The Painter's Corner: Paint 101
Renovators and decorators all agree, painting a room is the quickest, cheapest way to improve a room. Nowaday’s there are so many new paint companies, new kinds of paint, or should we say surface covers, in all kinds of prices, formulas and colors that it may be difficult to choose what you need or want….
Renovators and decorators all agree, painting a room is the quickest, cheapest way to improve a room. Nowaday’s there are so many new paint companies, new kinds of paint, or should we say surface covers, in all kinds of prices, formulas and colors that it may be difficult to choose what you need or want. You’ve got oil-based paint and water-based acrylic or latex based paints. Milk paint, primer paint, and paint with primer in it already. Low VOC paints, and good old, fumes emitting, non PC paint. We have coverings that aren’t really paint, but clays or plaster. There is something for everyone, and for any job, in all qualities and at all price ranges here. The details below pertain to water-based paints.
Paint is one of those items that definitely adheres to the old adage, You get what you pay for. Good paint costs more than cheap paint for a reason. Good paint has better coverage, and will last longer. If you are paying someone to paint, having them paint with cheap paint is like stuffing the empty paint can with money, and setting it on fire.
The better paints are better because they use more, and better quality pigments than cheaper paints. This insures better coverage, and more intense and true color. The best pigments are made of titanium dioxide. It should be listed on the can. Better paints have a higher percentage of solids. That’s what’s actually on the wall when it dries. Over 45% is considered good, and insures good one or two coat coverage. This info might not be on the can, but should be in manufacturer’s literature, on their website, or available from your retailer. Better paints also have a modified, or an all-acrylic binder that keeps the solids, pigments, anti-fungicide, and other ingredients together. Look for this information on the can, or do research before buying any paint.
Here is a list of some of the more popular paints available, and links to their websites. They have not been edited for quality or prices. Most list where their paints can be purchased in the New York area. Tomorrow, some smaller niche and specialty companies, and environmentally friendly paints.
Ace Hardware Paint
Behr Paint (Home Depot)
Benjamin Moore Paint
Dutch Boy Paint
Glidden Paint
Olympic Paint (Lowe’s)
Pratt and Lambert Paint
Ralph Lauren Paint
Sherwin Williams Paint
Valspar Paint (Lowe’s)
Photo: apartmenttherapy.com
IMBY, good painters have no need for blue edge masking tape. Any tape will do to to remove fuzz.
DIBS & STARGAZER I always wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your early work. The paint job in the caves of Lascaux was fantastic.
Don’t forget one should always buy a high quality roller and sleeve with the proper nap for finish of paint. Here is a little painters trick… Roll out a length of blue tape and roll your brand new sleeve over it several times to remove any loose fuzz before you start to paint.
The higher the gloss the more light is reflected and hence the imperfections of the prep work are magnified.
I have never used high gloss except for an exterior door once that was brand new. I used the Ultra High Gloss from Fine Paints of Europe but followed all the directions on prep, filling & priming and it looks like a mirror now!!!!
I only use semi-gloss , satin, eggshell or flat because the surfaces are not brand new or perfectly sanded and prepped.
We have eggshell and flat latex walls. We have a combo of ultra high shine oil based and in some cases flat — might be latex, not sure yet — trim. Guess it’s easiest just to do oil trim again.
I have noticed the old oil based gloss appears to be much more attractive than latex.
Walls should be flat or eggshell or satin and latex is best. if however, you have a glossy oil finish on there now you will have to “take it down” by lightly sanding or with a liquid de-glosser. I would also prime first over oil.
Oil base on trim with latex on walls is fine. Oil base over latex is typically not a problem but anything flat over gloss needs to be “taken down.”
Any advice? I have all these moldings covered in oil based paint. Some of it looks like floor paint. Should I paint over it with oil based paint or try to switch to latex? Will it look funny if I use latex on the walls (some are already latex) and oil based on the trim?
Only know about that brand of the wall paper from reading your pervious posts….or previous posts depending…
Thanks DIBS!
moreteasir, I assume you know of the Bradbury & bradbury wallpaper. That would look fantastic. It’s extremely expensive and just as expensive to have it hung well by a professional.
But as we know, anything well hung comes at a premium.
I like mango. I painted one of my bedrooms a color that reminds me of mango ice cream. It is really a great color.