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Paint Savvy 101:
Paint Choices
Language of Paint
Prepping for Paint
Color your World
Color Tips
All paint is not created equally
Whether you contract a professional painter or you do it yourself, understanding the basics of how paint qualities differ will powerfully equip you in your decision making to achieve the ideal best results for your project and investment.
As with choosing the one baked good over the other, different ingredients in paint are what affect the quality. A basic comprehension of how paints work will help you to ask the right questions before making your selection beyond merely choosing a shade.
Decision factors when choosing paint
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Plain and simple: good quality paint goes on faster and easier. In other words, the better the quality of paint used, the better it will flow and assist in the hiding of pigments, and result in an attractive and uniform appearance with less coats of paint needed. This also reduces the amount of time and money spent on labor.
This is especially true of exterior paints. The finest quality paints will give you a good return on your investment all around. If the surface to be painted is properly prepared and the right tools are used, the paint will last a lot longer than inferior brands trying to weather the diversity of our seasonal climate. Maintenance reduction is an added factor to consider when purchasing exterior paints. Inferior paints tend to chip, crack, fade and collect mildew quicker than quality products, therefore you will need to redo the entire project more frequently.
Quality interior paints should last longer and stand up better when it comes to resisting dirt and stains. Superior paints will also withstand repeated cleaning better than inferior brands, go on in a more uniform fashion, and provide for maximum adhesion, color retention, mildew resistance and overall durability.
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The language of paint
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PIGMENT is what gives the paint its color, whiteness and ability to hide what is underneath. Top quality paints have higher levels of hiding pigments.
BINDERS are what "bind" the pigment, or what makes it adhere to the surface you are painting. The finest paints have a higher binder-to-pigment ratio.
LIQUIDS are what carry the pigment and binders. In latex paints, the liquid is water. The finest quality paints have less liquid and more solids (pigments and binders).
CARRIER is what keeps the solids in liquid form so they can be brushed. When the paint dries, the carrier evaporates. The top brands have the finest carriers, which makes the paint easily applied and adds to its durability.
ADDITIVES provide better flow and leveling and are typically used in exterior paints to ensure splatter and mildew resistance.
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Preparation;
Preparing surfaces to receive paint
Nothing is better than the fresh look of a newly painted home's interior or exterior. Proper preparation will ensure the finest quality finish.
Cleaning
The painting surface must be clean, smooth, and free of defects and mold.
Treat any mold or dirt with a 3-1 water to bleach mixture and leave it on for at least twenty minutes. Rinse walls completely after twenty minutes and be sure to wear proper skin and eye protection.
Pressure washers should be used on the entire surface for exterior jobs. Removal of all dirt, treated mildew, and dust is a must. Do the final wash with a detergent solution and rinse thoroughly.
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Patching
Flaking, chipping and cracks should be removed by hand. Patch any holes and cracks, and lightly sand the areas with a #220 fine sandpaper to eliminate bumps.
Priming
Priming is critical in assisting with the best adhesion and uniformity of the finished coat of paint. Primer should be applied to areas that are stained or in areas that are being painted for the first time. Priming is also necessary if you're switching from oil-based paints to water-based.
Taping and Drop Cloths
Be sure to tape the edges of all windows, window frames, door frames and any other miscellaneous woodwork or flooring that is near the finished area to be painted.
This is a very tedious and time consuming job, but it will be well worth the effort when all of your completed paint edges have a nice straight line of color. Painter friendly blue tape is available in several widths. It is very good at keeping paint from seeping underneath it. It is strong and won't pull up your existing paint, but remember to give the paint enough time to dry before pulling the blue tape!
Invest only in quality cloth drop cloths. They are available at all paint stores and home centers. They can be used over and over again and will not cause slips (like the plastic sheeting that is sold as an inexpensive alternative). Fabric drop cloths will do the best job of protecting what is underneath.
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Quality Tools
Traditional painting entails the use of only the highest quality brushes and rollers. Why invest hundreds of dollars in paint and endless hours of trimming and painting only to use an inexpensive applicant? The best quality will ensure that the paint is applied more evenly and will make the job more effortless. Top quality brushes will hold more paint, are well balanced and designed, and are most efficient to applying paint evenly. Brushes are either made with a filament or hog's bristle. When applying latex or water based paints, it is important to use brushes and rollers with synthetic bristles. These help to ensure the correct stiffness and help maintain a consistent shape no matter the amount of water content. Oil based or alkyd paints can be applied with either synthetic or natural brushes or rollers.
