GREAT GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAINT

Updated: Mar 15, 2022

Painting your house can dramatically improve its appearance, apart from protecting your home against the harsh elements of nature.

Are you unsure which paint is best for your painting project? Then, don't skip the research. The type of paint you choose is just as important as the colour, and can have a major effect on the character of your room, the quality of your paint job, and the atmosphere you want to achieve.

There are definitely lots of factors that you should take into consideration before you decide on a type of paint. For example, where the room is located, how it will be used, how large or small the room is, and the overall look you're trying to achieve are the top factors to consider. These factors can all subtly influence things like the sheen of your paint or the saturation, so you need to closely consider them.

General Painting Tips

Get as many samples as you can. Play around with those samples. Determine how easily they cover and spread an area, and how easily you can clean them once they’re dry. While browsing through photographs or reading information online will give you a general idea of how different finishes look, it is only until you test a paint in your desired space that you can get a true sense of how it will work. The reason you want to do a piece of poster board instead of the wall is because you can move your poster board around the room to look at it with your furnishings in different lights at different times of the days. This way, you can really feel good about your choice because you’re taking all the guesswork out of it.

Water Based Paints

The majority of wall paint sold today is water-based, primarily because of its ease of use. If your surface has been previously coated with an oil-based product, be cautious when switching to water-based paint as it may have trouble sticking. In this situation, it is recommended washing the surface and then roughening it all over with a medium to smooth grit sandpaper—making it clean, dry, and dull in order to prevent peeling of the new coat. Alternatively, the surface can be coated with a decent primer coat firt to ensure adhesion with the topcoats

Oil Based Paints

Oil-based paint can be used on almost all surfaces, and is praised for its high durability and rich finish. Still, be cautious, as oil paint emits strong fumes that can be overwhelming, and the paint cannot be washed with water. If you choose oil paint, solvents like turpentine are necessary for washing brushes or other materials with unwanted paint on them.

Paint Finishes

Sheen options vary by manufacturer, but share some common characteristics. As durability improves across all sheen levels with newer paints, many people are finding creative ways to mix and match them. Try painting a stripe of full gloss on a matte wall in the same colour to create a striking, textured looks.

Finally, it is important to remember that the paint you choose is only as good as the quality of the tools you paint with. Although you may think rollers or brushes are a good place to save money, using high-quality tools will help you achieve the best look. You may also want to consider spray painting your walls, which can be a great alternative to traditional rolling.

You can also read this article on finding the best painters cape town.

You can check out this video to see a painting redecoration done when doing the film series Noughts and Crosses.