When the question arises of which finish choosing for the walls, many of us choose between wallpaper and painting – it is these two coatings that have remained leaders for many years and are not going to give up their positions. What are the advantages of painting walls, which paint is better to choose, and how to apply it correctly – you can find answers to all these questions below.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WALL PAINTING
Let’s start with the benefits:
- It immediately comes to mind that with the help of paint you can realize any of your dreams of creating a certain color, since there are many options on the market, and all this is complemented by the ability to create shades at your discretion;
- With proper surface preparation, the finished coating will remain intact and intact for a long time, without cracking;
- It is easy to remove stains and stains from a painted surface, most can be washed well without fear of damage;
- The paint will certainly not be interesting to pets, therefore there will be no scratches, as on wallpaper, for example;
- If a stain or defect has formed, then it is easy to eliminate it – just touch up, i.e. no need to replace the entire coating, everything is simple, easy to do, and inexpensive;
- If the room has complex elements, such as arches, ledges, etc., then painting the walls will be much easier than, for example, gluing wallpaper;
- You can repaint the walls or change the shade a little faster than if you want to re-paste the wallpaper.
The main disadvantages of painting walls include:
- The need for careful preparation of the walls so that the result is really appropriate;
- At first, glance, painting the walls is mere trifles, but, in fact, an ideal surface is obtained only with appropriate surface preparation;
- Many still believe that painting in one color is boring and definitely not suitable for the home, but this can be argued, because everyone has different tastes, and no one interferes with painting one wall in a different color;
- Paints, although resistant to mechanical stress, may not withstand a more or less strong impact on the surface;
- Almost all paints, except glossy, are able to absorb dust from the air.
CHOOSING A PAINT
General advantages and disadvantages are characteristic of all types of paints, but they are distinguished by several main types, and each has its own characteristics and characteristics. Paints are divided into groups according to the film-forming basis.
Alkyd paints
Alkyd paints have good moisture resistance and resistance to UV rays. This group includes oil and enamel paints. Oil paints are inexpensive, but dry for a very long time while releasing an unpleasant toxic odor, and they can turn yellow over time, so it is better not to use them for painting internal surfaces. In addition, it does not pass air well, so after some time cracks are visible on the surface.
Enamel paints already show themselves much better: they dry quickly, do not emit odor, are suitable for a huge type of surfaces, have anti-corrosion properties, are light and waterproof.
Emulsion paints
In water-based paints, coloring pigments are dissolved in water, and when it dries, an even, uniform coating remains on the wall. They are easy to use, environmentally friendly, odorless, they can be washed, after applying the paint it is easy to wash the tool from it and reuse it. They can be applied to almost any surface, only it is better to prime the metal elements first, and it is better not to use water-based paints on top of glossy and adhesive paints – but all other types of paints fit well on its base.
Among acrylic paints, the following types are distinguished:
- Water-based paints breathe well, do not peel off, amaze with a variety of colors, and there may also be options that give a three-dimensional structure. However, they cannot be used in rooms with high humidity, and from frequent washing, they can wear off a little. However, this is one of the most popular and used paints for interior work;
- Water-dispersible also conducts air and steam well, but they can be washed many times, they do not exfoliate and show good results in operation. But they, as a rule, are presented only in white, and their application at temperatures below +5 degrees is difficult;
- Acrylic paints are very durable, elastic, have high mechanical resistance, as well as high gas impermeability. The latter property makes it possible to paint reinforced concrete to protect it from corrosion, but acrylic paint is not suitable for fresh plaster, since carbon dioxide is released during hardening, and it is gas-tight. Such paint can be tinted, it does not fade in the sun over time, it can hide even small cracks, it has vapor-permeable and water-repellent properties. True, they are expensive, since acrylic resins are used as the basis;
- Latex paints show excellent water resistance, so you can wash them as much as you want without losing the quality of the coating. It may fade a little under the influence of ultraviolet rays. The paint is great for all types of surfaces, it dries quickly, but it is the most expensive of the emulsion ones;
- Polyvinyl acetate paints are a cheaper option, do not fade in the sun, are environmentally friendly, resistant to oils and fats, but are washed off under the action of water;
- After drying, silicone paints form a layer of paint that is resistant to water, but perfectly passes steam and air, they can hide cracks up to 2 mm and are applicable to any mineral surfaces, they can also be applied over some paints, but the rather high price does not contribute to them widespread.
Adhesive paints
Glue paints consist of water-based organic polymers, have properties similar to emulsion paints, but are more afraid of water, therefore they are used only in those rooms where its influence is limited. So, in damp and poorly ventilated areas, such paint can become a habitat for microbes and bacteria.
