4 Steps to Success

Carefully examine the surface you're about to paint. Although it's hard to notice on a day to day basis, interior surfaces accumulate dirt, fingerprints, and a variety of stains and contamination that dull and diminish your home's appearance. A coat of paint won't correct or cure these surface flaws, so you have to address them before you paint or they'll undermine the quality, look and longevity of your paint job.

Proper surface preparation often takes much longer than the actual application of paint. Be sure to allow for this important step in your budget and schedule.

• Remove fungus
• Clean the area
• Prepare glossy surfaces
• Prepare other unpainted surfaces
• Prepare previously painted surfaces
• Prepare stained and discoloured surfaces
• Prepare wallpapered surfaces
• Prepare bare wood
• Dealing with the dangers of asbestos
• Dealing with old, lead-based paint

Brushes:

High quality brushes generally have longer bristles and a divider inside to provide a larger paint reservoir for more efficient application of paint, compared with lower quality economy brushes. The ends of the bristles are flagged or split at the tips and the brush is tapered with longer bristles at the centre and shorter bristles to the outside. This means the paint will go on smoother and more evenly. Look for a bare wood handle rather than plastic or painted wood; you'll get a better grip. A rust-resistant metal ferrule that is nailed on instead of crimped to the handle means that you'll shed fewer bristles.

Brushes are available with polyester, nylon or natural bristles. Synthetic bristles are preferred with water-based paints since natural bristles tend to absorb the water in water-based products and lose their shape. Some synthetic brushes are recommended for solvent-based products as well as for water-based coatings. Natural bristle brushes are recommended for solvent-based coatings. Brushes should be pre-primed before use. For painting with water-based products, prime the brush with water. For solvent-based coatings, prime the brush with white spirit. All excess should be removed before dipping the brush into the paint.

Different sized brushes have different functions. Use 30mm to 50mm brushes for trim; 50m to 80mm for doors, 100mm for larger areas such as floors and wall sections, and up to 150mm brushes for broad wall areas.Angular sash brushes are excellent for precise work such as cutting in adjoining surfaces, eg when tackling window frames. Quality brushes give you a thicker, more uniform paint film for better hiding and durability. And a smooth application will be more resistant to dirt and fungal or algal contamination, than the same paint with brush marks. To sum up a better quality finish.

Rollers:

Quality rollers tend to be thicker and fluffier for greater paint capacity and less dripping and spattering. They also apply the paint thicker and smoother. A higher quality roller will not crack, holds its shape better, does not shed fibres, and is reusable.

For the smoothest application of solvent-based coatings use quality lamb's wool and natural mohair rollers. Synthetic nap rollers are appropriate for water-based paints and some are suitable for solvent-based products. Nap length is also an important consideration. As a rule, short nap rollers from 6mm to 9mm are best for smooth surfaces and long nap rollers from 12mm to 25mm are used for rough masonry.

Sprayers :

If your job is appropriate for a paint sprayer choose a good one. Better sprayers offer excellent uniformity of spray for smooth, drip-free application and are generally more reliable in their performance.

Not all paint is created equal. Top quality paints provide tremendous benefits. They adhere to surfaces much better and hide uneven colouration in the substrate better. They also resist chalking and colour fading, dirt and fungus better than economy paints. And despite costing more per litre, they are actually more economical since they last longer and cost less per year.

Solvent-based vs. water-based

This choice is mostly a matter of personal preference, but it may help to make your choice based on the advantages each type of paint offers.
Quality interior water-based paints provide better long-term flexibility and resistance to cracking and chipping. They also tend to resist yellowing with age in areas protected from sunlight. They emit less odour, clean up with water and are not flammable.

Solvent-based paints offer superior one-coat hiding and better adhesion to difficult surfaces such as those not thoroughly cleaned. Solvent-based paints allow for greater 'opentime' or length of time the paint may be brushed before it sets; and superior resistance to 'blocking' or tackiness and abrasion, once cured.

Acrylic vs. vinyl acetate copolymer

If you choose water-based paint, there are acrylic and vinyl acetate copolymer based formulations. A pure acrylic formula offers several advantages including better colour holdout and adhesion in wet conditions, improved grease softening resistance, and better resistance to peeling, blistering, dirt and fungal growth. Resistance to staining from water and foods like mustard, tomato sauce and coffee is another plus along with resistance to alkalinity in household cleansers.

Different finishes

The level of sheen or gloss you select depends as much on appearance as functionality. Each finish has unique characteristics that will highlight or hide the character and construction of the room.

Matt paint is an excellent choice for a uniform appearance across a large area. It tends to hide dents and bumps, but it can trap dirt, stain and create a friendly environment for the growth of fungus more so than a satin or gloss formula. It will also tend to burnish more than other higher sheen finishes.

Silk finishes offer a crisp long-lasting just-painted look and are popular for large wall areas. This finish resists dirt, stains, and burnishing better than matt paint and is suitable for high traffic wall areas.

"Eggshell" or medium sheen finishes tend to be higher performing than general broadwall finishes. This high quality finish resists fungal growth and is ideal for areas where high wear will be inevitable like kitchens and bathrooms.

Water-based interior wall paints are commonly known as "emulsion" paints.

Satin and gloss finishes nicely set off doors, skirting boards, trim and other areas that deserve attention. Gloss paints have higher shine than satin paints. Both finishes are tough and tend to resist dirt and fungal contamination. Once only available as solvent-based paints, more user-friendly water-based alternatives are available today.

Ceiling paints are formulated to diffuse light from lamps and windows and have excellent spatter resistance, but since they have low hiding and scrub resistance they are not recommended for walls. A standard matt paint is also appropriate for ceilings.

There is more at stake in starting a job in fair weather than the comfort of the painter. Paint performs better in mild conditions, in fact poor painting conditions can greatly compromise the paint job even for interior application.

Not too cold

For many paints, the minimum application temperature is 5° C, which applies to the surface being painted as well as the air temperature. Painting at low temperatures, with either water-based or solvent-based paint, will make brushing and rolling more difficult, slow down drying, and leave the wet paint susceptible to capturing airborne dirt, and dust.

Not too hot

Because of the way water-based paints form their film, very hot conditions can make the paint dry too fast and compromise durability. Avoid painting in the following conditions, especially if more than one is present: air or surface temperature that exceeds 30° C, direct sunshine (e.g. window frame applications) especially with dark coloured paint and low humidity.

Good ventilation

Most interior wall paints in UK are formulated without solvents; and are commonly known as low odour emulsion paints.

The trim paints and stains market is still divided between solvent-based and water-based products. The odour associated with use of solvent-based coatings tend to linger which can be an irritation especially if the room is not properly ventilated. In such cases, care should be taken to ensure sufficient ventilation during and immediately after the paint job is complete.