Choosing the right materials is the first and one of the most important steps when you are planning to do some painting. There are two main factors which should serve you as an orientation when it comes to the final choice of paints you are going to use:
- What is the purpose of the room or rooms you are about to paint?
- What is the finish type you are primarily interested in?
Nowadays, all paints used for interior painting have a latex or oil structure. Those that are oil based or alkyds have proven superior to the paints which use primarily natural oils. Each of them has a different purpose and structure.
Latex based paints are extremely user friendly and h ave very good characteristics when it comes to duration, drying and cleaning issues. On the other hand, oil based paints are particularly suitable for the woodwork/trim in rooms which are the most frequently used in your house. For example: kitchens, bathrooms and family rooms are among the areas used most by the occupants. Their resistanceto stains is one of their strongest advantages.
The next thing you need to know about paints, when you are painting your home by yourself, is how to choose the right paint for certain types of surfaces.
- Ceiling Surfaces – require special flat paints which have to deal with the imperfections of the surface.
- Surfaces made of wood – when it comes to the surfaces made of wood make sure you always prime bare wood. As a top coat you can use either latex or oil based paints. If simplicity and ease of use is most important your first choice should be latex paints. On the other hand, if the durability and stain resistance is your primary concern then you should use oil based paints. Keep in mind that some yellowing is to be expectedwith all oil based paints. Additionally, all oil based paints will yellow over time.
- Wall Surfaces – require user and environment friendly paints such as latex. In addition, bare wall surfacesshould be primed.
- Metal Surfaces – when it comes to these types of surfaces you have to be particularly careful. Latex paints can be used directly on aluminum and galvanized metal. However, if you are using oil based paints these surfaces have to be treated with the appropriate primer.
- Masonry Surfaces – the surfaces which are made of cement, concrete or blocks are to be treated with the latex paints that have a high content of acrylic. Remember to always prime bare surfaces with appropriate primers.
- Floor Surfaces – require specially designed paints which can sustain abrasion, chemical spills and heavy-traffic