If you have decided to paint your home, you may be shocked by the number of different paint options that are available. Knowing about different types of paint and their uses is imperative to ensure that you choose the right paint for your project. We take a look at the different types of paints that are available and when you should use them.

Emulsion paints

Emulsion comes in four types of finish. All are water based and suitable for ceilings and walls. First off we have flat matte. This is a vinyl free paint that is most suited to new plaster. It has a totally flat chalky finish that is well liked but completely untouchable when it comes to durability. Fingerprints will leave marks that can’t be touched up or cleaned off as it will reactivate with any moisture and is prone to attracting dirt.

Vinyl matte – This is a matte finish paint that is good for hiding any mild imperfections on walls if perhaps they’re not quite perfect. It has an extremely mild sheen if you shine light directly on it. There are now mildly durable matte paints that can be gently sponged if needs be.

Mid sheen/soft sheen- This has a mild sheen to it and is often labelled as kitchen and bathroom paint due to its durability and resistance to moisture. This is all to do with the amount of vinyl in the paint. It’s also the vinyl that gives it the light sheen.

Vinyl silk – This paint and is the most durable of all of the emulsions. Its also the shiniest. It’s often used is very heavy traffic areas like hallways and in hospitals and kitchens as it can really take some force if you need to clean the walls or ceiling for any reason. It can be touched up with general ease and is great for light reflection given how shiny it is.

Oil paints

These come in many forms such as wood stains, under coats and gloss or satin being the most common. They are used to paint both wood and metal throughout the home.

The undercoat and gloss are suitable both internally and externally. Gloss is extremely hard wearing and can be cleaned easily. Satin finish is also suitable for wood and metal but doesn’t have what it takes to stand up to the weather outside. It does, however, stay whiter for longer than gloss. Satin isn’t as shiny as gloss and if you really prefer a matte finish then eggshell is the way forward as that has the softest finish of oil based products. Unfortunately, the softer the finish the less durable the paint so that’s to be considered if perhaps you have children or pets that might make cleaning more frequent.

Wood stain comes in two forms, the shiny and the matte. Both can be used inside and out as they’re both durable and can handle the weather. The only thing to remember is that you can always stain darker but you can’t make wood lighter with wood stain unless you’re prepared to sand all of the old stain out if it and start again.

Varnish also comes in finishes ranging from matte to gloss. Oil based varnish will always have a colour to it that acrylic varnishes don’t so unless you want to have a honey colouring to your wood then acrylic is your way forward. That being said acrylic lacks the durability that an oil-based varnish would have.

As you can see, there are many different types of paint that are available for sale today. It is so important to make sure you purchase the right type of paint for the surface and part of your home that you are going to be painting. 

You may assume that painting a room is a straightforward task. All you need is a tin of paint and some paintbrushes, and you can start painting, right? Wrong! You need to have a plan. The order in which you paint a room will have a big impact on the outcome and final appearance. With that being said, read on to discover our recommended order for painting a room. 

1. The ceiling

The first thing that you need to do is to paint the ceiling. This is important because it enables you to essentially cover the surface with at least two coats without having to worry about any extra bits of paint going onto the walls with the roller. You should use a roller with a double arm frame when you are painting the ceiling. This is important because it offers support at both ends of the roller, which means that even pressure will be distributed across the weight of the roller when you are using it.

2. The walls

The next step is to paint the walls in the room. You should do this once your ceiling has dried. Make sure you apply two coats. It is also a wise idea to prime any areas that are stubborn. It’s advised that you use tape on any skirting board lines or corners but don’t get worried about getting any paint on the skirting boards at this point.

3. The skirting boards

The reason why you did not need to worry about getting any paint on the trim in the former step is that it will now be rectified in this step. Most people will use a high-gloss finish or a semi-gloss finish in order to paint their skirting boards. Use painters tape or masking tape to make sure the cut line is accurate.

4. Door frames and window frames

Next, you are going to tackle the window frames and the door frames. Don’t forget that preparation is imperative when it comes to this task. Make sure that you have caulked the frame’s edges properly against the wall and that you have filled any nail holes. You also need to make sure that you sand down all rough edges before the finish coat is applied. Again, use painters tape and frog tape to make sure the cut line is accurate.

5. The door

The fifth and final thing you are going to paint in the room is the door. The style of the door you are painting will dictate the way in which you paint it. For example, you should always paint the panels first if you are going to be working with panelled doors. A sash brush will help you to get into the profile of the panels, ensuring even coverage. You can then use a mini roller for the flat surfaces and a laying off brush to finish.

So there you have it: the right order of decorating a room. We hope that the information provided in this blog post will help you when it comes to decorating your own home. After all, it is important to make sure that you paint in the right order to make sure that a sleek and stylish job is done in the end. If you’re looking for decorators in Maidstone or the Kent area, get in contact with us today

Whether you’re looking to hire professional decorators or paint your own walls, knowing when and how often to paint them can make a huge difference to the overall appearance of your home.

We may suggest you repaint every few years depending on the room, however, the only true answer is: repaint whenever you want to! Fashions and preferences change so you don’t have to wait several years before repainting. 

