The Best Types Of Paint For Interior Painting
When it comes to painting the interior of a home or business, some may think it is okay to use any kind of paint...
The reality is that there's a type of paint for each surface, whether it's interior or exterior, the options are many. The final result of your painting project will depend in part on the specific paint you use, including its brand, base and sheen.
We were named a local expert by Redfin! Check out the article we were featured in: Debating the Question: “Should I Paint My Brick House?” Learn Everything You Need to Know
On this page, we share information we learned throughout the years about the right type of paint to use when painting the interior of your home or business.
The Primer
Primer For New Drywall
Most people underestimate primer. Primer is not paint but its like the foundation of paint, which helps with paint adherence, coverage and durability. This particular one is our favorite when it comes to priming new drywall because it's lighter than other primers, which covers twice the square footage and works very well.
Multipurpose Primer
This primer is our go-to after sanding, light stains, bare wood, deteriorated surfaces, scraping old paint or just as a base coat before applying the paint.
Primer For Hard-To-Cover Stains
Whenever you face the issue of having to paint over big/hard-to-cover stains, wood with bleed through, old wood or surfaces affected by mildew, this one is a killer.
The Paint
Paint For Ceilings
It took us a while and a hard lesson to find this one. After using more expensive ceiling paints from different brands, we were still having issues, until this one came alone.
Paint For The Walls
If you are looking to paint walls with same to similar colors and don't want to spend too much money, the ProMar 200 from Sherwin Williams is a great one.
Paint For The Walls And Frames
The SuperPaint is not the cheapest, neither the most expensive, but is our best friend when it comes to efficiency, final result and zero disappointment.
Paint Sheens
Sheen refers to the light reflectivity of the painted or varnished surface. There are varying degrees of sheen, from no sheen to high gloss. Though some paint manufacturers may refer to their paint sheens by different names, generally, from lowest to highest, paint sheens correspond to these reflective degrees:
Flat finish
Eggshell finish
Satin finish
Semi-gloss finish
High gloss finish
Paint Sheens FAQs
What are the advantages of flat and lower-sheen paints?
They provide even light reflection and give the surface a softer, more uniform look.
They don’t highlight surface imperfections like higher sheen paints, so they usually don’t require as much surface preparation (like patching, texturing or sanding) before painting.
They are much less likely to show “lap marks”, so they are generally easier to apply and touch up than higher-sheen paints. (When one painted section dries before the next section is painted, the two sections won’t flow together into a uniform film, resulting in a “lap mark.”)
They don’t need to be sanded or de-glossed before repainting, unlike higher-sheen paints.
What are the disadvantages of flat and lower-sheen paints?
They are less stain and scuff-resistant than higher-sheen paints, so they should not be used on surfaces that will be handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.
They are less moisture resistant than higher sheen finishes, so they are not the best choice for areas exposed to high humidity levels, like in bathrooms, or on any surfaces that will be washed frequently.
What are the advantages of higher-sheen paints?
They have better stain resistance, so they resist dirt pickup and stay cleaner longer.
They have better scuff and wear resistance, so they’re good for high-traffic areas and on surfaces that are handled, washed or scrubbed frequently.
They have better moisture resistance, making them ideal for surfaces and areas frequently exposed to high humidity levels.
What are the disadvantages of higher-sheen paints?
They tend to highlight any surface imperfections.
They are harder to touch up than lower-sheen paints because the higher sheen tends to highlight the slightly raised surface of the film where the touch-up was done.
They usually need to be sanded, de-glossed or primed before repainting, to ensure good adhesion of the new paint.
Oil vs Latex Paint
Latex paints are more environmentally friendly than oil-based paints. With oil-based paints there are paint fumes to contend with that can be particularly bothersome on interior painting jobs. There is also a by-product of dirty paint thinner that requires a trip to your local toxic waste site. (We always get rid of this waste as part of our work.)
There are other factors as well: Latex primers and finishes have been improving tremendously over the years and are very durable. For instance, a latex finish on an exterior painting job will stay elastic for years, where oil-based paint dries to form a hard and more brittle film. Surfaces expand and contract with the weather. While the latex paint will move with the surface, the oil will tend to crack sooner with this movement.
The advantage of using oil paints is that it will give a smoother look as it tends to lay out better on the surface and so not show brush marks as much as latex. Also, as was already mentioned, oil dries hard so it tends to be more washable than latex.
If you need help painting the interior/exterior of your home or business, feel free to Contact Us.
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