What You Need to Know About Residential Paints

Tony 03/05/2024
What You Need to Know About Residential Paints
Painting gives an old room a feeling of freshness -- and it can make your house easier to sell if you’re placing it on the market. However, the positive effects will largely depend on the type of paint you choose and on the quality of the paint job.

Picking out paint isn’t rocket science, but it isn’t something you can do on the fly, either. It isn’t just about picking a color and a couple of brushes. There are many types of paints to choose from. If you don’t know where each of these paints works best, you may end up making a painting blunder.

Don’t worry, though. This is what you need to know about the different types of paint available to you.

Water-Based Paints

Most of the non toxic paint for walls sold all over the world today is water-based, as it's easy it is to use and produces a high-quality result. When using water-based paints, make sure your wall hasn’t been previously coated with an oil-based product, as the paint may have difficulties adhering to the surface. Under such circumstances, you should first wash the wall and clean it up with sandpaper. This will remove the oil coating and will prevent your new water-based paint layer from peeling off. There are even new products on the market, called “waterborne alkyds” or “waterborne enamel,” which look and behave like oil-based paints. Water-based, non-toxic paints for walls have various advantages. For starters, they don’t need a pre-treatment. They also inhibit the growth of mildew on your walls. Apart from the fact that they dry quickly, they are also low VOC paints and can be used on a wide variety of surfaces.

Oil-Based Paints

This type of paint can be used on almost any surface, has a rich finish, and is very durable. It has, however, been proven to contain high levels of VOCs, which evaporate into the air as the paint dries. This paint cannot be washed with water; thus, you should use turpentine to clean the paint out of your brushes.

Oil paints have an appealing sheen, are suitable for bathrooms and other rooms whose walls come into contact with water, offer good leveling, and give your walls a hard, durable finish. However, the risks associated with oil-based paints have made many homeowners think twice before using them on their walls.

Paint Finishes

There are many sheen options on the market and they vary from one manufacturer to another. Many homeowners are finding new, creative ways to match and mix paints and finishes. Paint finish can help you create real impact and texture in a room. These are a few popular types of paint finishes.
  • Matte Paint: This has the least reflective sheen of all available options and has an attractive, velvety texture. Many homeowners use matte paint to hide flaws in the walls and ceilings. Although it offers a great depth of color, it can sometimes be challenging to clean.
  • Eggshell Paint: Eggshell paint is a medium sheen, hard-wearing protective finish, ideal for interior surfaces in kitchens, bathrooms, and other high moisture areas. This paint is highly washable and great for use in the high-traffic areas of your home.
  • Gloss and Semi-Gloss Paint: These types of non-toxic paint for walls are excellent for doors, furniture, trim, and accent walls. These paints offer the most reflective sheen in the market. Because of their durability, they can stand the test of time and multiple cleanings. When using this type of paint, make sure the walls don’t have any imperfections; otherwise, these glossier finishes may highlight pre-existing flaws.

Choosing a Color for Your Walls

The color of non-toxic paint for walls should also play a huge part when you’re choosing paint for your home. When picking out a color, consider the color scheme of the room you wish to paint. Use the furniture, wall paintings, and rugs to come up with a shade close to the most repeated color in the room.

Pick a dark shade for the floor paint, a medium shade for the non-toxic paint for walls, keeping the lightest shades for the ceiling. What will the room be used for? This should help you make a decision.

When you need decor inspiration or simply want to learn more about the different types of non toxic paints available, we're here to help. For more information, please contact us today.

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