Interior Painting Guidelines

Once good preparation is completed, the actual painting can go quickly and easily. But there are still a few guidelines helpful to observe, in order to get the best result.

Proper paint selection is the first requirement. Interior paints, whether latex or oil-based, come in a variety of finishes: glossy, semi-glossy, satin, eggshell and flat. Which to choose depends, of course, on the final look desired. The names are descriptive of the final finish.

High gloss paint leaves a very shiny, easy to clean surface. But it reflects a lot of light, giving a room a very bright look. It also shows dirt and smudges clearly. Semi-gloss is nearly the same, but with a lower sheen. They work well for high humidity rooms and trim.

Satins give a mild sheen that cleans up easily. They can be used anywhere inside. Eggshell paints go on smooth and leave a low-sheen on the surface. That can be the perfect look for a hallway, den or other quiet area.

Flat paint is just what it sounds like. It goes on thin and leaves a matte look, with little light reflection. Far from being dull, though, that may be just the right look for certain areas.

A bedroom can be the perfect place for a subtle, low-key look. Also, flat paints, because they don’t reflect as much light, help mask wall defects, such as small scratches. That makes a touch up of a wall in the kid’s room the perfect application for a flat paint. Ceilings are an ideal application, where low light reflection is often desired.

Once the paint is selected, it’s time to go. Start at the top with the ceiling, if that’s part of the job and work your way down. A roller can do those large areas quickly, but be sure to pick a nap length that will produce the desired result. The longer the nap, the rougher the final look. Take care not to move too fast and fling paint off the roller as it moves.

If you use latex, you’ll need to paint a smaller area at a time. Latex dries quickly and you need to keep a wet leading edge to ensure there are no overlap marks left when it dries. For most people, a square three to five feet on edge is about right. Oil-based or alkyd paints require a little more care to apply. They tend to drip more and leave runs. They require more smoothing.

When you get to the areas near the trim and baseboard a brush becomes mandatory. Even a well-masked border will absorb some paint from a roller as it bleeds through. A technique called ‘cutting in’ is used with a brush in those areas.

Cutting in requires a steady hand, but most do-it-yourselfers can manage it. Dip the brush into the can or pan about two inches and scrape off any excess paint onto the rim. Move the brush close to the border and give it a short jab, taking care not to touch the masking tape. You generally will just touch it, but by making an effort to avoid it, you’ll tend to produce little paint at the very edge.

Now go over the same strip near the edge horizontally, in order to smooth out any lines or narrow vertical strips produced by cutting in.

Easy!

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