Do it yourself: choosing the right paint for home decoration

If you are sick of high priced estimates for paint jobs you think you could complete you may be right. Tips on choosing materials for surfaces and pointers on technique.

You are not alone if you have been startled by seemingly high estimates for paint jobs around your home. Contracting a painter can be a challenge alone to some people in this busy time of construction and home renovation, and finding the money to pay the company is just another headache. If you are fed up with waiting days or weeks for estimates that are going to be out of your price range anyway, and if you have the time to devote to home projects you should consider the do-it-yourself approach to painting.

If you are trying to save money on your house by doing your own refinishing it is important that you do the research that will enable you to make the right decisions about the tools and supplies you need to complete tasks correctly. Some people believe paint is paint, and that you can use most kinds indiscriminately to pretty up spots around the house. This could not be further from the truth. Using the wrong type of paint or coating on an item or surface can make the paint job look sloppy, can necessitate repeated applications of new coats, and can ultimately lead to the decay or wearing down of the area. Paint, you must remember, is not just for making surfaces look good, but it provides protection from conditions as well. Here is a breakdown of the basic types of paints for common household surfaces.

Before you paint most surfaces in the house you will need to lay down a first coat. Especially on walls, a substance called primer is used. Primer is applied to raw wood or newly plastered walls. It is used often to cover a dark colored surface before applying coats of light finish paint, but can be used as an extra protective layer on a light surface as well. Primer is helpful because it seals the pores of the wood so that the final layers of paint will not soak into the wood surface when they are applied; thus, primer helps prepare the surface for the acceptance of the regular paint, regardless of color.

After the application of primer on walls or furniture you will need to choose a final coating of paint. For walls and most major surfaces you will choose from hi-gloss, semi-glass, or flat paint. Hi-gloss enamel paint can be used both indoors and outdoors. It is a shiny paint that can be used in the kitchen, the bathroom, on the walls, and on the wood trim inside a home. You can use enamel paint on steel or wooden windows, windowsills, furniture, bookcases, and even doors. The reason people choose enamel paint is because it is very durable and is easily maintained. If an area coated with enamel paint gets dirty it can be washed and scrubbed without producing much surface damage.

Semi-gloss paint can be oil or latex based. This slightly shiny paint is used often in kitchens, bathrooms, and on walls. Wood trims and wooden window frames and sills are items regularly painted over with semi-gloss. Similarly, furniture and doors can be coated with this type of paint. Semi-gloss is used primarily as an alternative to the enamel paint because it gives off less of a glossy or shiny appearance. It can be scrubbed when dirty as well.

Flat paint can also be oil or latex based. It is used primarily for plaster walls and ceilings. Dry walls can be painted with regular flat paint, and room trims are often coated with this type of paint as well. Flat paint is not very washable, therefore, it is recommended to use it only on trims or small areas that will not need much washing. You can choose to use flat paint on your living room walls if you are not gloss or semi-gloss friendly.

For more specialized regions of your home-large areas of wood, steel, or other metals-other types of paint are needed. Here are some hints for painting these particular items and or regions.

Deck enamel is used on wooden stair treads in the house. Porches and wooden patios do well with several coats of deck enamel as well. It is very durable and exceptionally weatherproof. It can also be used on the decks of seafaring boats as a result of this durability. For stoves, radiators, pipes, fireplaces, chimneys, and heaters you will need to buy and apply heat-resistant enamel. This coating will endure great heat without melting or catching fire. If you have metals around your house that need attention you will need to purchase rust preventative paint. Rust preventative paint is an undercoating for all metals that rust. It is commonly used around the house for the preparation of iron fences, steel doors, railings, window frames, and metal furniture. The use of this specialized product will prevent you from the frustration of having to constantly reapply paint coats to your furniture.

Many headaches will be spared if you follow directions and use the correct paint when you are tackling a project. Doing-it-yourself can only be a rewarding experience if you supply yourself with the right equipment and knowledge; otherwise you might as well pay that high premium price for another person to complete the job.