However, if you’re not looking to redecorate every month,  we’ve assessed how often you’ll need to repaint your walls depending on each type of room. This is because some rooms experience more daily wear and tear than others. If you feel that your interior walls are looking a little poorly then it’s a good idea to repaint them sooner than later, but here are some general timeframes for each room.

Repainting Bedrooms

Since bedrooms are typically only used in the evenings (unless you love a nap), they won’t see much general wear and tear and you can repaint them every 5 to 7 years. However, if we’re assessing a kid’s bedroom then you’ll likely need to repaint and redecorate the room every 2 to 3 years.

Repainting Hallways

Hallways and corridors typically need repainting more often than most other rooms because they’re used often and people are active in these rooms. You’ll want to repaint corridors and hallways every 2 to 4 years to keep it looking fresh.

Repainting Bathrooms

Bathrooms need to be repainted often due to the amount of moisture in the rooms that could affect the paint. It’s important to use a durable paint and ensure that all of the hot steam from a shower or bath is ventilated properly. If you’re unable to do this, then it needs to be repainted every 2 to 3 years, but you can extend this to 3 to 4 years if you pick a durable paint and ensure it’s well-ventilated.

Repainting Kitchens

Kitchens can be repainted every 3 to 4 years if you keep it well-ventilated and ensure that all of the grime is kept to a minimum. 

Repainting Dining Room

Dining rooms don’t see much use unless it’s a part of your kitchen or living room, so they can be repainted every 4 to 7 years depending on where they are positioned.

Living Room

You’ll most likely spend a lot of time in your living room so you’ll need to repaint every 3 to 4 years or generally whenever you want a decor change. 

Repainting the Ceiling

Ceilings should also be repainted depending on how often the room is used and other factors such as moisture, poor ventilation, grease and so on. For instance, a bathroom ceiling should be repainted every 4 to 6 years or every second time that you repaint the walls. It’s important that you repaint any coving – you’ll definitely notice the difference in paint colour if you don’t!

Repainting Doors

Doors and other interior trims such as windows, cabinets, baseboards and other decorative elements can be repainted every 2 to 5 years depending on where the doors are. You can generally time this alongside repainting your interior walls.

Repainting Exteriors

Exteriors can typically be repainted every 4 to 7 years depending on the material. For wood, you can expect to repaint it more often whereas brick doesn’t need to be repainted for over 15 years. You also need to take the weather into consideration, so this is something that is usually up to your own decision depending on its appearance.

Decorating your house is going to do so much for the aesthetics of the home, but each room is different from the next, and the cost of one room will be different to the cost of painting another. Therefore, the cost of painting a room can vary from £200 to upwards of £1,000 depending on the size of the room, the wall conditions, the type of paint you would like, the finish and the time needed.  

When you catch the DIY bug, and want to start redecorating your home (or you want to hire a professional decorator), you’ll need to make a list before diving in. Decorating is exciting, however, you’ll need to estimate correctly in order to get a reasonable price for painting supplies or before you bring in the professionals. 

There are five distinct factors to consider when calculating the costs of painting a room, and we’ve got a list of those considerations for you below. Let’s take a look!

Wall Conditions

The rooms that you are planning to paint need much more than a bucket of your favourite colour and a brush. You need to assess the conditions of the room before you get started. You need to:

• Check for scratches and cracks, holes and grease stains that can make a difference to the painting job that you have ahead of you
• Prepare the walls with sugar soap to remove grease
• Use filler to fill any holes in the walls
• Sand those down until they’re even
• Protect switches with masking tape from paint splatters

These small preparation tips are going to get your walls in the best condition for the paint job you need to do. If you’re hiring professional painters, they’ll prepare the walls for you. If you’re looking to do this yourself, the preparation can cost you up to £125.00, as you have to buy in the cleaning materials, filler, sandpaper, covers and sheets and masking tape to protect light switches and other sensitive areas.

Room Size

The bigger the room, the more paint you have to factor in. You’ll most likely need additional preparation materials and time. 

Type Of Paint

There are different types of paint that you use to paint a room, from the emulsion on the walls to the undercoat and gloss top coat of paint that goes on wooden areas, like skirting boards and doors. If you choose to go for budget paint options, it may be thinner than the branded versions, which means more coats of the paint on the walls for it to achieve the desired effect.

Patterns

Choosing to add patterns in the paint on your walls is more time consuming than just painting the wall in one colour, and may also require more paint. This can add to your quote as you will need to factor in the costs of different paint colours, materials to set and make the patterns on the walls and the time it takes to complete. It’s far more intricate work and requires a skilled decorator. Get in touch with us today and tell us about your preferred pattern.

Time Taken

Lastly, you must think about the time it takes to paint a room. An average-sized living room – painted correctly – can take a day to a day and a half. You’re paying for the labour of the person painting the room, plus VAT, and it’s essential to know your budget and your limitations before you seek a quote.

AP decorators are experienced decorators in Kent. We’ll provide a very competitive quote, so if you’re based in the Kent area, get in contact with us today on 01622 749 676.