Interior House Paints

A good paint  job will work wonders to your home and can even make it look almost new. It's no small job to do it yourself, but if done correctly it can be very rewarding and save you money in the long run. Take some time to read all the way through in order to learn as much as you can about buying the proper paints—and make sure you get the right tools for the job. Read up about House Painting Supplies  next.

Steps

  • First make a clear plan of what you're planning to paint and consider:
  • Next learn about your options and processes:
    • Process:
      • You'll want to prime  your surface first to keep the texture even and improve paint adhesion.
      • Then you'll paint it the color you want.
      • Then you can add another layer for design or texture.
    • Primer and paint options:
      • "Latex"  and "oil base"  are now terms that mean "perform like the latex/oil-based paints of yore." These paints may or may not actually have latex or oil in them; they may be completely synthetic. Don't fret.
        • Latex:
          • Dries faster
          • Easier clean up
          • Less expensive
          • Better for walls and ceilings
        • Oil-based/Alkyd :
          • Smoother finish
          • Stronger
          • Better for wood and metal
        • 100% acrylic  formations touch up well and are durable
      • Primer prepares your surface for painting
        • Learn which kind of primer to apply to which kinds of surfaces at this handy reference guide.
        • Primers are applied to masonry, plaster, drywall, wood, previously-painted concrete/cinderblock, stucco, poured concrete and stucco, concrete masonry, ferrous metals
          • Use only latex  on galvanized metals
      • Paint goes on top of the primer, supplying the color, gloss and texture to the surface. Experts all claim that price reflects quality. If you scrimp on paint now, you may pay for it later when you're repainting.
        • Pick your color scheme based on personal taste and with the help of an online color guide
            • Benjamin Moore - Envision a room's colors before you ever buy the paint. Go to "Let's Paint" to cover a virtual room in your colors of choice.
        • Finishes matter a great deal to the look of your room
          • Sherwin Williams has a great guide for which kinds of finishes are best for which surfaces
          • Flat finishes  are good for bedrooms and living and dining rooms where there's less wear and tear
          • Enamels  (Eggshell /Satin /Semi-Gloss,  High Gloss,  Satins, and Clear  Finishes) are less likely to be damaged than flat latex. Good for kitchens, baths and woodwork.
            • Use latex, oil-based/alkyd or Specialty Finishes
          • Specialty/Faux Finishes  are for those times when a regular gloss just won't do
  • Then you calculate how much paint you'll need. Your amount should be based on the size of your room and the number of coats you're using.
    • Behr—Paint Calculator, to figure out how much to buy.
  • And then you paint!

Additional Tips

  • Price really does reflect quality.
  • The big paint companies have comprehensive websites. And some of them even give you small paint samples, like Behr.
  • Dark colors require more skill to execute well and are harder to cover up when repainting.
  • Let Do It Yourself teach you all about finishing your job in a fashionable and exciting manner.

External Links

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
FR: Peinture d'Intérieur

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