And depending on which substances are used in the production of paint, there are several types of it:
- Dextrated – on inert glue, well suited for interior work, but not in particularly wet rooms;
- Casein – the most resistant and aesthetic of those presented, suitable for use on such mineral bases as brick, concrete, and plaster;
- Adhesive paints have a huge selection of colors, and are environmentally friendly.
Silicate paints
These are mineral paints, which include liquid glass, and since the paint has an alkaline reaction, you need to be extremely careful when applying it. Such a composition imposes restrictions on the use: glass, metal, stone and ceramic surfaces are afraid of such an environment, so this paint is not suitable for them. It cannot be used on top of alkyd acrylic paints, due to its composition, the choice of colors is also limited. But all this is offset by the pluses: the paint has excellent vapor and air permeability, can be washed, resistant to temperature extremes.
CHOOSE A COLOR
The color of the painted surfaces is also important since the entire area of u200b\u200bthe walls will now and then affect the people who are constantly in the room. So, let’s start with the classic rule: if the room faces north and there is little light in it, then it is better to use light shades, if the room is south and light, then you can use cold tones, and even bright colors, although they visually hide the room. This implies another rule: if the room is small, then light and pastel colors are perfect for it, which can even visually expand it a little – bright colors are only suitable for very spacious rooms or as an accent on one wall.
For the bedroom and living room, it is better to choose unobtrusive calm colors: beige, light green, light brown, peach, etc. They are also suitable for the nursery, but there you can make the play part a little brighter than the rest of the room. In offices, it is recommended to use shades of yellow, since psychologists have proven that it has a positive effect on creative activity, and in kitchens – shades of red or lighter and discreet colors, especially if the kitchen is small.
For traditionally small spaces, such as a hallway, bath, and kitchen, it is better to choose soft paint: light shades of orange, apricot, yellow, beige, milky brown, etc. will do. In any case, before buying the right amount of paint, you need to think carefully about the general concept of the interior: what color will the furniture, curtains, other decor elements be, how will it all fit together, will it look organic, etc.
A good idea to diversify the interior would be the choice of two shades of paint, but this is a rather difficult question since you need to correctly combine not only the colors of the paints but also choose them correctly for the interior, which is difficult even for some designers. For the time being, we omit the issues of difficulties in painting. So, you can choose the easiest way in this case: paint one wall in a shade that is exactly different from the rest of the walls, for example, beige walls and light blue walls. It can be a wall with a TV, at the head of the bed, etc., depending on which room is being renovated. You can create whole compositions and drawings, patterns on one wall in several colors: if the wall itself is an accent in the interior, then you need to select colors that have a clear contrast with each other, but if the task is just to decorate the wall in an interesting way, then you can combine colors that are close in the palette.
Please note that the paint in the store looks a little different under their lighting than in the room, so it makes sense to check and see if you are satisfied with the resulting shade.
WALL PAINTING
Required Tools
When preparing the surface you will need:
- films and newspapers for covering furniture and floors;
- primer and rollers for it;
- plaster or drywall for leveling walls;
- starting and finishing putty;
- spatulas of different sizes;
- abrasive mesh for grinding;
- reinforcing mesh for reinforcement.
For painting:
- selected paint;
- color if necessary;
- brush and roller ;
- masking tape;
- plastic tray.
Preparatory work
The process of applying paint is not as complicated as preparing the surface. If the room is already undergoing a global renovation, then there shouldn’t be any extra items there, and if you only decide to update the wall covering, then you will need to evacuate all the furniture and appliances, or at least move them to the center and cover with a film. In any case, the floor covering is covered with a film or old newspapers, lighting fixtures, switches, panels, etc. are removed, and all those places that definitely should not be painted are covered with masking tape.
If the house is not just put into operation, and there are traces of old finishes on the walls, then they need to be disposed of. Old wallpaper is removed with a spatula, if necessary, it can be wetted and the wall slowly cleaned. You can try removing old paint with a trowel, but this process can give poor results, and you will need to use a blow dryer or special solutions to help peel off the old paint.
A set of subsequent works depends on the condition of the wall. If the surface is strong enough, does not have cracks, or irregularities, then you can simply sand the existing layer of plaster or concrete, removing a very thin top layer. Then the surface must be primed and treated with antiseptic materials, especially if there were traces of mold on it, which are also cleaned.
If the old plaster is clearly unsuitable for applying a new coat of paint, then it must be completely removed, even if there are some fragments where it holds well. Next, we evaluate the surface of the wall: if the differences are small and there are few cracks, then we apply a new layer of plaster , if the walls are crooked and it makes no sense to spend so much plaster,. this will also cost a pretty penny, it would be better to sheathe the walls with drywall – then we get a perfectly flat surface with a fairly small amount of time.
