Which Type of Paint is Right for Homes

Which Type of Paint is Right for Homes Near Birmingham, Alabama, like Oil vs Water-Based Options

The Power of Paint

Painting a room is the perfect way to add personality to a space. However, painting requires some effort. You must move furniture, protect flooring, and avoid wet paint. If you are going to put in that effort to update your wall color, you want to make sure you make the right selections when choosing paint. With a knowledgeable and friendly staff, Rainbow Paint & Decorating can help you decide which type of paint is right for your home.

The Importance of Primer

The first consideration when determining which type of paint is right for your home, your paint process should be what is currently on your walls. If your walls have never been painted, you will need to use a primer before painting. Primer has the same consistency as paint and will help the paint adhere to the walls. If you’re covering a light or similar color to the paint you have selected, you can usually skip priming. On the other hand, in situations such as painting a light color over a dark color, primer can help reduce the coats of paint you have to apply. If you plan to paint a darker color on a new wall, you can also try tinted primer from Fine Paints of Europe. Starting with a grey rather than white may allow you to use less coats of paint as well. Plus, Fine Paints of Europe’s primer is formulated to help block stains, making your paint job last longer.

Oil VS Water-Based Paint

The next step to determine which paint is right for your home is whether you need oil-based or water-based paint. Oil-based paint is more durable and provides a smoother, more appealing finish, but it takes longer to dry and requires harsh chemicals to clean brushes. On the other hand, water-based paint, also known as latex or acrylic paint, dries faster and can be cleaned up with soap and water, but it isn’t as durable. If you’re painting exteriors, floors, doors, trim or any other area that may see a lot of wear and tear, you should consider oil-based paint. You can then use water-based paint on ceilings and walls that won’t receive much contact.

Decorating

Once you have decided which paint is right for your home, you can move to the fun decorating choices. As you select the color of your paint, you will also need to decide on the paint sheen, which is how shiny or glossy the paint is. Most paints that have minimal to no gloss will be labeled as flat, matte, satin or eggshell. Paints are also available in semi-gloss or gloss. When considering sheen, you should think about where the wall in question is. Glossy sheens are durable and can be cleaned without much wear, but they do show imperfections since they reflect the light. As you move from flat to eggshell, the paint gets slightly glossier, so a satin or eggshell paint has more balance between durability and visibility of flaws.

Conclusion

Rainbow Paint & Decorating has everything for your decorating needs. With high-quality paints from outstanding brands, our staff can help you find the right color that will last for years. With a showroom in Birmingham, Alabama, we proudly serve the Greater Birmingham area, including Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood and Hoover. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!