A Primer on Interior Painting

By: Matt Millsap

Painting must be approached with meticulous care and extensive preparation. If a paint job is not properly prepared and executed, the simplest error will become obvious and permanent, catching your eye for years to come. The best way to avoid such mistakes is to plan thoroughly and take your time with a paint job. This brief informational guide illustrates some of the basics of an interior paint job, from the shopping list to the clean up.

Flip through some catalogs and home improvement websites to choose a paint color that's right for the room. Visit a hardware or paint store for some color samples and paint chips. Take the samples back home and compare them to your old color and your furniture. Choosing colors is a fun way to begin a project.

Once you've chosen a color, that means you are ready to begin shopping for your project. The trade is a highly developed industry, so you will discover that there is more equipment out there than a typical DIY buff ever needs to know about. To simplify things, use this basic shopping list to help you make your own.

Project shopping list
*Brushes and rollers
*Roller covers
*Paint trays and tray liners
*Drop cloths
*Clean up rags
*Painters tape
*Sandpaper
*Paint pail for brush work
*Paint removers
*Razors
*Paint can openers
*Ladders
*Furniture moving pads
*Paint

How much paint will you need?
Measure the square footage of the surfaces you will be. That means grab a tape measure and add the width plus the height of all the walls that will get a coat of paint. When buying the paint, read the labels or ask a professional how much square footage a particular gallon of a particular type of paint will cover.

What type of paint will you need?
The type of paint depends on the room. If you're working on an interior paint job, the paint will need to give good coverage coupled with stain resistance. The paint should also be able to withstand occasional scrubbing so you can keep it clean for a long time. The two basic families of paint are latex paint and oil based paint. Most modern day oil based paints are actually made with synthetic resins called alkyds, that are less toxic than traditional oil base. Latex paints have excellent gloss retention and give the longest lasting finish. Latex paints are also quick to dry and very durable. Oil or Alkyd based paints are known for good adhesion and stain resistance. Oil or Alkyd based paints are great for trim in high traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Flat, Satin, Semi-Gloss, or Gloss?
Both latex and oil paints come in a variety of finishes. Flat finish paint softens a room, smoothing the look of walls. Flat finish is not hard to clean with a damp sponge and is great for adult rooms like dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms. Satin finish has the benefits of a flat finish but because it has a slight gloss, it is even easier to clean. Satin finish is good for high traffic spots, like children's bedrooms, family rooms, and hallways. Semi-gloss paint is best for areas that will be cleaned often, like kitchens and bathrooms. Gloss paint has a rich finish and is very durable. It is an ideal finish for trim and doors.

Be prepared!
Preparation is probably the most important part of a painting project. Remove all wall art, area rugs and furniture from the room to be painted. Then clean the room. You don't want dust bunnies interfering with your fresh beautiful new paint. You must lay out drop cloths to cover the entire floor. You must scrape chipped and loose paint. You must clean the walls to be painted with a mildly abrasive cleaner like TSP to remove the dirt and prepare the surface to stick to a new coat of paint. Using painter's tape, tape all edges and glass that you want to protect. If you are using a different color or gloss for the trim than you are for the walls, make sure to tape off all the trim before you begin. Make sure the room is ventilated. Open windows and doors. Have all of your tools, including clothes in the room to be painted. Once you finish preparation and begin acutally painting the walls, you want to avoid having to leave the room for something you forgot about.

This brief DIY guide can not cover all of the details of the job. There are many types of brushes and rollers that were not discussed. Techniques include what order to paint in, from ceiling to floor, and how to use brushes and rollers to avoid spatter and runny application. This guide should serve as a starting point. As your project develops, seek out the help of painting and home improvement professionals for best results. Good luck!

Author Resource:-> http://www.buildingcompanynumber7.com

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Selecting the Right Shade for your Bathroom

Like any other part of your home, the bathroom also calls for paint work that suits its contours and design. As with most painting, there are a lot of issues that need to be considered before you start work. Factors to consider for bathrooms are the size and location of the bathroom within your house.

