Painting Basics 

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Introduction:

When it comes to painting there is an endless variety of colors one can choose when painting areas of their home, in this lesson we will be covering the painting process from top to bottom as it applies to insurance losses as well as common sheens that are used when painting.

Steps In The Painting Process 

Prep the Walls: This is when the painter patches any cracks in the wall and cleans them in order to prep for paint, the painter will also sand if necessary during this step.

Mask the Room: This can be done with either paper, tape, or plastic. In some cases, a painter may use both paper and tape to mask the room better.

Spread Drop Cloths and Move Furniture: This is done to protect the floors and furniture from being damaged by paint

Prime and Seal the Walls: This is when the painter applies a first primer coat on the walls before painting. This coat is specially designed to help seal the wall, prevent mold and helps even out paint tone over drywall repairs.

Paint the Walls: This is self-explanatory, this is when the painter applies enough coats of paint to adequately cover the area he or she is painting. This is also when the painter cuts in any areas that need it with a brush or cutting tool.

Clean Up and Move Furniture Back Into Place: After allowing the room to dry for a sufficient amount of time the painter then cleans everything up and moves the furniture back to its original placement.

Difference Between Interior and Exterior Paint:

Different paints have different properties and are formulated for different purposes. Interior paint is made to be scrubbed, resist staining, and allow cleaning. Exterior paints are made to combat against fading and mildew. They are also different chemically the primary difference between interior and exterior paints chemically is in their choice of resin. You will remember that the resin is what binds the pigment to the surface. In an exterior paint, it is important that the paint can survive temperature changes and can be exposed to moisture. Exterior paint also must be tougher and resist peeling, chipping, and fading from sunlight. For these reasons, the resins used in binding exterior paints must be softer. For interior paint where the temperature is not a problem, the binding resins are more rigid, which cuts down on scuffing and smearing.

Types of Paint Bases:

Oil Based Paint- Oil-based paint is more durable, but it takes longer to dry, and cleanup requires turpentine or paint thinner (mineral spirits). Oil-based paints are made with either alkyd (synthetic) or linseed (natural) oils. Alkyd paint is more common because it is less expensive and tougher. Oil-based paint is good for trim work because trim takes more abuse over time than do walls.

Latex / Water Based Paint: water-based paints (sometimes referred to as “latex paints” or “acrylic paints“) do not use solvents; the carrier for the pigment is primarily water. Latex paints have come a long way from when they were considered an inferior replacement for oil-based paints, and they’re now on the verge of dominating the market.

Paint Sheens: Now that we have covered the order in which painters typically paint a room, we will go over the various sheens that a painter may use. Paint Sheen primarily refers to the amount of light able to reflect from a surface measured by a percentage of gloss included in the paint. Painting contractors, interior decorators, and designers also use the term finishing type to describe surface detail.

Common Finishing Types (Sheens):

Flat:

Absorbs all light leaving surfaces soft and elegant.  Known to mask blemishes and imperfections from construction.  Be mindful of this naturally porous finishing type as it is not easily clean and can stain.

Matte:

Absorbs almost all light leaving surfaces soft and elegant.  Known to mask blemishes and imperfections from construction.  Be mindful of this naturally porous finishing type as it is not easily clean and can stain.

Eggshell:

Eggshell paints are extremely hard-wearing. This sheen creates an excellent and easy-to-clean surface for general rooms such as the living room or bedroom. Eggshell paints have a slight sheen and have a more reflective quality than flat paints, as mentioned previously.

Satin or Pearl:

Satin finish Creates a lively, warm look.  The added gloss improves the durability and washability making fingerprints and scuffs a snap to clean.  Paints with a satin sheen also withstand moisture, dirt, and mildew.  Recommended for use in rooms more frequented.

Semi-Gloss:

Finishes appear bright and shiny with 50% gloss content.  Durable and easy to clean.  Withstands moisture, dirt, and mildew.  The added reflectivity is known to highlight construction imperfections.  Semi-Gloss is more commonly used to accent doors, trim, and woodwork rather than wall and ceiling surfaces.

High Gloss:

Brilliant, reflective finishes.  Durable and easy to clean.  Withstands moisture, dirt, and mildew. The Added reflectivity of high gloss is known to highlight construction imperfections. This sheen is more commonly used to accent doors, trim, and woodwork rather than wall and ceiling surfaces