When the walls are already leveled, they need to be primed, and let the primer dry for at least 5-6 hours, or even more: it is better to give more time than to apply paint on a wet surface.
Unfortunately, the plastered surface, like the one covered with drywall, is not suitable for applying paint – it absorbs a lot of moisture, as a result of which all the roughness will be visible on the surface, and the color may turn out to be uneven. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a layer of starting putty: it must contain fine sand, which will allow it to be applied in a layer of 3-4 mm without fear of cracking. To apply it, you need a wide spatula, and a small spatula is useful for leveling and distributing the solution. The putty itself should be prepared according to the instructions, if it involves some kind of preparation, as there are putties that are immediately ready for use immediately after opening the container.
It is recommended to putty for painting using a reinforcing mesh with a cell of 2 mm. First, a section of the wall is puttied with a starting putty along the width of the grid, it is laid, pressed into the resulting layer, and then a layer of finishing putty is applied on top. At this stage, frequent mistakes are attempts to apply the starting putty with a perfectly smooth layer, smoothing out all the transitions when moving the spatula: yes, you need to level everything, but you don’t need to overdo it – it’s better to clean off the small bumps later.
Before this sanding, you need to let the putty dry well for 8-9 hours, and you can sand it with a coarse abrasive mesh, smoothing out all the appearances. But even after such preparation, the walls are still not quite suitable for painting, so the turn of the finishing putty comes.
Finishing putty gives the surface the necessary smoothness, as it does not have any inclusions, and also resists paint absorption. It is applied in the same way as the starting one, but the layer thickness is already regulated at the level of 1-2 mm, otherwise there is a risk of cracking. The surface should then also be treated with an abrasive mesh, only the grain size here is already smaller – 60-80, you should work carefully so that you do not remove the entire layer of plaster, but only protruding elements after the putty has dried. In some cases, to achieve the optimal result, it will be necessary to apply another layer of finishing putty. After grinding, remove all dust, for example, with a vacuum cleaner and prime the surface.
Paint application process
If you bought a paint of an already required shade, then it remains to open it, mix it, if necessary, add a little water or a solvent special for the selected type of paint, and proceed to painting. If a crust has formed on the paint in the can, then it is better to remove it, and not mix it with all the other material in order to avoid pieces of dried paint on the wall. Water-based paint, for example, can be tinted both independently and in a store. Specialists use special computer programs that allow you to accurately calculate the amount of color that needs to be added, so that in the end the color of the walls turns out exactly as you need. But you can do everything yourself.
Right amount of Paint
Naturally, it is better to prepare the necessary amount of paint right away, otherwise there may be slight differences in shade later, but, in extreme cases, you need to at least prepare the paint for one wall, and shade differences on different walls can be attributed to lighting nuances, even if someone will notice it.
Use Brush and Roller
In order to apply the paint, use a brush and roller. They start from the most difficult places: joints with other surfaces (wall perimeter), borders with windows, doors, sockets, switches, etc. For these methods, it is better to use a brush, so that later you do not stain with a roller and paint over those places that do not need to be painted. Paint is applied with a brush with a width of 10-15 cm. Then they begin to work with a roller – a soft roller with a pile of medium length is optimal. Before painting, you need it to be completely covered in paint, so dip it into the prepared plastic tray and roll it over cardboard or plywood so that all the pile is in the paint, and after that you can start applying to the walls.
Start from Near the Window
It is better to start from the wall near the window, but, in principle, this is not necessary. The main thing is that when painting a wall it is better to start from top to bottom so that streaks do not form, while remembering that it is better to apply several thin layers than one thick one. Two layers can be applied in mutually perpendicular directions, or each layer can be smeared in a vertical and horizontal direction, but this will require more dexterity or the use of an assistant.
It is better to apply all subsequent layers after the previous one has completely dried – this way the surface will turn out to be the most aesthetic. If desired, you can get a textured surface: for this you need a thicker solution of paint and a roller with a pattern defined by an unusual surface. You can even form some kind of relief with the help of a sponge, but this is not an amateur, so if such a complex process of leveling the walls has already been undertaken, then many prefer to emphasize all this with a perfectly even painting.
If you want to combine several colors, it is better to use the same water-based paint. First, you need to draw the lines of the future drawing on the wall with a pencil, and then paint the necessary elements with lighter paint along the prepared lines, trying not to go on them by more than 2 cm. After the paint dries, masking tape is glued along the line and the remaining surfaces are painted, etc. with more than two flowers. When the layers dry, you can peel off the tape.
