Choosing the Best Paint

Whether it is interior or exterior, choosing the best paint for your painting job is essential before you can start painting. Choosing the type, quality, quantity, and color can seem intimidating, but when the specifics of the job are considered, there is usually one particular type of paint that is best for the job. No matter what type of paint you choose, you will need brushes, rollers, paint trays, and drop cloths.

For most jobs, water-based paint is usually the best paint to use. Water-based paint, also known as latex or acrylic paint, is easily cleaned up using just soap and water. In addition, water-based paint is much easier to cover than oil-based paint. Although oil-based paint used to be more brilliant and durable than water-based paint, water-based paints have improved and this is no longer the case.

It is easy to get the best paint color for your painting job. Almost all paint stores can match the exact shade of paint samples, fabric, or anything else that you would like to match. Many paint stores have suggestions on which shades of paint go well together. You can also buy sample sizes of paint to try painting part of a wall and see what the color is like on the wall and not just on a paint chip.

Primer is important when performing the best paint job possible. The main purpose of a primer is to bond and seal the surface being painted. Some primers are made especially for plaster or drywall, while others are better on wood. Make sure to read the label on the primer and make sure it is appropriate for your particular job.

When choosing paint, you will obviously have to take price into consideration. To get the best paint, you should generally buy the most expensive paint that your budget allows. Although not always true, better paint is generally more expensive. Higher quality paint is easier to use, looks better when it has dried, and lasts longer.

Don't forget to think about the finish of the paint. Although not a hard and fast rule, most people use a flat, or matte, finish for walls and a semigloss finish for trim. Eggshell and satin finishes are usually used on bathroom and kitchen walls, since these walls need moisture protection.

Finally, when choosing paint, you must calculate how much paint you need. The label on the paint lists how much area the paint should be able to cover. However, you have to take into consideration if the surface is porous or smooth, and how many coats will need to be applied.