Here's everything you need to know before you hit the paint aisle.
1.PICK YOUR PAINT TYPE
Latex:Water-based latex is DIY-friendly because it cleans up easily with soap and water. Most paint today is vinyl-acrylic or 100-percent-acrylic latex. More and more it's the only option sold by the gallon. Latex paint dries quickly, usually in 2 hours, and "cures" in a matter of weeks. Oil:Also known as solvent-based or alkyd paint, it dries slowly and must be cleaned up with minerals spirits. But that slow drying time helps oil paint level out, reducing visible brush strokes and roller marks. Oil paint also hardens well to create a durable finish.
2.GET THE GOOD STUFF
Latex:Water-based latex is DIY-friendly because it cleans up easily with soap and water. Most paint today is vinyl-acrylic or 100-percent-acrylic latex. More and more it's the only option sold by the gallon. Latex paint dries quickly, usually in 2 hours, and "cures" in a matter of weeks. Oil:Also known as solvent-based or alkyd paint, it dries slowly and must be cleaned up with minerals spirits. But that slow drying time helps oil paint level out, reducing visible brush strokes and roller marks. Oil paint also hardens well to create a durable finish.
2.GET THE GOOD STUFF
High-quality paints and primers don't sacrifice costlier resin for cheap pigment, so they won't shrink back to reveal bare spots as they dry. The most efficient option, however, is to use an all-in-one paint and primer, which seals your surface like a primer and provides a finish coat in one pass-making the job easier.
3.CHOOSE A ROLLER COVER
Match the fiber to the paint type: Get synthetic covers for latex paint, and natural-fiber ones made of mohair of lamb's wool for oil paint. Then match the nap to the surface texture. Smooth:1/8 to 1/4-inch nap cover for very smooth surfaces (plaster, laminate, metal). Semismooth:3/8 to 1/2-inch nap cover for lightly texture walls (drywall, wood). Rough: 3/4-inch nap cover for texture walls(stucco,brick).
4.THE SHINE FACTOR
Choose the right sheen for your surface. Flat, low-luster paints create an even coat that hides flaws. Glossier paints form a smoother, more wear-resistant finish-but they also highlight imperfections. Here's a guide to which sheen works best where:
Flat:Good for ceilings and high-traffic living areas.
Matte:Good for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms.
Satin/Eggshell:Good for foyers,high-traffic areas.
Semigloss:Good for baths, kitchens, trim.
Gloss:Good for trim, doors, cabinets.
5.POURING SPOUT
An inexpensive plastic snap-on spout makes pouring paint into a roller pan or cut bucket much easier and keeps the lid rim from clogging with paint.
6.PAINT CALCULATOR
Divide the square footage of your wall surfaces by the coverage per gallon listed on the can.Example:A 20-by-23-foot room with a 8-foot ceiling is 688 square feet;688/350 square square feet of coverage per can=2 gallons(make it 4 gallons for two coats).
7.LOW VOC
Paint ingredients contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that off gas, creating that familiar paint smell-and a potential hazard to your health. New formulations aim to reduce or remove these compounds without sacrificing good color and even coverage.
8.GET THE RIGHT BRUSH
Look for brushes with bristles that are tapered,split, and set in multiple lengths to form a slim tip. A mix of nylon and polyester holds and releases latex paint well. For oil-based paints, use natural bristles.
3.CHOOSE A ROLLER COVER
Match the fiber to the paint type: Get synthetic covers for latex paint, and natural-fiber ones made of mohair of lamb's wool for oil paint. Then match the nap to the surface texture. Smooth:1/8 to 1/4-inch nap cover for very smooth surfaces (plaster, laminate, metal). Semismooth:3/8 to 1/2-inch nap cover for lightly texture walls (drywall, wood). Rough: 3/4-inch nap cover for texture walls(stucco,brick).
4.THE SHINE FACTOR
Choose the right sheen for your surface. Flat, low-luster paints create an even coat that hides flaws. Glossier paints form a smoother, more wear-resistant finish-but they also highlight imperfections. Here's a guide to which sheen works best where:
Flat:Good for ceilings and high-traffic living areas.
Matte:Good for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms.
Satin/Eggshell:Good for foyers,high-traffic areas.
Semigloss:Good for baths, kitchens, trim.
Gloss:Good for trim, doors, cabinets.
5.POURING SPOUT
An inexpensive plastic snap-on spout makes pouring paint into a roller pan or cut bucket much easier and keeps the lid rim from clogging with paint.
6.PAINT CALCULATOR
Divide the square footage of your wall surfaces by the coverage per gallon listed on the can.Example:A 20-by-23-foot room with a 8-foot ceiling is 688 square feet;688/350 square square feet of coverage per can=2 gallons(make it 4 gallons for two coats).
7.LOW VOC
Paint ingredients contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that off gas, creating that familiar paint smell-and a potential hazard to your health. New formulations aim to reduce or remove these compounds without sacrificing good color and even coverage.
8.GET THE RIGHT BRUSH
Look for brushes with bristles that are tapered,split, and set in multiple lengths to form a slim tip. A mix of nylon and polyester holds and releases latex paint well. For oil-based paints, use natural bristles.
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