After understanding the dimensions and structure of your bathroom you will need give some thought to the colours you would like to use. The colour coordination of your bathroom could be such that it gives a sense of harmony, peace and comfort and in this case excessive use of bright colours would not be suitable. It is also a good idea not to make unbalanced colour choices. There are certainly a wide variety of colours of which you can use inside your bathroom and a number of them like Pink, white, and lighter shades of blue, yellow or purple are popular and nicely suited as bathroom colours due to their inviting nature.

Some general colour ideas for bathrooms are:

Bright shades like red and orange can be used to provide brightness and freshness to boost physical energy. Some prefer using these colours near the shower area. However you should note that excessive bright colours can make you feel overexcited and restless.

The use of calm shades like white and blue is especially popular with interior painting and the bathroom is an ideal place for these colours as it provide a clean and fresh appearance and dirty areas can be spotted easily with these colours. Again excessive use is not advised simply because it can make the area look drab.

The use of dark colours is to attract attention to a point of interest and the use of light shades gives the illusion of making a room look bigger. However dark colours have some durability issues and these problems are only heightened when used in a bathroom. Darker colours can fade over time and can become patchy; this is due to the fact that there is a high density of moisture within the bathroom which only aggravates the fading. Dark colours, because of their nature, absorb more heat than their lighter counterparts, therefore, absorbing more moisture and in turn ruining walls along with giving a damp smell. Dark colours are not straightforward to maintain and therefore their use should be limited to accents and points of interest.

Lastly, the colours that you select should be well coordinated, they should be properly prepared and applied to keep them looking fresh and new for a long time.

Things to Think About When Choosing Colours and Creating a Feature Wall

A feature wall can do many things for a room so long as it is used in combination with the right colour scheme. There are hundreds of different combinations but first you need to decide what look or style you prefer; while also taking into consideration the results you are trying to achieve.

Think about things such as whether you are trying to make the room feel more spacious, open and fresh. In this instance light and bright is the way to go. On the other hand it could be a large empty room which you would like to feel warm and cosy. A richer deeper colour such as plum, burgundy or chocolate would work well with a still warm, but lighter shade like beige or tan. Another thought should be which room it is that you are repainting; is it a bedroom, kitchen, lounge or study? Perhaps it is a children's play room. Also keep in mind whether your colour choice will tie in with the furnishings you already have.

Once you have made a decision on what it is you are looking for as far as design and results, you then will need to choose your colour scheme. Most paint suppliers will have sample colour cards, so mix and match until you are content with your choice. Keep it simple, too many different colours can be busy and overpowering. If you are having a feature wall you will need a base colour for all the other walls and then a more prominent colour for the feature wall; as was in the example above. Beige being the base colour with chocolate as the feature.

Whatever you decide it needs to be functional, aesthetically pleasing and something you are prepared to live with; so stick to the basics, keep it simple and choose wisely.


Australian Painters & Repairers Pty Ltd, Australia Wide Painting Contractors.

How New Technology Acrylic Paints Protect your Property

Today most people paint to enhance the looks of their property but fail to protect their investment.

The most common reason for this is a lack of access to correct information. Claims on most cans of paint state that there is no need for primer or undercoat. This is true to some extent but you need to ask the question: Will the paint adhere without these prep coats? In most cases it will but a problem arises when you apply it to the substrate directly, given that all acrylics breathe.

In fact on a high humidity day acrylics will absorb moisture and if your substrate is unprimed timber, the timber will become moist then dry and so on as the weather changes. In the end you will have created the perfect environment for dry rot to flourish.

Similar problems occur on low density concrete as it will absorb moisture which will reach into the steel form and you will see in a few short years Spalding occurring.