With rollers, make sure you consider the length of the nap. The nap is the length of the pile. Generally the shorter the nap, the smoother the surface. A long nap should be considered for semi-smooth or rough surfaces. Most professionals recommend a 270mm roller.
When using a technique to enhance your colors, make sure that you not only use the manufactures recommended paint, but the tools as well. Do not take short cuts if you are doing the job yourself. If you are hiring someone for the job, insist on only the finest of paint and ask for a list of current references, as well as a portfolio of recent former jobs. Ask plenty of questions and make sure your painter has experience painting the desired technique you desire.
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Colors
The first step is a trip to the paint store or a scheduled consultation with a contracted painter. As you discuss your desired finish, refer to 'room inspirations' such as fabric swatches, pictures to be displayed or any favorite colored item of choice that you would like to try and duplicate.
Keep in mind the existing furniture in your room, window treatments and other items in the room. Whether contracting a painter or doing it yourself, it is often a good idea to invest in a small quart of your final color choice in order to do a wall sample. Lighting can have a dramatic impact on hues of color. It is best to be certain that the color you've chosen best accomplishes your desired finished look. Be sure to view your paint sample throughout an entire day so that you can note the affects of your color choice in natural light and artificial light at night. It is far better to change your mind with one quart rather than three gallons.
More about coloring your world...
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Sheen
Flat finishes have no shine and are the most forgiving of all paints. They are ideal for hiding surface imperfections. Traditionally flat paints are not stain-resistant. Eggshell or velvet finishes are close to a flat finish, but are easier to clean and are a good safe choice for almost any room. Satin or semi-gloss are easy to clean as well, and is perfect for kitchens, baths, hallways, children's play areas and doorways. Gloss finishes are extremely easy to clean and/or scrub, and are ideal for doors, trim and furniture. Keep in mind, the lacquered finish will reflect imperfections so be careful when using gloss paints!
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Fumes
Many manufactures offer paints that are specially formulated in controlling odor. These paints are called low-VOC and no-VOC paints, which contain fewer volatile organic compounds, produce fewer fumes and are safer for the environment. For best results, consult your local dealer before you purchase your paint, and whatever the paint project, it's always a good idea to make sure that your space is well ventilated.
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How Much Paint?
Add the width of all walls in the room together; multiply the height of one wall from floor to ceiling. Take this total number and subtract the total area of your doors, windows, fireplaces, archways and anything else that will not be painted. This will give you the exact area to paint. Flat surfaces usually require one gallon of paint for every 400 square feet. Do not forget to factor the number of coats you will need to do the job. There are many calculators on the Internet that will calculate the exact amount of paint you will need. One web site to visit is www.glidden.com/NUSGLI/
productfinder/calcint.htm
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Chair Rails:
If you want an open look, always paint the portion of the wall below the chair rail with the darker color. This will allow the lighter color to dominate.
Trim:
If you want to show off the trim, paint it a different color to accentuate it as a detail. Lighter or darker colors will add drama to a room. If you are trying to create a monochromatic look to the room, create a uniform look, or simply trying to hide unattractive trim, paint it the same color as the rest of the room.
Color of Walls:
Most professionals will suggest going a shade or two lighter than you want: larger surfaces appear darker than that on a sample. Lighter colors can appear lighter or darker depending on the lighting and accenting colors in the room.
Opening or Closing a Space:
Colors that are bold like reds, oranges and yellows tend to "close in" a space. These colors jump out at the eye making it appear more advanced. Colors like blue, green and violet make a room look larger because they "stand back" visually. Bold colors like navy blue and hunter green will have the same affects as the reds, oranges and yellows. Small rooms will appear larger if you stick to white or neutral colors.
Ceilings:
It is customary to paint a ceiling white or neutral. This will create the illusion of a higher ceiling. Medium to dark colors will create the illusion of a lowered ceiling. A lowered ceiling illusion is used to create a cozy feeling if a ceiling is higher than usual. Be careful not to use dark colors in a normal height room, it will give the room a cave-like appearance.
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