Choose your interior paint

The types of paint are numerous and each one has its own characteristics which you can read on the label. It is very important to differentiate these different types of finish and their features.
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Our advice
The good quantity
Latex vs. alkyd
Primers
Finishes
Paints for bathrooms and kitchens

Our advice

Avoid "one-coat-only" paint. And remember, new gypsum always requires a base or primer coat, a sealer which fills cracks and holes while hardening the gypsum, making it smooth and ready for a uniform first finishing coat. A "one-coat-only" paint could possibly be enough. But, professionals will tell you that a second finishing coat always produces better results. Also, it's important to clean the walls and sand them lightly before painting as this will help the paint better adhere to the wall. And while you're at it, why not fill-in small holes and cracks.

The good quantity

You should start off by carefully calculating the area you need to paint, knowing that a 3.78 L paint container will cover about 400 sq. ft. If you're planning on two coats, as is usually the case, double the amount of paint.

Latex vs. alkyd

Before you even think of choosing your colours, you must decide on the type of paint you'll need. Two options are open to you: latex (water-based) and alkyd. Latex is far and away the most popular both in terms of colour choices and in terms of its respect of the environment. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of both types.

Latex paint is easy to apply and dries quickly. Brushes and rollers can be cleaned with water. It does not develop that strong smell normally associated with oil paints. On the negative side: Matte finishes are difficult to clean.
Alkyd paint adheres well to just about any surface and yields a durable finish that resists humidity, wear, discoloration and staining. However, it produces strong odours when applied and needs to be removed off brushes and rollers with a solvent.

If walls are already covered with a water-based paint, they can be painted over with oil-based paint or with another water-based paint. However, you cannot apply water-based paints directly onto oil-based paints without first applying a special primer.

Primers

Applying a primer or an undercoat of paint is an operation that can cover a damaged surface previously fixed with a sealer and sanded. The primer is then covered with one or two coats of finishing paint. The primer is also used for the preparation of surfaces that will be wallpapered or covered of another type of finish.

Matte-finish primers provide excellent coverage and adherence, are very resistant and practically guarantee a better job. We recommend them. It will as well harden some surfaces, like the cardboard of gypsum panels, plaster, etc. The primer will act as a sealer.

You should choose a primer based on the type of paint you wish to cover. Oil paints call for oil primers while latex paints call for latex primers.

A tip: in order to know what type of paint has been applied to your walls, simply put nail polish remover on a rag and wipe. If the paint comes off, it's latex.

Wood knots can be effectively covered using any of the many shellac based products designed for that purpose, while cigarette smoke stains can be covered with oil-based primer.

Finishes

Once you've settled on a choice of colours and type of paint, you need to decide on the finish. Simply defined, finish refers to the proportion of gloss found in a paint. Descriptions vary from one manufacturer to another. As a general rule, there are six types of finishes: Matte, satin, velvet (eggshell), pearl, semi-gloss and glossy.

Matte and satin finishes matte and satin finishes offer some advantages. Among them, they make it easy to hide imperfections on walls while creating a warm atmosphere and highlighting dark colours.

Velvet and pearl finishes Velvet and pearl finishes reflect light discreetly. Velvet paint can be cleaned easily while pearl finishes are known for the durability of both their colour and finish.

Semi-gloss and glossy paints Semi-gloss and glossy paints are easier to clean than other types but require more careful application because a glossy paint shows the wall's imperfections more readily. And that requires more "camouflaging" time. They stand out for their durability and ability to reflect light.

In most cases, the room that requires painting dictates the choice of finish.

Paints for bathrooms and kitchens

Special paints for bathrooms and kitchens are available, these paints have a great covering quality and are washable for the purpose in hand. These paints contain a fungicide that increases their resistance to water and mildew. They can even be used for the shower and bath contours.
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