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Paint. It's everywhere you look! On walls, ceilings, trim, concrete--the list is endless! But a trip to the paint department to purchase interior paint can be intimidating and confusing. All those cans neatly stacked on the shelves—latex, oil-based, flat, semi-gloss, which one to choose—HELP!
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ISSUE 14:
PAINT MADE SIMPLE!
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Colour is not the only consideration when purchasing paint. Your painting experience can be painless and enjoyable if you start with the basics. Paint basics.
PAINT BASICS
Which paint will do the right job for you?
Paint is an investment so choose wisely. Let's face it, nobody wants to waste time and money buying the wrong paint for the job. Paint can be latex or oil-based, and paint can have different surfaces or sheens: flat, satin, semi-gloss and gloss.
LATEX PAINT
Latex paint is water-based and it:
- • is durable
- • provides an excellent finish
- • is virtually odorless
- • dries quickly
And brushes and spills can be easily cleaned up with soap and water.
When buying latex paint READ THE LABEL! Acrylic is a binding agent in latex paint so take note of the percentage of acrylic used in the paint. Better quality latex paints use only acrylic binders while less expensive paints mix vinyl and acrylic binders together.
OIL-BASED PAINT
Oil-based paint, also known as alkyd-base paint:
- • can be applied to an area where frequent washing is necessary
- • has potent fumes
- • dries slower than latex paint
- • requires clean up of brushes and spills with a solvent like turpentine
Metal, wood or surfaces previously painted with oil-based paint are good candidates for this type of paint.
Reading the manufacturer's recommendations is a good rule of thumb when buying any type of paint.
SURFACES OR SHEENS OF PAINT
Flat Paints:
With a matte, non-glossy surface, flat paints can hide slight imperfections in walls better than other paints. The shinier the finish, the more likelihood of seeing flaws and defects.
Flat paints are better for ceilings, dining rooms and living rooms. Children can be a little tough on paint surfaces, so keep in mind where you will be applying flat paint, because it's harder to clean.
Satin and Eggshell Paints:
Have a soft luster sheen something like an eggshell.
Are easier to clean and more stain resistant than flat paints. Low luster paints are great for walls in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms, family rooms, hallways and stairways.
Semi-gloss Paints:
Are even more durable, easier to clean and stain resistant than satin paints.
Work well in areas where you have to clean a lot, like kitchens and bathrooms. Nicely cover wood trim and cabinets. Can tend to highlight irregularities in walls and ceilings.
Gloss Paints:
Are the shiniest of the four paints.
Make fantastic trim paints for banisters, railings, jambs and window trims.
WHAT IS PRIMER?
We've all heard the term "primer" when talking about painting. But what is primer and when do you need to use it?
Primer gets the wall ready for the paint. After all, the paint is the protective layer for your walls or whatever it is you're painting. You don't want everyday bumps and scratches to remove the paint you have so painstakingly applied. So a good coat of primer will help extend the life of your paint job.
Primers ARE NOT the same as paint! They have different binding properties and seal the surface so if you're thinking about using an extra coat of paint to prime your wall? Forget about it!
Use primer when you're painting:
- • A new, unpainted surface like drywall, plaster or wood.
- • Over a very dark colour with a lighter paint colour.
- • An area that has been repaired nail holes filled or a fixed crack in the surface to be painted.
SEALERS are a lot like primers, but are used on new wood or masonry, because their surfaces are very porous.
WHAT TYPES OF PAINT DO YOU USE FOR SPECIALTY PROJECTS LIKE COUNTERTOPS OR CONCRETE?
Provided your concrete floor has been painted before and the paint is sound and in good condition, use a latex floor coating. Latex floor coatings let moisture pass through the dry paint.
Paint your kitchen countertop with melamine paint after priming the surface with a high-adhesive primer made especially for shiny surfaces.
WHAT IS LEAD-BASED PAINT?
Before 1950, most paints contained large amounts of lead. In 1973, the Hazardous Products Act ensured that paint containing more than 0.5% lead had to be labeled. And the label had to state that the paint could not be used in areas accessible to children. If your home was built after 1980, you probably don't have to worry about lead levels in interior paint.
If you have questions about lead-based paint, contact Health Canada, Product Safety, Health Protection Branch at (905) 572-2845.
Paint made simple. It's not that complicated when you keep the Paint Basics in mind. Make your next painting project a success!
* not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale
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