A clean, well-maintained home creates a favorable impression. Interior painting is often the least expensive way to improve the appearance of your home. Painting techniques are not difficult; success depends on proper preparation and following certain procedures.
Consult your paint dealer for the proper paint to use. Buy a top quality paint. This will add enduring beauty to the finished project and give you several years before the project needs to be redone.
Latex and Oil Base
Most interior paints in use today are latex-based. This type goes on easier and faster than does oil-based paint. Latex paints have other advantages as well. They dry quickly, usually in about an hour. They have little or no odor and clean up with soap and water.
Oil based paints are recommended for woodwork such as railings and bannisters. They are also used for areas which receive heavy hand or foot traffic. With their higher gloss and harder film, they create a professional finish.
Finishes
Interior paints have different gloss levels or finishes. The finish determines the amount of sheen or light reflection a paint will have. Choosing a particular finish is often a matter of personal preference, but certain finishes are more durable and scrubbable than others.
A flat finish has no sheen and minimizes surface defects. It is normally used on walls or ceilings which don't require frequent washing.
A satin, or eggshell, finish has a soft sheen which looks more like a flat finish, but can be scrubbed. It is more versatile than a flat finish and can be used in foyers, living rooms, hallways, and bedrooms.
A semi-gloss finish has added sheen which is popular for accents, trim, woodwork, and furniture. Its hard, smooth finish is easy to keep clean. This makes it popular for kitchens, children's rooms, and similar areas which have a lot of traffic.
Ceiling paint is designed to drip less than other paints and hide surface defects well. In kitchens and bathrooms where steam is a frequent factor and frequent washing more necessary, a semi-gloss oil-based ceiling paint is often a good choice.
Tools
It is important to use high-quality painting tools. They make the job easier, conserve paint and give a professional appearance to the finished project. Thick, washable roller covers and bristle paint brushes make a difference.
Preparation
When you plan to paint the interior of your home, be sure to first prepare the surface properly. These are the steps you should follow.
1. Scrape away any loose paint.
2. Fill small cracks and holes with spackling.
3. Fill large cracks and holes with patching plaster.
4. Sand repaired areas to a smooth finish.
5. Wash the surface with a non-sudsing, non-oil detergent.
6. Scrub all stubborn stains and cover with a stain sealer.
7. Prime all repaired areas and other bare surfaces.
8. Apply a single coat of paint when repainting with the same or a similar color.
9. After the first coat has dried, apply a second coat if you are changing the color significantly.
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