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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Dear Just Be: It's supposed to be great weather this weekend and I want to "refreshen" my home - any painting tips?

Spring is in the air, and its time to freshen up our homes, open the windows and let the fresh air in and do a little updating. Painting can be an inexpensive and easy way to give a room or your entire home a new and fresh feel and look.

You'll want to decide what is the right type of paint to use first. This depends on how the room to be painted will be used and the type of finish you want. Interior paint is specifically formulated to provide: Scrubbability and stain resistance, good hiding ability, good coverage, spatter resistance and easy touch-up

Latex or Oil? Interior house paints are either latex or oil/alkyd-based.

Latex - Get the longest-lasting finish with the best gloss retention, are easy to work with, dry quickly and are extremely durable. Latex paints clean up easily with soap and water.

Oil / Alkyd - Good adhesion, excellent durability and stain resistance make oil/alkyd-based paints excellent choices for trim in high-traffic rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms. You'll need to clean paint tools with mineral spirits.

Choosing the right paint for the surface will help ensure that you achieve a quality paint job that will last.

Ceilings - Use specially formulated flat ceiling paint. The flat finish hides irregularities and lap marks. Ceiling paint rolls on with minimal spatter and won't yellow over time.

Woodwork - Use either latex or oil/alkyd paint. Always prime bare wood. Easy-to-clean semi-gloss finishes are first choice, but when wear-and-tear is modest, flat or satin finishes are fine selections.

Walls - Because it's easy to work with, latex paint is an excellent choice for do-it-yourself projects. Latex paints can be applied over properly primed drywall, wood or masonry.

Metal - Use either latex or oil/alkyd paint on properly primed iron or steel. You can apply latex directly on aluminum and galvanized metal. However, these metals need to be properly primed if you're using oil/alkyd-based paint.

Masonry - For cement, concrete block and brick surfaces, acrylic latex wall paint designed for masonry surfaces is an excellent choice.

Floors - Use high-gloss acrylic floor enamels to stand up to abrasion, traffic and heavy scrubbing.

Lastly, when choosing paint, you'll need to determine the finish type you'll want to use. The sheen you choose is based on the final look and wearability you want to achieve.

Flat - Its matte appearance softens a room and helps hide surface blemishes, making walls look smooth. This finish, which cleans easily with a damp sponge, is ideal for: Adult bedrooms, Dining rooms, Formal living rooms and Ceilings.

Satin - With its slight gloss, this finish offers the benefits of a flat finish with added cleanability. It works best for high-traffic areas such as: Halls ,Woodwork, Children's bedrooms, and Family rooms.

Semi-Gloss - This lustrous, durable finish is perfect for areas that get cleaned frequently, such as: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Utility area, Closet doors, and Trim.

Gloss - This extremely hard and shiny finish provides a rich, smooth luster and is excellent for: Wood trim, Cabinets, Doors, and Furniture.

Before you start painting you will also need to determine the right type paint brush and paint roller. In tomorrow's blog we will discuss surface preparation and painting.

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