What types of paint are available?
Paints are either oil or water based. When applying water based or latex paints, you must use a consistent hand stroke to avoid brush marks. Water based paints offer better color retention, there's very little odor as you paint, and it's easy to clean up after the job’s finished. Oil based paints dry slowly but offer a more even looking finish. Although oil based paints are more durable, their color tends to fade with time.
You'll find many lusters or sheens available for both types of paint. Flat or eggshell lusters are the best for walls and ceilings. Medium-luster’s, which are the semi gloss and satin finishes, are best for kitchens and baths and gloss luster’s are the easiest to wash.
Paints are available in a wide range of shades for every color imaginable. Use the sample paint chips provided by the manufacturer when you're creating a color scheme for the interior or exterior of your home.
Save time and money with Brushes and Rollers
Always buy the best tools you can afford if you want an attractive durable paint job and quality tools will make the job easier. Your local paint shop or hardware store will be a good place to look for the supplies you will need.
Roller covers are available in lamb's wool and synthetic fibers. If you're painting with a latex paint, a synthetic roller cover is suitable. Lamb's wool is better for oil paints because it holds and spreads the paint better. The less expensive roller covers will sometimes shed lint and contaminate your paint. Use the correct size of roller or brush for the work you're doing, too.
The bristles on a well-made brush will be flagged; this means each bristle is split at the very end. Select a brush that has a sturdy metal ferrule (fair - ool), the covering over the bristle tops. Try out several brands of brushes to find the one that has the most comfortable grip. Synthetic bristles are fine if you're working with latex paints and natural bristles are better for oil-based paints.
Remember to clean and store the brushes properly after each use according to the manufacturer's directions.
A few simple painting techniques
Before you begin to paint, ensure that all surfaces are cleaned and repaired. Most painting mistakes happen because the surface was not properly prepared to accept the paint. If a surface is dusty or greasy, the paint will not adhere to it.
You can paint over some wall coverings, but the wall will look better if you remove any wallpaper first.
Renting a steamer will make this messy task quicker. If there are several layers of paint on the wood trim, you'll need to use a chemical stripper and then sand the surface or you can use a heat gun. If you are dealing with lead based paint, it is important that you contact a professional, as this type of paint can be harmful to your health.
You'll also need to repair damaged wallboard and fill in any holes or cracks in a plaster wall. Be sure to vacuum and dust the room before you paint. Moreover, if you've had to do a lot of sanding, it's a good idea to wipe down the walls with a damp cloth.
What you should know about matching paints
A paint retailer will be able to help you match colors. Some retailers have a computerized custom color matching service that is very precise. You can duplicate interior or exterior paints or stains accurately. For example, you want to repaint your bathroom in the same shade of butter yellow, but you can't remember where you bought the paint or even the true name of the paint. All you have to do is take a paint chip to your paint retail outlet. The computer will analyze it for the color content. The sales person will be able to custom mix the perfect shade of yellow for you.
When creating a color scheme for your bathroom renovation, use the sample paint chips or brochures available from a paint supplier or interior decorator. You may want to think about exterior as well as interior colors. Some colors may look the same, but because of the finish or luster, there may be variation in the shades.
For interiors, use a satin or sheen for the bathroom. Use a color wheel to help you decide on the color theme. Bear in mind that light colors give an airy feel and an illusion of a larger space, while a more cozy effect is obtained with darker colors.
Select indoor colors one shade lighter than on the brochure, as paint dries darker, while colors for exteriors should be one shade darker, to offset the lightening effect of the sun.
If you do not want to do the painting yourself look in to using a qualified painter.