Interior House Paints buying guide

Interior House Paints

A good paint job will work wonders to your home and can even make it look almost new. It's no small job to do it yourself, but if done correctly it can be very rewarding and save you money in the long run. Take some time to read all the way through in order to learn as much as you can about buying the proper paints—and make sure you get the right tools for the job. Read up about House Painting Supplies next.

Steps

First make a clear plan of what you're planning to paint and consider:

How much punishment will these walls be taking?
How often would you like to repaint?
Do you want your walls to be glossy , matte or somewhere in between ? Check out this chart of which glosses match which surfaces
On what surface are you painting?
How many colors are you using?
Do you want to texture your walls?

Next learn about your options and processes:

Process :

You'll want to prime your surface first to keep the texture even and improve paint adhesion.
Then you'll paint it the color you want.
Then you can add another layer for design or texture.

Primer and paint options:

" Latex " and " oil base " are now terms that mean "perform like the latex/oil-based paints of yore." These paints may or may not actually have latex or oil in them; they may be completely synthetic. Don't fret.

Latex :

Dries faster
Easier clean up
Less expensive
Better for walls and ceilings

Oil-based/ Alkyd :

Smoother finish
Stronger
Better for wood and metal

100% acrylic formations touch up well and are durable

Primer prepares your surface for painting

Learn which kind of primer to apply to which kinds of surfaces at this handy reference guide.
Primers are applied to masonry, plaster, drywall, wood, previously-painted concrete/cinderblock, stucco, poured concrete and stucco, concrete masonry, ferrous metals

Use only latex on galvanized metals

Paint goes on top of the primer, supplying the color, gloss and texture to the surface. Experts all claim that price reflects quality. If you scrimp on paint now, you may pay for it later when you're repainting.

Pick your color scheme based on personal taste and with the help of an online color guide

Benjamin Moore - Envision a room's colors before you ever buy the paint. Go to "Let's Paint" to cover a virtual room in your colors of choice.

Finishes matter a great deal to the look of your room

Sherwin Williams has a great guide for which kinds of finishes are best for which surfaces
Flat finishes are good for bedrooms and living and dining rooms where there's less wear and tear

Be sure to use latex

Enamels ( Eggshell / Satin / Semi-Gloss , High Gloss , Satins, and Clear Finishes) are less likely to be damaged than flat latex. Good for kitchens, baths and woodwork.

Use latex, oil-based/alkyd or Specialty Finishes

Specialty/ Faux Finishes are for those times when a regular gloss just won't do

Then you calculate how much paint you'll need. Your amount should be based on the size of your room and the number of coats you're using.

Behr —Paint Calculator, to figure out how much to buy.

And then you paint!

See our article on other painting supplies.

Additional Tips

Price really does reflect quality.
The big paint companies have comprehensive websites. And some of them even give you small paint samples, like Behr.
Dark colors require more skill to execute well and are harder to cover up when repainting.
Let Do It Yourself teach you all about finishing your job in a fashionable and exciting manner.

External Links

Paint and Coating Resource Center - Hundreds of "Ask the Expert" questions about house painting.
Al's Net Biz - House painting tips, techniques, tutorials, and how-to. Apparently, with paint quality, you get what you pay for.
FactsFacts - Listings of some of the best paints for specific interior jobs (How to cover other paint, water resistant, etc.).
Finding the Perfect Paint Colors for Your Home Interior - Signature paint lines, specialty paint brands, popular paint brands, and other resources all in one place
Do It Yourself - Why you should spring for the higher quality paints.