Alkyd, acryl, latex paint – which one to choose
How to choose the right paint for your needs? Good products are easy to work with, they are applied quickly, do not fade in time, they are easy to clean and have no damaging components. Paints for different premises are of same base but they differ by their additional components – latex, Teflon, silicone, etc.
Types of paints
Generally there are two types of paints. Alkyd (oil) paint engraves the walls and for that reason it is rarely used. It is suitable for painting wood, metal and plastic. In the near past the alkyd paint has been widely in use for painting bathrooms. But soon after it was applied the walls started to peel. There was nothing wrong with the paint, it was just wrongly applied. According to some specialists the walls do not let the water through but due to the difference in the temperatures inside the premise, dampness is being formed behind the paints and this is why the alkyd painted walls peel and fall down. In this case a breeding paint is the best option than the alkyd one.
Ordinary polymer paints are most popular. Not many people know they are all breeding and the appearance of condense and mould depends on good insulation, joinery, primer and the quality of paints has nothing to do with it. There is a variety of ordinary polymer paints depending on their components – acryl, latex, vinyl, Teflon, silicone, silicate, etc. You can find on the market paints different in composition and quality. For example it is known that Teflon paint repels the dirt and silicone paint – water. In this sense, the first are recommended for kitchens and for smoky premises while the second are suitable for wet premises. Latex paints have rubber effect that make them flexible, they keep the microorganisms away and are easy to clean. They are ideal for corridors and vestibules. Silicate paints are preferred for walls that are under high moisture influence because of their air- and vapor- permeability. Besides they prevent the walls from the microorganisms. Vinyl paints are fire-resistant.
According to their components, polymer paints can be mat, satin and brilliant. Usually mat paint is used for ceilings, while satin and brilliant paint –for walls. Experts advise that mat paint becomes dirty easier but it covers and hides defects of the surface when applied very well. Satin paint is suitable for the living room and the brilliant paint – for kitchens and bathrooms.
Primer – the key for good painting
Applying prime on the wall before painting it is a must. In practice, after the ground coat is applied, the surface needs to be cleaned from the dust and then a very thin paint should be applied on the wall. The lack of primer could ruin the ground coat. Water goes into the wall and the fragments of the paint stay on the surface. Thus the dust is being fixed but the base is not allowed to soak equally say the experts. Primer main purpose is to provide perfectly smooth surface before applying the paint. Moreover when applied prime saves the quantity of paint that is being used.
Colorless primes that penetrate deep into the surface are often used. Experts do not recommend their usage because they fix dust and make the surface evenly soaked but small defects are still there. Instead they advise to use white deep penetrating primer that is like paint. Impregnated prime is also good. It penetrates and secures the wall. Be aware impregnated primer has to be washy enough otherwise it can form a glossy cover and painting will be very difficult. So it is advisable to read the instructions from the producer very carefully before applying the prime.
Synthetic based primer is suitable for walls raising problems such as iron in the wall, appearance of rust and also in public places where smoking is allowed and the walls are usually covered with nicotine. Experts recommend that non corrosion primer needs to be applied before metal painting and deep penetrating primer – before wood painting.
Wall painting and re-painting
It is very important to make yourself sure that the walls and the ceilings are ready for painting before you start doing this. Their surface should be smooth, clean and dry. Cover the places that will not be painted to protect them clean. If it is well organized painting can be quick and pleasant. Calculate the quantity of paint you will need in accordance with the surface you wish to paint. For example, in order to cover a ceiling with area of 13 sq.m. twice and the expense of paint is 100g/sq.m you will need 2,6 kg. paint. In this case it will be better if you buy 3 kg because these calculations are tentative and it is always good to have more than less.
Take a brush and start paining, cover the corners and the edges of the walls first. Then you can use a roller for painting the rest of the wall more quickly. Try to paint only in one direction. Colored paint should be applied twice to achieve deeper color. Each coating is applied only when the previous one is well dried. Usually this will take 2-4 hours depending on the temperature inside the premise. Do not forget that colors become darker after drying. If there are drops of paint outside the surface you paint, wash them with tepid water immediately. For wet premises choose suitable sanitary latex. If for one reason or another you have to stop painting, dip the brushes and the roller into some water.
When re-painting old walls, primer should be applied first and then the new paint. If you save applying it the second coating can not stick firmly to the wall and it is quite possible that the plaster falls down. Very often in this case small balloons appear on the surface and they may stay on the wall after the paint dries.
The variety of decorative plaster
Decorative plaster should be chosen according to its structure and properties. One of the latest trends is the widely spread usage of exterior plaster for interior decoration. Experts advise that strong plaster with sandy effect can be used for corridors and vestibules. Being very firm in structure it can hardly be destroyed and it can be washed and cleaned. For internal stairs plaster with rough relief is very suitable. This effect can be achieved by applying coarse plaster and then the paint is laid.
Experts recommend using light, smooth plaster for bedrooms because it is easy to maintain and it does not require regularly cleaning. Plaster with fabric effect brings comfort and this is why this type is much preferred for bedrooms. The “fabric” effect is achieved by applying the first coating vertically and the second one horizontally. Shiny coatings that look like marble are very fashionable these days. Dark, graphitic colors are much sought.
One of the latest trends in the interior decoration of a living room is the animal patterns. Valpaint, one of leading companies for decorative coatings in Italy has launched own limited line of decorative plaster with animal patterns. It is called “Jungle” and it offers coatings that imitate animal skin.
All types of decorative plasters are resistant against chemicals. Brush, sponge, piece of cloth, etc. are suitable for cleaning the plaster.
Generally decorative plaster can be applied on different surfaces such as wood, glass, light alloy, metals and PVC. They do not fade in color but if ruined, they are difficult to fix.
List of Bulgarian paint producers:
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