Home Painting 101
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TYPE OF PAINT
Many factors determine the type of paint you should use on any given paint job, including the nature of the surface you want to paint and its condition.
Most interior residential paints fall into two general categories: water-based latex paints and solvent-based paints, which are commonly referred to as oil-based paints or “alkyds.”
About 75% of all paint sold today is latex, and do-it-yourselfers use a higher percentage of latex paint for both exterior and interior projects.
We've done a lot of work with general contractors, business owners, home owners and house rehabbers who all have different priorities.
General Contractors are bound to their contracts with an owner relative to the type and specification of paints required for a particular project.
Business Owners typically try and buy the cheapest and most durable paint.
Home Owners are fixated on color and cost.
House Rehabbers try and find what is the most popular colors of the time and strategically place those colors throughout their rehabbed homes. They've told us that if you want to sell a house fast in Las Vegas, it has to look great!
CHARACTERISTICS OF LATEX PAINTS
Water-based latex paints have always been popular with do-it-yourselfers and professional painters because of their easy cleanup with plain soap and water. But today’s quality latex paints offer significant performance advantages as well.
Compared to oil-based paints, top quality exterior latex paints have greater durability in the form of better color retention and chalk resistance, so they continue to look good for years. Since they do not get brittle like oil-based paints, they have better resistance to cracking. Latex paints also dry much faster than oil-based paints (typically in one to six hours), which allows you to quickly apply a second coat.
Quality latex paints that have “100% acrylic” binders are especially durable and highly flexible. They tend to adhere extremely well to a variety of exterior surfaces, which means they have greater resistance to troublesome paint failures like blistering, flaking and peeling.
Behr Paints offers a complete line of 100% acrylic latex paint. Field tests at the Dow Chemical Paint Quality Institute, where paint performance has been tested for more than 40 years, show that top quality 100% acrylic latex paints are an excellent choice when painting any of the following exterior surfaces:
Wood, particularly in areas that experience freezing temperatures
New stucco and masonry
Weathered aluminum or vinyl siding
CHARACTERISTICS OF OIL-BASED PAINTS
Top quality oil-based paints have excellent adhesion characteristics, which means they have a tight grip on the surface being painted. Good adhesion is essential for a durable paint job, but oil-based coatings may oxidize and get brittle over time, which can lead to cracking problems in exterior applications, and yellowing and chipping problems in interior applications.
Oil-based coatings are still your best choice in two circumstances:
When repainting exterior surfaces with heavy “chalking” (chalk is the powdery substance that comes off on your hand when you run it cross the surface)
When repainting any exterior or interior surface that has four or more layers of old oil-based paint (the number of layers can often be determined by removing some paint chips and examining them)
You should never apply oil-based or alkyd paints directly to fresh masonry or galvanized iron.
If you use oil-based coatings, be aware that they are more difficult to apply and clean up than latex paints. They also take longer to dry, sometimes 24 hours or more, so you can’t apply a second coat as quickly as you can with latex paint.
Oil-based paints can be used for certain applications within the home – for example, on interior trim. But keep in mind that these paints have noticeably more odor than latex paints. That, combined with slow dry time, may put your rooms out of service for a short while. If you use oil-based paints, you will also have to use paint thinner to clean up drips and equipment, which means that you must use extra care in handling and disposing of rags.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON CHART FOR TOP QUALITY PAINTS
SELECTING THE RIGHT PAINT SHEEN
Selecting the ideal sheen or gloss level for an interior or exterior paint job involves both aesthetic and practical considerations. From an aesthetic standpoint, a degree of sheen or gloss is useful in creating visual interest, particularly indoors. From a practical standpoint, the right sheen or gloss can help extend the life of the paint job, whether it be an interior or exterior application.
Behr products are available in a variety of sheens, so you will be sure to find one suitable for your painting project. Consult the sheen guide below for helpful descriptions on all Behr Paints sheen levels.
Flat, Matte, Velvet Flat
Non-reflective, so it conceals imperfections better than higher sheen paints
Stain removal may be more difficult than other sheens due to its more porous nature
Good choice for living rooms and bedrooms
Eggshell
Sheen is higher than flat, slightly lower than a satin
Popular with designers as it is still relatively flat but will offer washability
Good for walls or trim in high-use areas such as hallways
Interior Satin
Sheen is lower than a semi-gloss
Popular sheen, durable and elegant
Good for walls or trim in high-use areas such as hallways
Semi-Gloss, Exterior Satin
Offers good stain resistance and is easy to clean
Washable and scrubbable
Popular choice for bathrooms, kitchens, woodwork and trim
Gloss
Toughest, most durable types of paint
May highlight surface characteristics
Excellent choice for trim and cabinets
Ideal for areas exposed to heavy traffic
Paint Sheen Summary
The flatter the paint, the better it will hide surface imperfections.
Flatter paint makes touch-ups easier and more seamless.
The glossier the finish, the greater the durability.
Generally, the higher the gloss, the more washable and scrubbable the surface.
Gloss surfaces offer more mildew resistance because they are less porous.
Finally, when it comes to painting your home or business, you can always contact us for free advice.