Paint|Paint Finishes

Paint!! Making a decision on paint colours, types of paint, and painting tools can become more stressful than it needs to be. For the most part there are some basic and simple rules to follow, and for everything else its probably best to talk to your local paint store because of their expertise.

The first decision to be made after you have decided to paint is what finish am I looking for and what colour do I want. If this is an area that you are uncomfortable in making a decision and you don’t have a friend or family member that you feel you can consult with, then look at using the services of a Colour Consultant. The average fee for this type of service is in the range of $100 for up to a 2-hour consultation. In the big scheme of things this fee is nominal if the final results are stunning. The choice of a correct colour here can make the difference between a “pop” and a “flop”. A Colour Consultant will look at the other colour aspects of the room, for example furnishings, flooring, cabinets etc. and make his or her choice based on the foundation of the room they will be working within.

Prep work is something we all hate to do, but to achieve a near flawlessly painted room it is extremely important to put in the time to do the prep work well. Wash the walls with TSP to remove any oils or dirt, then putty and sand existing holes or blemishes, tape off edges at ceilings and trims and use the recommended primer for your particular application. With one to two coats of primer the walls will be sealed and ready for your coloured paint choice.

The two most commonly used types of interior paint finishes are Interior latex, which is a water-based product, and Alkyd, which is an oil based product. The latex means you can do your paintbrush cleanup with water and soap, and with alkyd you must clean up with mineral spirits. Painting with alkyd paint should be done in a well-ventilated room as the fumes can be strong, latex has a bit less of an odour but it is also recommended to be well ventilated if possible.

Once you’ve chosen which type of paint product you will be purchasing you need to decide on what type of finish you prefer to have on your walls. A flat finish dries to a matte or sheen free surface. It can be used in living rooms, bedrooms, ceilings, brick and drywall surfaces. This is not a good choice for a high traffic area or where you may want to scrub the walls. The eggshell finish can be applied to low traffic areas and allow for minimal scrub ability. The pearl finish hides minor imperfections on your walls, it has a soft pearl finish that is scrub able and can be used in higher traffic or well used areas. Semi-gloss is a great paint for high traffic areas and resists most soaps and cleaners; stains can be easily wiped away. It can be used on almost any surface where the sheen is not going to be an issue for you. It’s an excellent choice for cupboards, trims and any wet rooms in the home. High gloss paint is even stronger still and it retains its glossy surface with a non-yellowing appearance. This can be used in heavy traffic for the interior and for exterior doors, shutters and eaves. To know the exact choice for yourself, rely on the expert advice of your paint store staff to show you samples and assist you.

When selecting your paintbrushes here are some basic rules to follow. Use a bristle brush made of animal hair when using alkyd paint and when using latex paint use a synthetic bristled brush. It’s best to use a better quality paint brush as the paint can be applied thicker, goes on smoother and leaves minimal brush strokes. Always use an angle sash brush when doing trim work or cutting in at the edges of the ceiling and up against mouldings. Rollers are great for covering large surfaces and the same rules apply as to the choice of roller use synthetic when using latex paint. The key to picking a great roller for the job is in getting the length of the nap right on the roller and the smoother the surface picks the shorter the nap and the rougher the surface picks the longer nap. Paint pads are great for those hard to reach places such as corners or odd angles. Most pads are made of foam or a synthetic material and works well for both latex and alkyd paints.

It’s always nice to have extra hands on board when starting a painting job especially for the prep work and cleanup. To get a uniform result on your walls its usually best to have the same person doing all the wall painting, and another one doing the trim work and one more person to clean and get refreshments. It’s a lot of work, but you can make it fun and make the time pass quickly. You’ll be surprised and pleased I hope by doing your homework first and eliminating the possibility of the “painters blues”. Who said you had to be Vincent Van Gogh in order to paint!

Written by Sharon @ IDQ