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Selecting The
Right Paint
Choosing
paint is a very big decision.
Paint Color
Color refers to the pigment of the paint. It is the
ingredient that is responsible for covering and hiding the
surface. All paint colors are created from the same base
pigments which include sienna, umber, titanium oxide, and
zinc oxide. These pigments are made into particles and
mixed into the paint. Since paint pigment ends up being
free suspended solids mixed within the paint, if the paint
can sits for awhile it will need to be shaken so that the
color doesn’t settle to the bottom.
Ability to Spread
A paints ability to spread is affected by the solvent used
in it. In the past; wax, water, and lime were the dominant
solvents used in paint. In recent times, water is the
carrier for water-base paint, while petroleum serves as
solvent for oil-base paints. You will often here the
solvent being referred to as a medium, carrier or thinning
agent. The other ingredients that are put into a can of
paint are suspended in this liquid base which allows it to
spread evenly.
Adhesion
Paint wouldn’t do anyone much good if it didn’t stick to
its surfaces and maintain a uniform appearance. The
ingredient of paint responsible for making paint sticky is
called the binder. It joins the pigment particles and
gives paint its sticking power. Also, when it dries, it
forms a protective finish. Paint gets its name from the
binder that it uses, so latex is used for water-base
paints and alkyd is used for oil-base paints. Needless to
say, the binder in oil-base paints is either natural oil
or alkyd and in water-based paints the binder is usually a
plastic, either acrylic, vinyl or a combination of both.
Oil vs. Water-Base
Oil-base paint is known for taking longer to dry than
water-base. Generally, the longer the drying time, the
better the paint will flatten out to hide brush marks.
However, paint that dries fast allows you to recoat in a
timely fashion. Oil-base paints also have a very distinct
odor that some people find offensive. But when it comes to
durability, oil-base is difficult to compete with. Also,
oil-base is difficult to clean and often requires mineral
spirits or turpentine.
Water-base, on the other hand, deserves the people's
choice award for paints. It dries rapidly, has a very
faint odor once the paint has dried, and it can be cleaned
by simply using soap and water.
Gloss
The gloss or the finish of the paint you choose for your
room décor has quite an impact on the look of your room.
Gloss is determined by the ratio of pigment to binder.
Basically, the more binder used in a paint, the shinier
the finish will be. Finish choices range from flat (dull)
to high-gloss (brilliant shine). When looking for paint,
be sure to check the finish. Have the salesperson put some
paint on a mixing stick and watch it dry to get an idea of
what it will look like.
Paints with flat or matte finish have no shine and for
this reason they hide imperfections in the wall.
Unfortunately, they are not stain-resistant, but certain
paints with matte finish and high stain resistance also
available in the markets.
Eggshell paints or velvet-finish paints have very slight
gloss or finish. They are soft and convey a warm look to
the room. Also, they easier to clean. They are commonly
used for most bedroom and living room décor themes.
Paints with satin or semi-gloss finish are commonly used
to highlight architectural details and focal points of the
home. They are also used in kitchens and baths because
they are easy to clean.
Very high gloss is quite reflective and should be normally
reserved for doors and trims and to create special
effects.
Primer
Primer is an essential element to a paint job. It is
responsible for sealing any well-prepared surface, leaving
a solid base ready for paint. Using a primer will make
your finish coat look better and last longer by correcting
existing surface problems that may lead to premature paint
failure. Generally, the only time a primer is not needed
is when the surface is in good condition, but even then it
couldn’t hurt to use it. Primers can be tinted and used to
cover a darker shade and they can also be used to hide
slight imperfections in porous surfaces.
Be sure to check to see that the primer is made for the
right surface you're covering. Using the right primer will
increase the quality and durability of your paint job.
Your house paint can last up to 10 years or more with the
right choice and use of a top quality primer. Primers
exist in many forms and serve in a variety of functions.
There uses around your home are limited only by the
surfaces that you want to paint. There are 3 basic types
to choose from which include:
Alkyd - Oil base
Acrylic - Latex
Tinted Shellac |
