Choosing the right paint for your renovation is much more than just deciding on the color. Take a look at the mistakes that are often made and make sure those mistakes do not happen to you.
1. Use dry paint in wet environments
The resistance of paint used in a living room, a bedroom, or in office and other environments that have no contact with water is lower. If the same paint is used in bathrooms, kitchens, washrooms, etc., the paint will soon have bubbles pop on the surface and will peel.
Read also: How to choose the right paint? – in this article. And, How to calculate needed paint? – in this article.
Pay attention to which type of paint is used in which environment, as this is critical. The most commonly used latex paint is not suitable for wet areas. Rather use acrylic or epoxy paint. The type of paint is usually clearly marked on the paint can.
2. Choose a glossy finish for a wall with many imperfections
If the wall you want to paint has already been painted many times, if it has small holes (from nails, etc.) or other types of imperfections on it, you will need quite a bit of preparation (washing, sanding, scraping, removing dust …) in order to make the wall smooth and ready to be painted again.
On walls of this type, choosing glossy paint may be the worst option. The gloss enhances wall imperfections. In this case of an imperfect wall, work on preparing it for painting or choose matte or satin-finish paint.
3. Do not use specific paint for metal and wood
Each surface requires a specific type of paint. If you plan to paint wood or metal and have paint look good and last for a long time, you will need to use enamel paint. Epoxy can also be used. This type of paint is especially suitable if you need to paint in the areas that have contact with water. This could be a toilet, a washroom or a swimming pool.
If you do not use the right paint to start with, you will have lost money because you will have to do it again.
4. Buy the entire volume of paint without testing
Choosing the color, which will be right for you, is also important. And this is a matter of your personal taste. In order not to lose money if you do not like the color that you have purchased, test the color first on the surface that you will paint.
The color may look beautiful in the catalog. But when you put it on the wall and have the whole context of the house (lighting, furniture, etc…), beautiful paint may not match. Test first. Buy a small pack of paint and paint one square meter. Apply two coats, let the paint dry, and only then decide if this is what you wanted. Then it’s time to buy the entire supply, needed for painting.
5. Do not seek a professional opinion
If you have an option to ask, this helps. The opinion of those who understand or have gone through a similar situation is even better. Instead of believing in what the paint seller has to say or what your best friend thinks, look for the best references. Search the internet, talk to anyone who has done it, and talk to a professional painter.
Protecting your house and your room
Now, let’s talk about protecting your house prior to starting the paintwork.
How to prevent paint spills
The best piece of advice to protect the objects in your rooms from paint is to cover all objects with carton and paper boards.
When we decide to paint, we tend to worry more about the color or type of paint. It is also important to think about how to protect the house to prevent paint splashes from staining floors, furniture, doors, glass, mirrors and everything else. You can imagine, if protection is not done right, you can do more damage than good.
Also, make sure than the paint is diluted more than required so that it does not smell too much. Just follow the instructions of the can or gallon.
Below are some tips so that you know what to ask the painter to do to protect your rooms and make sure there are no problems.
Protecting from paint spills is essential
The general rule is to cover well everything that will not be painted. Take good care of the corners (furniture or mirrors, for example). Keep an eye on the painting that was used on the wall, so that it does not splash on the ceiling.
You can use a tape to delimit the paint areas and ask the painter to use fine brushes to paint the edges.
Protecting the floor
Protect the floor with corrugated cardboard. Cardboard absorbs the paint, helps it to dry quickly and prevents it from reaching the main floor. Do not use plastic to cover the floor. Someone can step on the damp paint on this plastic and then will spread this paint all over the house. Plastic does not help paint dry fast. And everyone thinks plastic is the best, right?
Protecting switches and sockets
Remove the sockets and switches, and cover part of the wall, where the wires come out, with wide tape.
Protecting the furniture
The best option is to try to remove the furniture from the room or store it in carton boxes. If it is not possible, cover the furniture with cardboard, protecting well the contours, and place tarpaulin on top. This will help prevent splashes and scratches as you proceed with the work.
Move all furniture and other objects to the center of the room. This facilitates movements of painters and handling of materials and tools.
Protecting doors, door handles, and hinges
If you do not paint the doors, ask the painter to put wide adhesive tape on the frames and tighten it well, so that there are no gaps the paint can go into.
If you are painting the doors, then you need to protect the hinges, door handles, and locks. Ask the painter to take out the door handles and reinstall them after the doors are painted. You can cover hinges with tape to protect them.
Another way to protect the door handles is to use aluminum foil. It molds nicely, covering every corner and is easy to remove. To better protect the hinges, use a bit of liquid vaseline, which will prevent the paint from sticking to the metal.
Protecting door frames
Ask the painter to cover the doorframes with tape and well cover the corners of the frame, to prevent the paint from getting through.
What comes first: ceiling or wall?
If you are painting the ceiling and the walls, the ceiling comes first. Painting from the ceiling may splash on the walls. Then, the painting of the wall covers the paint that has splashed from the ceiling.
The best painting sequence will be the following:
- Ceiling,
- Walls,
- Doors and windows,
- The rest.
If you want to save money by using very diluted paint or the “economical” type, know that this type of paint will splash more.
An experienced painter makes a difference
Yes, you already know this, but may not remember when the work needs to be done. When you decide to hire a painter, check the portfolio and ask for references. Skilled painters are sure to take good care of your home, furniture, and other objects and paint only the places you have asked to paint!
Bonus tip – how to remember exactly the paint you used
What if after a while you want to paint the house again and need to remember the color of the paint you have used?
Tip: take a picture of the paint specifications on the can or write them down on a piece of paper. Place this piece of paper on the back of a piece of furniture, a light switch or a socket, so that it does not get lost.
The most important is to write down the brand of the paint you used and the color. Remember that with time paint fades. It can then look different from the one applied you applied on the wall. Therefore, re-painting has to be done on a larger area (usually, the entire area) and not just on a small stripe or corner.
Enjoy the tips for quality painting and avoid troubles.
Read also: Why hire an architect for a renovation project? How much does it cost? – in this article. And, How not to waste time and resources on a renovation project? – in this article.
