By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist
RISMEDIA, March 16, 2010—If repainting the inside or the exterior of your home is on your agenda this spring, you should know that paint adds much more than color.
Your home’s ability to resist the forces of nature depends largely on the quality of paint you use, and proper surface preparation, primer and caulking all add to the final outcome. Using $15 per gallon exterior paint, for example, can mean having to repaint again in four years, whereas $25 per gallon paint may give you 10 years of service.
For exterior paint, you will choose between two types of paint; latex and alkyd. Both have excellent qualities but they are incompatible with each other because latex paint is water-based and alkyd paint is oil-based. The rule is, ‘oil-based paint can be applied over water-based–but never the other way around.’ A primer must be used if you want to apply latex over oil-based paint.
The type of surface affects the type of paint to use. Wood trim and siding, for example, expand and contract with the seasons. A good elastic paint–100% acrylic with a satin sheen–will probably be the best choice.
Also, regional weather extremes and UV exposure need to be considered. Consult with a local paint store for recommendations as to the best type of paint to use where you live.
For interior paint, you will need to consider:
-Abrasion resistance – For areas that will be scrubbed more often, such as a child’s room or hallway, choose acrylic paint, which offers little odor, ease of application and flexibility.
-Humidity – Bathrooms and sauna or pool areas suggest moisture-resistant acrylic paint, preferably with higher sheen.
-Sheen – The sheen affects how strong and flexible the paint is. The more sheen, the more resistant the paint is to washing and abrasion. Choose higher sheen for kitchens, bathrooms and doorway trim, lower sheen for interior walls.
-Color – The intensity of color desired, and/or the need for multiple coats, makes a difference. Water-based paint dries faster, allowing you to add a second coat sooner. Also, quality acrylics are thicker and offer better coverage.
In all, top quality acrylic house paint is the best choice for ceilings and walls.
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