There is a lot to be said for acrylic as an easy application for the purposes of short term beautification. But if you are serious about protecting your home or other valued asset then some thought must take place and let the sound practices of old play their part in ensuring not only will your project look its best but will do so for a life time and beyond.

Next time you are about to spend your money or lots of your time to carry out the necessary maintenance remember these few important rules.


If its timber an oil rich primer will protect the substrate long after the top coatings have failed.
Concrete thinners born acrylic primers are a very good moisture barrier and surface hardener.
Remember the pretty gloss finishes are in fact a coating to stop the oil from being evaporated from the timber and to make cleaning easier, making it look nice is a bonus. That being said the higher the gloss level you apply the longer the service life of the product and the more moisture resistant.

So prime then shine if you don't want to waste your time.


Australian Painters & Repairers Pty Ltd, Australia Wide Painting Contractors.

How to Paint your House on a Budget

Painting can be expensive, especially if the house is large. The best way to redecorate a house if you're on a budget is by one section at a time. The first place to start is the exterior. It is the most visable and probably the most dramatic when making changes. Repainting the exterior can also add tremendous value to yuor house if you're thinking of reselling.

When funds are limited the thing to consider when choosing the colour for the exterioris whether to keep the existing colour or not. If you keep the existing colour, a similar shade or go darker, this is less expensive that going from a dark colour to a lighter one. As the number of coats applied are less there for saving time and money.

There are four basic types of paint; flat, satin, semi gloss and gloss. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Flat paints have a non-reflective quality and have a matte finish. This helps to hide flaws and is best used on ceilings but is hard to clean and not a good choice for walls.

Satin finishes have a soft luster sheen similar to that of an eggshell. A satin finish is more stain resistant, durable and has a harder surface finish than a flat finish. This hard wearing paint makes satin finish paint a great choice for walls, hallways, stairways, family rooms and other living areas.

Semi gloss paints are hard wearing and easier to clean than satin finish paints. Semi gloss paints are most often used in kitchens and bathrooms or on highly used on trims and cabinets.

Gloss paint is harder, more durable and stain resitant. It is easier to clean but not that good at hiding flaws. Gloss is best used in Heavy traffic areas and is often used on trims.

When choosing which type of paint to use, take into account the area. For example, don't use a gloss finish if you have flaws to hide or a flat finish on walls with heavy traffic as you will be repainting again and wasting time and money.

Also be aware that dark coloured paint usually fades after a few years due to weather. The house will look older and deteriorated. You can prevent this by using a lighter colour that does not absorb heat from the sun and encounter moisture problems. This also lengthens the time between painting and will save you money. Dark colours can also be more expensive to buy as paint shps often charge more for darker tints.

You don't need to hire professionals to chose colours or to do the job. Alittle research in magazines or asking people their opinions can help with choosing colours and setting aside a couple of weekends to do the job will get it done in no time at all. Also a little advice from your local paint shop on which type of paint and what tools to use will help you on your way. Good Luck!

Painting can be expensive, especially if the house is large. The best way to redecorate a house if you're on a budget is by one section at a time. The first place to start is the exterior. It is the most visible and probably the most dramatic when when making changes. Repainting the exterior can also add tremendous value to your house if you're thinking of reselling.

When funds are limited the thing to consider when choosing the color for the exterior is whether to keep the existing color or not. If you keep the existing color, a similar shade or go darker, this is less expensive than going from a dark color to a lighter one. As the number of coats applied are less there for saving time and money.

There are four basic types of paint; flat, satin, semi gloss and gloss. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.

Flat Paints have a non-reflective quality and have a matte finish. This help to hide flaws and is best used on ceilings but is hard to clean and not a good choice for walls.

Satin Finishes have a soft luster sheen similar to that of an eggshell. A satin finish is more stain resistant, durable and has a harder surface finish than a flat finish. This hard wearing paint makes satin finish paint a great choice for walls, hallways, stairways, family rooms and other living areas.

