House Paint and Interior Paint

Types of Paint

The two most common house paints are oil and latex based. Oil paint is more durable and harder to damage. Yet, latex paint contains water and is easier to use. Both types of paint work well, but Latex is the more popular house paint because it dries faster and has fewer drips. It is also less likely to show brush strokes which lend to a more professional finish.Different paints work better on some surfaces than on others. Use oil paints for wood or metal, and Latex paints for drywall, stucco, or plaster. Meanwhile, acrylic paints resist sunlight damage.

Sheen/Gloss and Flat
Sheen or gloss refers to the paint's ability to reflect light.  Flat paint reflects little light.  "Eggshell", "semi-gloss", "satin" and "gloss" reflect more light.  The more sheen paint has the more likely the paint will show imperfections in the painting surface.  If you use a high sheen paint, extra time is needed to tape and sand walls so that they don't show surface imperfections.  Glossy paints seal the wall better and are easier to clean dirt off of the wall.  In general, use flat paints for ceilings, and formal rooms.  Use glossy paint for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways. 

Glossy paint is usually used for painting trim, and you may consider using paint formulated for trim.  Some glossy paints can feel sticky on trim even after the paint dries.  Trim enamels may be more suitable for use on trim, windows, and other woodwork.  If you have children or pets using a semi-gloss paint may be a good idea because it will be easier to clean than flat painted surfaces.  You can also get paints that are specially formulated for the kitchen and bath area and can hold up better to moisture and resist mildew.

Ceiling Color
Usually white is the best color for a ceiling.  White ceilings help reflect light and can help brighten a room.  However if you have a room with a tall ceiling and want to make the room feel less tall, then a darker flat color or a warm color on the ceiling will make the ceiling seem lower.

Off-White Makes Flaws Less Noticeable
You may want to use an off white color to make flaws less noticeable. Bright pure white on an interior wall will make imperfections with the drywall or taping more noticeable then an off white color.

Primers Versus Sealers
Primers are special types of paints that create a smoother surface by filling in crevices and small holes.  Sealers are paints that reduce the absorption capability of a surface.  Primers and sealers are used to properly condition a surface that is going to be painted.

Sealers and Primers for Drywall
It is helpful to use both sealers and primers on new drywall.  Primer is used to smooth out the rough areas of the wall.  A wall made with drywall uses different types of materials (such as drywall, tape, and joint compound).  These different materials have different absorption rates.  A sealer should be applied to the wall before painting it (otherwise paint absorption can harm the finished appearance).  Some companies offer paints that are specially formulated to provide both sealing and priming for drywall.

Put Primer in Specifications
Make sure priming is done on new walls before the topcoat painting is done.  If this isn't listed in the specifications then some builders might skip this step.  If the walls aren't primed then you will have to repaint your home much sooner.

Paint Costs Less than Labor
It doesn't cost much more to buy a good quality of paint.  The labor is the most expensive part of painting a home.  If you buy poor quality paint or don't have primer then you will have to repaint the home sooner.  Most paint brands come in different grades of quality.  It's a good idea to use a higher quality grade.

Paint Thickness
It is better to have 2 thinner coats of paint then to have one thick coat of paint.  If you are repainting a room, you may be able to get by with one coat (because you have another paint layer to prime the wall).   When painting a new wall 2 coats of paint are better.

Volume Discounts
If you are buying a lot of paint ask if the store offers a volume discount.  Some stores give discounts when larger quantities of paint are purchased.

Tint Base, Color and Colorfastness
Paints are usually made by adding colorants to a tint base.  The tint base determines the durability of the paint and affects the paint's ability to resist dirt and mildew.  The colorant affects the color of the paint as well as the colorfastness of the paint.  Sometimes several colorants are mixed into paint to create the finished color.  If you are using paint outdoors or in areas that will receive bright sunlight then you may want to choose colors that resist fading.  In general, paints that contain bright greens and yellows are most likely to fade.  Whites and browns usually don't fade.  Red and blue colorants don't fade very much.  The color you choose can also affect the number of coats of paint that will be needed.  If you are greatly changing the color of something then it may take more coats of paint to keep the previous color from showing through.  Color fading on the exterior is affected by the orientation of the sun.  Usually the south or west sides of the home are more likely to have colors fade.

