What paint should I use?

Whether you are painting a surface yourself, or you are about to hire professional painters to tackle a paint project, it is important to use the correct paint for the job. Below you will read about the three main factors we consider as professional painters before determining which paint is the best for the job. 

• Surface Type
• Previous Coating
• Color

Surface Type. Certain surfaces require specific paints and primers. Here are some quick tips on what paint to use when painting the following surfaces:

Vinyl- Use only vinyl safe colors, otherwise the vinyl could warp.

Brick- A special masonry paint/primer is needed to prevent alkali

Stucco- Similar to brick, alkali could be an issue if the paint/primer is not designed to prevent it. Depending on the condition of the stucco, you may use an acrylic or an elastomeric. 

Wood- Most exterior acrylics will work. Always prime bare wood.

Aluminum- Use an acrylic latex paint, but clean first and do not apply the paint in direct sunlight.

Drywall- Prime first with PVA primer, then sand the surface before using a latex paint.

Previous Coating.  Is the old paint peeling, flaking, faded, or bubbling? If you said yes to any of these conditions, then you will need to use a combination of sanding, scraping, cleaning, and priming. Choosing the right primer will be further explained in a future article. The condition of the old paint can help determine if the same type of paint can be used again, or if a different type of paint should be used.  

Next, we consider what type of paint was used previously. If it was painted with an oil-based paint, then you would need to scuff, sand and prime with a bonding primer before top coating with a water-based paint. Many states have VOC (volatile organic compound) regulations that make most oil-based and solvent based products illegal to sell and use. The VOCs in paints can make them unsafe to those in the vicinity while being applied. That is why we use and recommend low VOC products.

If the previous coating was a water-based latex or acrylic paint, then you can clean and fix any imperfections on the surface and apply a new latex or acrylic coating over it.  

For houses and buildings built before 1978, a lead test should be performed to see if the previous coating contained lead. If lead-based paint was used, extra steps need to be taken to safely prepare the surface for new paint.  

Color. This is not going to discuss what colors you should choose, but rather how the color you choose can dictate which product to use. When it comes to exterior projects, it is important to know that darker colors tend to fade more quickly. If you want to use a dark color on your exterior, we recommend a product that is formulated for color protection like Sherwin Williams Duration. For interior and exterior projects hide is important. Not all paints hide the same. If you are changing a surface from dark to light, you will want to use a paint with high levels of titanium dioxide so the old color does not flash through. 

We hope you learned a lot about choosing what to consider when choosing a paint for your project. For more information on what paint is right for your specific project, give us a call or shoot us an email.