What Should You Look At When Having a Place Painted?

What is the difference between paint types?

With interior paints the distinction comes largely from the binder. Emulsion based paints are common and economical and give a clean finish. Silicone and acrylic based products form a more closed film on the surface, which improves resistance to washing and to moisture.

The second distinction is sheen. A matt surface hides small imperfections in the wall and reads softly. Satin and gloss finishes reflect light and take cleaning better, but they also emphasise every undulation in the wall.

The practical conclusion is this. If the wall surface is not particularly flat, moving towards matt improves the result. If an area has to be wiped down, the sheen level needs to go up. Where those two wishes conflict, the surface is corrected first and the paint chosen afterwards.

Which paint suits which room?

In bathrooms and kitchens moisture decides it. Paints with a closed film that stand up to water vapour are used in these rooms. A film that is not closed enough absorbs the moisture left after a shower and blisters over time.

In children rooms and hallways cleaning decides it. These areas are wiped often, so a product with good scrub resistance lasts longer. A washable paint may not lift every mark completely, but it does stop the paint itself coming away when you clean it.

In bedrooms and living rooms appearance comes first and the wear is light, so matt works comfortably. On ceilings matt is close to standard, since a reflective ceiling shows every irregularity in the surface.

What does wall preparation involve?

Preparation has three steps. Cleaning the surface and removing any blistered old paint, filling cracks and holes, and then sanding the surface flat.

Sanding is the step most often skipped, because it takes effort and the result does not show until the paint goes on. A wall that has been filled but not sanded reads visibly uneven once painted, particularly under raking light.

Primer comes on top of those three steps. Its job is to even out absorbency and give the paint something to hold on to. Without it the paint soaks into some areas more than others, the result looks patchy and extra coats are needed to cover it. The standard build is primer plus two coats.

How long preparation takes depends on the wall. On a new or sound surface it is short, on one with cracks and damp marks it is long. We identify that difference at the survey, because preparation days are often longer than the painting itself.

Can a damp wall be painted?

Not before the cause of the damp is resolved. Paint applied to a damp wall blisters before long and the problem comes back larger. This has nothing to do with the quality of the paint.

Damp comes from three places. Water entering from outside, water leaking from the plumbing, or moisture condensing out of the air. Each has a different remedy, so the first job is establishing which one it is.

Where the cause is condensation, the answer lies in ventilation and insulation. Where it is a leak, the pipework is opened up. Where water is coming from outside, the facade is examined. Once the source is closed the surface is left to dry, and only then does painting come onto the agenda.

How is the colour chosen?

A colour decision is made in the light of the room rather than on a chart. The same tone reads cool in a north facing room and warm in a south facing one. That is why a colour liked on a chart can look different on the wall.

The reliable method is to try the chosen tone on the wall itself. Paint a small area and look at it at different times of day. The same tone can give three different impressions in morning, midday and evening light.

Room size comes into it as well. Light tones push the wall back and make a room read larger. Dark tones draw a space together and can feel tight in a narrow room. Keeping the ceiling one tone lighter than the walls is the most common way of making a ceiling read higher.

How many days does painting take?

The time depends on the size of the property and on how much preparation is needed. Painting a one bedroom flat usually takes 1 to 2 days, and a three bedroom flat 3 to 5 days.

That schedule includes waiting. There is a drying interval between coats and it cannot be shortened. A second coat applied over a wet first coat drags the layer underneath and leaves marks.

What really extends the time is preparation. Where there are cracks, damp marks and blistered old paint, getting the wall ready can take longer than painting it. We separate the two at the survey rather than quoting a single number of days.