Paint Types
Acrylic – Water-based paints that dry quickly. Commonly used externally and for walls and ceilings inside.
Enamel – Produces a hard, smooth finish. Traditionally oil-based, they are now available in water–based formulas which dry more quickly.
Ceiling White – A flat paint designed to hide imperfections in ceilings. It also has a thicker formula than wall paints so there’s less mess when painting overhead.
Gloss Level – The shininess of a paint. High Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Low Sheen and Matt are the different levels of finish available.
Preparation
Stain Blocker – Used over smoke, mould or water stains to prevent them from showing through the final coats.
Binder – A paint used to bind powdery or chalky surfaces.
Adhesion primer – A primer used on hard to paint surfaces such as tiles, laminates and glossy finishes
Sealer – Applied to porous surfaces so following coats don’t soak into them and create a finish on top.
Techniques
Cut in – Painting around the edges of a wall with a brush to get an even line or where a roller can’t easily get to, like corners.
Laying Off – Going over a freshly painted surface to remove any drips or runs in the work. Always lay off in the same direction.
Picture framing – Where the brushed area around a wall is noticeably different to the rest. Prevent it by trying to cover as much of the brushed surface as possible with the roller.
Drying time – There are two types. Touch dry is when a paint is not wet to the touch while the recoat time is how long it’s ready to be painted over.
Equipment
Nap – The length of fibres on a paint roller. Short nap rollers are best for gloss finishes; medium nap for low sheen and matt paints; and long nap for rough or textured surfaces.
Paint pads – An alternative paint applicator to brushes and rollers on smooth surfaces. Available in a range of sizes, some also come with guiding wheels for getting a smooth line when cutting in.
Rollers –Apart from nap length, the roller material is also important. Better quality rollers won’t drop fibres and spoil the work.
Brushes – Like rollers, they’re not all the same. Use fine, long handled brushes for enamel finishes on trim and architraves. Wider, general-purpose brushes are good for cutting in using acrylic paints.
