least 90 continuous seconds. Use a paint stick. Scrape the bottom and sides of the container as you stir.
- 4
  Pour the paint into a paint tray.
- 5
  Apply a thin coat of paint to the entire wall, not just the low-pigment areas. Maintain a wet edge by painting into dry layers of paint and then back over wet roller marks. Do not allow the leading edge of the new, thinner coat to dry until you have painted the entire wall or you come to a natural break in the wall such as a window or doorway.
- 6
  Apply a second thin coat if necessary to cover the lapping marks.

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