Akisha has done an outstanding job in her tips with a Very practical
approach. Painting season is around the corner and before you take a
plunge, try these. They may help you choosing the right product, and the
accessories.
The paint:
For Inside walls you have choice between the lowest
costing Distempers, to Luxury Emulsions. Choose the right product with
caution. Not all paints are suitable for all walls.
Surface Preparation:
This is the key. This is also the worst
nightmare of the houseowner and the painter. How good your walls look
will depend largely upon the quality of surface preparation, so it is
imperative that you give it a good thought. Most painter will use a
Cement Primer to seal the walls, and then fill it out with a putty
which is made on the spot in the form of a soft dough with Emulsion
paint and China Clay. This practice varies from one corner of India to
another and from one painter to another. After several applications of
putty, and rubbing down with No. 100 sandpaper the walls should feel
smooth. Before any paint is applied, you have a very close and long
look at the surface, because the final product is going to be just as
good as your surface. If you run your fingers on the surface now, it
should be smooth with no imperfections. Another way to see how good the
surface is to watch it under a tube light, where imperfections will show clearly.
Remember this:
The more expensive paint you plan to use, the more
elaborate surface preparation will be required. All cheaper distempers have a large percentage of clays and fillers, which actually fill up the surface very well, so a good surface preparation is not called for.
Paints:
If you are doing it on a budget use a good quality synthetic Distemper. Next in Line is The Emulsion Paint. And finally the Luxury Emulsion. The emulsion is a water based synthetic polymer to which Pigments have been added. It is these pigments that provide the all important Colour and Light Reflection. The Polymer merely is a film former that forms the coating. The luxury emulsions are expensive, but they contain a large percentage of true pigments, specially the white
pigment Titanium Dioxide.
Finish
While the cheaper distempers give a dead matt finish, the more expensive emulsions provide a fashionable ’’egg-shell’’ finish. The latter reflect more light, have purer and cleaner colors and are aesthetically more appealing. The luxury emulsions also fare better on the washability front. But be warned! Dont be misled by the washability advertising! No matter how good the paint is, it is still never fully washable. Even if you wash it with cold water and a mild soap, it still will leave traces of stains and what is worse, washing marks. So it is best to avoid a situation where washing may be called for.
Colors
This is a subjective matter and Akisha has a marvellous review on it. I would suggest that you give it plenty of time and thought, discuss this with all concerned, take stock of other accessories in the room, specially the upholstery, curtains and the furniture. Fortunately it is easier to order a particular shade today. Most paint manufacturers have Color Shade Cards and the dealers will be happy to give you a bunch from where you can choose your ’’ Mera wala cream’’ or for that matter any red, blue or green. Insist on taking the color card home and matching shades to other objects in room. In Indian conditions I would avoid using strong, dark colors on walls. They will make the room look smaller. Choose bright clean hues. Although the colour palette today offers thousands of shades, I would personally stick to soft and muted Pinks, mauves and creams.It would not be a bad idea to try the a small sample of the shade in a small patch on the wall before you commit yourself to it. On choosing the roller or the brush. Again if you want a rather smooth finish choose the brush. The roller will give a slightly mottled appearance which many houseowners may not like.
The Painter
Use only a trusted painter! Specially if you plan to use the luxury emulsion. This is a highly skilled job and not all painters can give a satisfactory results. Your painter should touch the brush only after you have thoroughly examined the surface and declared it fit to receive the final coating of paint. Usually three to four coats are needed. And always use ’’Brilliant white’’ shade of the same quality of paints as you have used for walls, for the ceiling. A brighter, whiter ceiling will make it appear higher and the place roomier. Never compromise on the paint for ceiling. Many painters will insist that cheaper finishes could be used for the ceiling. Dont fall into that trap. Its worth the extra cost.
The Brand
Most manufacturers offer a full range of top coats and accessories. In my house I have used ICI’s ’’Velvet Touch’’ and Berger’s ’’Silk Splendour’’ and I found them to be good in terms of surface finish, opacity and durability.