Semi gloss Paints are hard wearing and easier to clean than satin finish paints. Semi gloss paints are most often used in kitchens and bathrooms or on highly used surface areas. Semi gloss paint can also be used on wood trims and cabinets.

Gloss Paint is harder, more durable and stain resistant. It is easier to clean but is not that good at hiding flaws. Gloss is best used in heavy traffic areas and is often used on trims.

When choosing which type of paint to use, take into account the area. For example, don't use a Gloss finish if you have flaws to hide or a flat finish on walls with heavy traffic as you will be repainting again and wasting time and money.

Also be aware that dark colored paint usually fades after a few years due to weather. The house will look older and deteriorated. You can prevent this by using a lighter color that does not absorb heat from the sun and encounter moisture problems. This also lengthens the time between painting and will save you money. Dark colors can also be more expensive to buy as paint shops often charge more for darker tints.

You don't need to hire professionals to chose colors or to do the job. A little research in magazines or asking people their opinions can help choose color and setting aside a couple of weekends to do the job will get it done in no time at all. Also a little advice from your local paint shop on which type of paint, what tools to use will help you on your way. Good Luck!



Australian Painters & Repairers Pty Ltd, Australia Wide Painting Contractors

How to Camouflage with Paint

When it comes to decorating and design, paint is essential: whether you are refreshing the outside of a building, decorating the walls, floors and ceilings of your house or refinishing furniture; paint is the first and easiest option.

Paint can do a lot of things since it has the capability to hide flaws and make things look totally different. Agloomy room can be brightened up by painting the walls with light colours, you can make your lounge room look cozy by adding reds and earthy colours. Furniture can look brand new after a coat of paint, not to menchion painting can add value as well.

Camouflage can be defined in many ways; but essentially, it means trying to conceal the identity of somethingby blending it into the surroundings so that it becomes less noticeable.

Paint comes in different colours, shades and textures - there are more than a thousand available to choose from. It is simple for interior decorators and their customers to choose colours from samples at most paint shops and if the colour you require is not on display, your local paint specialist can easily match the shade and mix it up for you.

With the right choice of colour, interior decorators can achieve the right feel, hide flaws, enhance apperance and generally create a space to suit your personality and needs.

When painting the outside of a building it is preferable the one colour is used for the entire structure as this creates harmony and allows for continuity. Use of contrasting colours on features of the building can have a great effect, for example use a contrast colour to draw the eye to the front door.

Always decorate a room keeping in mind the practicalities. There is no point painting a room white when you have small children who are most likely to put sticky fingers on the walls thereby creating extra cleaning for the already overworked mother. Or at the very least make sure the painting is washable!

Flaws are an unavoidable way of life, but we can do something to hide them. For example, if the ceiling of the room is too high, a darker paint will make it appear lower. If you want to create the image of a larger space in a small room, paint the walls with lighter colours. For large cold rooms, painting them with warm colours like orange, red or pink will make it appear warm and cosy.

Some examples where camouflaging with paint can be used:

If you are painting your bedroom, it is nice to blend the wall colour with the linens and sheets that you use. You can also use decorative paint patterns that match the prints or colour of most of the linens but don't over-do it because don't forget you have to sleep in this room and too many patterns might be distracting.

If the floor has been damaged, you can paint it with a colour that matches or contrasts with the current wall colour. Add a faux tile design for a more realistic look.

If the pieces of a dining setting don't match, paint the table and chairs in a single colour to create a unified effect.

Old frames can still be used by painting them with a colour that blends with the colour of the wall where they will be hung.

Classic wood furniture can look new again by applying paint that matches the colour of the room or a paint that is close to the shade of the orriginal material.

Many things can be done with paint, the more creative you are the better. Have a look at the area you want to redecorate and make sure whatever you do reflects your personality and flair.



Australian Painters & Repairers Pty Ltd, Australia Wide Painting Contractors.