Save Paint for Touchups
Ask to have some of the paint saved for future touchups.  Before your home is finished there will probably be a few places that the paint will be chipped or will need touchup work.  If you don't save some touchup paint it may be difficult to get paint to match the original paint.  Store touchup paint in a place where it won't freeze.

Repainting a Home
Over time, the paint on a home wears out and repainting is needed.  When repainting the exterior, if the home was originally painted with oil plaint then use oil paint when repainting the exterior.  Latex paint and oil paint expand and contract at different rates and if you put latex paint over oil paint on the exterior there's a chance you will have problems with the latex paint damaging the oil paint.  Before repainting the exterior, clean the surfaces.  Be sure any chalking old paint is removed.  Also, rough up the surface slightly to help the new paint bond better with the old paint.

On the interior of a home it is usually fine to put latex over oil paints because the interior is not exposed to freezing and thawing.  However, if the interior is painted with oil, you may want to test painting over a small portion first.  Occasionally there may be water-soluble surfaces underneath oil paint and using latex over top of oil can cause peeling.  Testing a small area first is a good idea.

Lifetime Exterior Paint
Special paint is available that has a lifetime warrantee.  The paint goes on thicker and is more elastic so that it stretches cracking and peeling.  Sherwin Williams offers a brand of paint with a lifetime guarantee called "Endurance".  (The paint is guaranteed as long as the owner owns the home, but the labor to reapply the paint is not covered).

Covering Lead Paint
In 1978 lead paint was outlawed due to health problems.  If you have children and live in an older home with lead paint you may want to cover it with paint that is specially formulated to cover lead paint.  This type of paint is less likely to flake or come off.  Some brands of lead-covering paint are formulated with a bad taste to discourage children from putting paint chips in their mouth.

Insulated Paint (Ceramic Paint)
Special paint or paint additives are available that add insulation properties to your paint.  These paints typically contain ceramic beads.  The paint reflects heat and by doing so can reduce the amount of heat that leaves or enters your home.  Exterior insulated paint can help keep the home cooler in the summer and interior insulated paint can keep the home warmer in the winter.  Insulated paint may add a texture to the dry paint, so you might want to test it on a small area to see if you like the texture.  Insulated paint creates a thicker layer then regular paint so more paint is needed to cover an area.  The thicker paint may be helpful when covering small cracks or holes.  If you need to paint your roof, insulated paint can also reduce interior heat gain.  One brand of insulated paint is Insuladd

Faux Painting
Faux painting is a technique where paint is used to give a surface the illusion of other materials.  For example faux painting can make something look like it is made of marble or wood.  Usually faux painting is created by using something other than a brush to paint the wall (such as a sponge, rag, or broom).

Fumes and Flames Can Create a Fire Hazard
Fumes from things such as paint, varnish, glue, or solvents can be flammable.  Avoid having a lot of fumes in an area that has a gas pilot light.  Have your work area well ventilated.  For example if you are varnishing a lot of door and trim in the basement and the hot water heater or furnace has a pilot light then this could cause an explosion.  You may want to turn off appliances that use pilot lights, and well ventilate an area that may have fumes.



Read the Labels

You can learn a lot by reading the label on a can of paint or other finish.  The most common problems come from people who don't follow the directions on the label.

Water Content
Paints with lower water content will provide better coverage.  For example paint that has 50% water content provides better coverage than paint with 65% water content.

Formulations
Buy paint that is formulated for the place you want painted.  For example use exterior paint on the outside of your home (not interior paint).

Spread Rate
The spread rate tells you how much surface area the can of paint will cover.  Try to use up the paint in the recommended spread.  If you spread the paint too thin, you may need to paint more coats.

Temperature Guidelines
For best results, apply the paint under conditions that satisfy the temperature and humidity recommended.

Dry and Cure Time
Dry time tells how long you must wait before applying another coat of paint.  Cure time tells you how long to wait before cleaning the wall.

Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
The LRV is a number that shows how much light reflects off paint.  The higher the LRV then the less light is needed to light a room.

Stir Rather than Shake to Mix
When mixing a finish be careful how you mix it.  For some finishes (like varnish) if you shake the can then bubbles and spots may show up in the finish.  Check the directions before mixing.