Which paint you should choose will depend on where you want to use it and the particular effect you want. High quality paint is always worth buying to achieve the best finish but you will also need to match the type of paint to the room, the surface and location (indoor or outdoor) that you will be transforming.
There are dozens of different paints on the market, many for specialised purposes: undercoat and sealer; hard wearing paint for floors and high traffic areas; water-resistant paints and more. Interior paints come in many different varieties suited for use in different areas and for different looks.
The same paints are given different brand names and it's worthwhile understanding the principal differences between paints. Is it water-based or oil-based? How glossy is it? Zero glossiness creates a flat, matte paint. 100% gloss paints are highly reflective. They need to be applied to well-prepared surfaces since every underlying flaw will be emphasized. Some are brittle and are not suitable for high traffic areas of the home.
Flat paint has an unreflective, matte finish (but, confusingly, is not the same as matte paint). This is the most basic, cheapest paint and though it has its uses it has various disadvantages. It doesn't wash well and is best used in areas where it won't need regular touching up. It is to be avoided in faux painting because it dampens the color of paint applied; it dries too fast for the demands of faux painting techniques.
Matte paint is a type of interior paint that, though it also has a matte finish, is a pricier and higher quality product, designed to be washable and resist dirt. It typically contains special ingredients to achieve this purpose and is accordingly more expensive.
Eggshell paint has more gloss and reflectivity than matte paint, but rather than being shiny has the low sheen that you can see on your breakfast egg. It is also used for interior painting.
Satin paints and pearl paints are comparable products that result in a more velvety finish and a higher degree of glossiness. Different manufacturers may describe their products as satin or pearl, but they are much the same thing.
An ideal, washable paint for bathrooms and kitchens, satin or pearl paint is suitable for walls or wood and is the recommended paint for the surface on which faux painting will be carried out. Paint applied on top of this paint will not dry fast, which means that it has the maximum 'spreadability' that faux painting requires.
Semi-gloss paint has a soft, low shine and is simple to wipe down. Used especially for wood (doors, windows, furniture), it has all the advantages of satin and pearl paints, but this level of gloss will make surface flaws stand out, rather than hiding them.
Gloss paint is richly glossy, highly reflective, creating a finish as smooth as plastic. It will show up the slightest imperfections so surface preparation - filling and sanding to a very smooth finish - is absolutely vital.
Skimping on paint quality just isn't worth it. If you buy good paint and use it in the right places, you'll save yourself having to buy more to touch up or redo it in a short space of time. For faux painting, choosing the right paint is crucial to achieving the effects you've visualized. - 16492
There are dozens of different paints on the market, many for specialised purposes: undercoat and sealer; hard wearing paint for floors and high traffic areas; water-resistant paints and more. Interior paints come in many different varieties suited for use in different areas and for different looks.
The same paints are given different brand names and it's worthwhile understanding the principal differences between paints. Is it water-based or oil-based? How glossy is it? Zero glossiness creates a flat, matte paint. 100% gloss paints are highly reflective. They need to be applied to well-prepared surfaces since every underlying flaw will be emphasized. Some are brittle and are not suitable for high traffic areas of the home.
Flat paint has an unreflective, matte finish (but, confusingly, is not the same as matte paint). This is the most basic, cheapest paint and though it has its uses it has various disadvantages. It doesn't wash well and is best used in areas where it won't need regular touching up. It is to be avoided in faux painting because it dampens the color of paint applied; it dries too fast for the demands of faux painting techniques.
Matte paint is a type of interior paint that, though it also has a matte finish, is a pricier and higher quality product, designed to be washable and resist dirt. It typically contains special ingredients to achieve this purpose and is accordingly more expensive.
Eggshell paint has more gloss and reflectivity than matte paint, but rather than being shiny has the low sheen that you can see on your breakfast egg. It is also used for interior painting.
Satin paints and pearl paints are comparable products that result in a more velvety finish and a higher degree of glossiness. Different manufacturers may describe their products as satin or pearl, but they are much the same thing.
An ideal, washable paint for bathrooms and kitchens, satin or pearl paint is suitable for walls or wood and is the recommended paint for the surface on which faux painting will be carried out. Paint applied on top of this paint will not dry fast, which means that it has the maximum 'spreadability' that faux painting requires.
Semi-gloss paint has a soft, low shine and is simple to wipe down. Used especially for wood (doors, windows, furniture), it has all the advantages of satin and pearl paints, but this level of gloss will make surface flaws stand out, rather than hiding them.
Gloss paint is richly glossy, highly reflective, creating a finish as smooth as plastic. It will show up the slightest imperfections so surface preparation - filling and sanding to a very smooth finish - is absolutely vital.
Skimping on paint quality just isn't worth it. If you buy good paint and use it in the right places, you'll save yourself having to buy more to touch up or redo it in a short space of time. For faux painting, choosing the right paint is crucial to achieving the effects you've visualized. - 16492
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