DIY Painting Tips - Paint Selection

Top quality paints not only apply easier and give you better coverage but they last for longer and are easier to clean than cheaper low grade paints. Buy the best that you can afford with your budget - it will pay for itself in the long run your paint selection will make a big difference and make your DIY painting job easier.

ACRYLIC PAINT
Acrylic or Water based paint, is the most commonly used paint for walls and ceilings throughout your house. The paint is fast drying, often nearly odor free, and nowadays it has very low VOC levels

OIL BASED PAINT
Oil Based or Enamel paint is most commonly used for doors, skirts and windows, this is a hard wearing paint, but it does have a high odor level, a long drying time and it will yellow with age. It also needs to be cleaned up with mineral turps or thinners and often has high levels of VOC's.

WATER BASED ENAMEL
Water based Enamel is fairly new to the market place and is a great way to achieve the high gloss look of an enamel with out the smell, long drying time, or the yellowing effect that you get from an enamel over the long time, though it does not have the hardness of a traditional oil based product.

FLAT PAINTS
Flat paints are most commonly used on ceilings, some people still use them on their walls for the hiding power, though I would recommend a low sheen for walls as a flat will mark and scuff very easily and is not as washable as the higher gloss level paints.

LOW SHEEN/ACCENT PAINTS
Low Sheen paint is most commonly used for walls. It is suitable for all rooms in your house except, laundries, kitchens and bathrooms, it is washable and still has some decent hiding power.

SEMI GLOSS/SATIN PAINTS
Semi Gloss paints are much more washable than low sheen or flat finishes but it does not have the same hiding power as low sheen or flat paints, it is commonly used in Kitchens, Laundries and Bathrooms because of its higher moisture resistance and ease of cleaning.

GLOSS PAINTS
Gloss paints are mostly used for doors, architraves, and windows. This paint has a high moisture resistance level and is highly washable. It will show up any imperfections in the surface, so it is important to make sure that you have prepared the surfaces properly first before applying it.

Hopefully I have made your next paint selection easier for you.