the painted surface
Paint Types and Their Uses
| Interior Paints | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Description | Uses | Thinner/Cleaner |
| Acrylic Flat | no sheen, less washable, can be slightly chalky | walls, ceilings | soap and water for cleaning, water or Floetrol for thinning |
| Acrylic Eggshell | slight sheen, more washable, nice matte finish | walls, ceilings | soap and water for cleaning, water or Floetrol for thinning |
| Acrylic Satin | satin finish, more durable and washable, slight gloss | walls, ceilings, can be used on woodwork and trim | soap and water for cleaning, water or Floetrol for thinning |
| Acrylic Semi-Gloss | increased gloss finish, durable, washable, may reflect a slight glare | walls, woodwork and trim | soap and water for cleaning, water or Floetrol for thinning |
| Acrylic Gloss | full gloss finish, durable, washable, reflects a slight glare | walls, woodwork and trim, can be used on ceilings for special purposes | soap and water for cleaning, water or Floetrol for thinning |
| Alkyd Flat | may be called "flat oil" strong odor, durable, flat matte finish | walls, ceilings, not usually used in residential projects | mineral spirits for cleaning, mineral spirits or Penetrol for thinning |
| Alkyd Semi-Gloss | may be called "oil-based", enamel or glyptex, strong odor, durable and washable, eggshell, satin or semi-gloss finish, sheens will vary by manufacturer | woodwork, trim or decorative objects | mineral spirits for cleaning, mineral spirits or Penetrol for thinning |
| Alkyd Gloss | may be called "oil based" enamel or glyptex, strong odor, durable and washable, full gloss finish | woodwork, trim or decorative objects | mineral spirits for cleaning, mineral spirits or Penetrol for thinning |
| Interior paints can come in a wide variety of colors and sheens, as well as different price levels. Usually you will get what you pay for, the more expensive paint should be a better quality. Avoid "contractor grade" paints unless you must have the cheapest paint - this grade will not give long-lasting satisfaction. Interior paint of any grade should never be used on an exterior surface. | |||
| Exterior Paints | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Description | Uses | Thinner/Cleaner |
| Acrylic or Latex | durable and flexible, is available in flat to high gloss, has excellent adhesion, will dry very rapidly on hot days | all exterior surfaces, though some metals like ironwork may be better suited for an oil-based paint | soap and water for cleaning, water or Floetrol for thinning |
| Oil Enamel | all will usually have at least a slight sheen up to a full oil gloss, more washable than water-based paints, does not flex like water-based paints so it may not be as durable on surfaces that expand and contract as the temperature changes, sometimes slow to dry, should only be applied when surfaces are very dry | all exterior surfaces, especially durable for ironwork, may not be as durable as acrylics when applied to wood or vinyl surfaces | mineral spirits for cleaning, mineral spirits or Penetrol for thinning |
| Exterior paints come in a wide variety of colors and sheens, as well as different price levels. Usually you will get what you pay for, the more expensive paint should be a better quality. Avoid "contractor grade" paints unless you must have the cheapest paint - this grade will not give long-lasting satisfaction. An 100% acrylic paint has proven to be very durable, color-fast and easy to apply. | |||
| Use This Paint For | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | Prep Work | Primer | Finish Paint |
| Interior Bare Wood | after priming fill nail holes with glazing putty, caulk cracks, repair damaged spots with wood filler or spackle, sand, dust or vacum | sealing type primer, should be easily sanded to achieve a smooth finish | oil or water-based, oil enamels are superior in durability and finish |
| Exterior Bare Wood | wood should be clean and dry, after priming caulk cracks, use exterior grade spackle for repairs, epoxy wood filler can be used for major damage | acrylic bonding primer, or oil based if knots need sealing, knots may require two coats for complete sealing | acrylics are very durable and easy to use, oil based paints can be used but are not as popular or durable on exterior wood surfaces |
| Concrete or Brick | wait until mortar is completely cured, clean off dirt, vegetation, mold or mildew, repair damaged spots with concrete patch, after priming caulk small cracks | acrylic bonding primer or block filler to fill small holes in concrete block | exterior grade acrylics bond very well, oil based paints are not recommended |
| New Drywall | check for smoothness, use drywall compound or spackle for repairs, caulk between moldings and walls after they have been primed, sand repairs, dust or vacum | sealing water-based primer, easy to sand when dry for a smooth finish coat | oil or water-based paints can be used, usually water-based acrylics are best |
| Decorative Ironwork or Iron Railings | repair spots with epoxy putty or reweld if safety is an issue, use steel brush to remove flaking rust | red oxide primer, spray cans are very handy for a few spots, be careful of the overspray drifting, brushing or rolling on the primer may apply a thicker coat | exterior grade oil-based paint is best |
| Bare Furniture To Be Painted | repair holes or gouges with wood filler, sand smooth, dust or vacum | shellac or oil-based primer will sand easily to provide a smooth finish | acrylics can be used but oil-based paints are more durable and usually look nicer |
| Natural Finish, Stained Door or Woodwork | make repairs with wood putty matched in color to the stain, sand if needed before applying stain, do not caulk cracks, a wood sealer to even the porosity of the wood may be required before staining | after stain is dry apply a thinned coat of the varnish or polyurethane as primer, thinning it will help it to soak into the wood | exterior grade polyurethane or spar varnish, a satin finish may provide more protection from damaged caused by the sun |
| Painting Over Wallpaper | wash to clean, glue down any loose corners or edges, use drywall mud to patch damaged spots and to smooth over the seams that may show as ridges after painting | an acrylic sealer may be required to prevent "bleed thru" | acrylics, some sheens may absorb into the paper unevenly and allow the pattern of the paper to show through, test a small spot with your chosen paint before doing the whole room |
| If you want to paint something, anything, there is probably a paint to meet your expectations. Follow the paint manufacturers recommendations and you will find the paint appropriate for your goals. Do not under estimate the importance of primer. A primer prepares the surface for the finish coat. It is sometimes impossible to achieve satisfactory results without first priming. Wherever the place, whatever the object, you can have the painted surface you desire. | |||
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