The truth about lower quality, generally cheaper paint

Cheap paint costs less because it has a lower solids content. This means that if you’re to get an even coat, you’re going to need to use more paint than a higher quality option.

The case for expensive paint

High quality paints are generally more expensive as they tend to have more solids – i.e. more binder and pigments – these provide better coverage on your wall.

This becomes most important when you paint over a dark colour which has a transparent base that is notoriously difficult to cover. You can consider that it would take 3 coats of high-quality paint to do this job, as opposed to many more coats, of a lower quality paint.

This leads us to the time factor. The more coats you need to paint, with a lower quality product, the longer the drying time, the longer it’ll take to complete the project.

The importance of priming

Whatever paint you choose, take the time to prep and prime your walls. Start by repairing holes and sanding rough surfaces smooth, then apply the primer. This ensures that your paint is applied evenly and won’t be absorbed by the wall, leaving ugly patches.

Primer also smoothens blemishes that appear beneath the surface of paint and helps lighten the load in terms of how many coats are needed to cover dark surfaces.

Choose the Pelham Painters option

Our crew at Pelham Painters in Hobart take pride in providing quality advice when it comes to paint choice. Get in touch to ensure that your next paint job is long-lasting and lovely to look at.

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It’s all about the mood

Your choice of paint colour can influence your mood when you wake up, how you fall asleep, even how you interact with your partner. Think about how you want to feel at the end of a long day when you enter your bedroom – perhaps relaxed or cosy or refreshed? These emotions will be a powerful influencer on your choice of paint colour.

Choose pastels for a serene space

If you’re yearning for a place of reflection and relaxation, muted pastels are the answer. These transform your bedroom into an oasis. If you like bold colours, such as purple, choose the softer pastel varieties to create a welcoming space.

Think bold, think big

If your bedroom is small, a dark colour can actually make it feel larger. You may balk at this idea, but if you’re willing to be bold, give it a try. A colour like black can actually give the illusion of a larger space, as long as it’s balanced out with light accessories and bedding.

Stay cool

To get a great night’s sleep, experts agree that a room should be relatively cool and not suffocatingly hot. This is best accomplished with ventilation of course, however a light, cool colour tone will complement the temperature and help you ease into a relaxing slumber.

Choose green and maintain balance

Green evokes nature and energy. It encourages relaxation. It balances out other colours in your design scheme. All of which work wonders for encouraging a wonderful night’s sleep.

Get what you want with colour accents

Let’s say you really love a certain colour, like red, but you’re aware that it will overwhelm the room if painted on all the walls. In this case, it’s time to consider accents. You can add the colour in small doses by including it in your panelling, for example, or to a small feature wall.

Ask for the expert eye

Get in touch with us at Pelham Painters in Hobart if you’d like help choosing a colour for your bedroom. We understand the complexities and can help match your mood with a narrowed list of colours that correspond with your wishes.

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It’s easy to get used to the inevitable wear and tear, but if your home’s starting to look a little rundown, don’t worry: we’ve got 4 simple projects that’ll give your home a quick facelift and make it feel like an all-new space that you and your visitors will love!

Project 1: Doors

Let’s start at the front door. Is the paint faded or chipped or peeling or discoloured? Maybe the colour is outdated? Giving your front door a fresh coat of paint will do wonders for your home and boost its curb appeal.

Inspect the inner and back doors too, touching up and repainting as necessary to freshen up your home with very little effort or cost.

Project 2: Trim

Repainting interior trim is a quick and easy way to brighten up your house and get rid of the inescapable scuffing and dirt build-up that comes with time.

Project 3: Hallways

Hallways see a lot of activity. And because they’re generally narrow, they’re likely to be touched, bumped, kicked and smudged frequently. If you have small kids, get down on your knees and survey the damage from their level – it’s likely to be significant! If scrubbing can’t remove all the marks, it’s time to repaint. It might not be possible to paint only the damaged portions and still match the colour, so you’d be better off repainting the entire hallway.

Project 4: Bathrooms

Bathroom paint has a lot to contend with, including moisture, dust, grime and strong cleaning chemicals. The good news is that because bathrooms are usually small and don’t cost the earth to paint, they can be quick to fix.

Choose Pelham Painters for Projects Both Big and Small

Whether you need a simple fix or a complete painting overhaul, we’re here in Hobart to help.

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So, if you’re planning on giving your house a lovely once-over in the coming months, please consider these 3 very important prep steps before you even pick up a paintbrush.

Essential Prep 1 – Cleaning

With its constant exposure to the elements, the exterior of your home is a repository for all kinds of dust, dirt, mould and moss, none of which holds paint well. By failing to clean the exterior before you paint, you’re simply wasting your time.

A quick and pain-free way to clean is to get hold of a high-pressure cleaner. If you don’t have one, feel free to get in touch with us at Pelham Painters. If you would rather go it alone, then a sponge, warm soapy water and some elbow grease will be required to get your walls ready. Use bleach on especially dirty, and mouldy, areas.

Essential Prep 2 – Sanding & Filling

The surfaces of your walls won’t be evenly textured. Some sections may be smooth, others lumpy, meaning that certain spots will collect more paint than others. Giving your walls a bit of a sanding balances the texture, allowing the brush to apply coats smoothly. Even if you feel your walls are smooth enough, a bit of sandpapering will go a long way to ensuring the perfect finish.

Another essential step is to fill in holes and cracks, again to ensure a consistent finish. You’ll be able to get your hands on filler or caulk at any hardware store.

Essential Prep 3 – Priming

Many people think that priming should only be done if you’re adding a new colour. In fact, priming is highly recommended for all paint jobs as it provides a layer of adhesion which helps the paint to be spread evenly. It also negates the risk of your expensive paint job looking patchy. And if you are painting a new colour, you might see the old shade bleeding through if you don’t prime first.

Priming is absolutely essential on certain surfaces, such as timber. You’ll be able to find the right primer for your needs based on the surface you’re painting, with speciality primers available for concrete, metal, plaster and more.

Planning and Pelham

These 3 essential preparation steps are the cornerstone of planning your paint job. Granted, they do require some hard work and a significant amount of time. So, if you’re willing to let the pros step in, just get in contact with us at Pelham Painters.

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Unless you have another home you can move to while the work is completed, it’s clear that prioritising the order in which rooms get painted is very important.

Here’s a guide to help you decide which rooms should get priority.

Starting the Job:

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

The master bedroom and main bathroom are good places to start. Once these are done, you can return quickly to relative normalcy, moving the work out of your main living space. There’s also the psychological advantage of waking up in a freshly painted, beautiful room, which definitely gives you an incentive to continue the work in the rest of the house.

Guest Bedrooms and Bathrooms

These are also good starting points as they’re generally out of the way and painting them is not likely to disrupt your life significantly.

The Kitchen

Kitchens are a central focus-point, allowing us to cook healthy meals to our liking. Once this is out of action, you’re relying on take-out which quickly loses its appeal, not to mention what it does to your wallet. So, if you’re painting the whole house, start in the kitchen so that later on you’ll have a place to escape to for comfort food while the rest of the house is finished.

Finishing the Job:

The Living Room

Due to a living room’s size, and the amount of heavy furniture it contains, this is probably the most disruptive room to paint. Not only will it take a few days to complete, you will also have to accommodate some furnishings in other rooms. Leave this to the end as the final room to complete.

The Laundry Room

If you have a laundry room, this is also a good one to save till last. It’s quick to do and isn’t the highest priority in your day-to-day affairs.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the order in which you paint your rooms comes down to the reasons you are painting in the first place. If you’re painting to sell your home, for example, focus on the big-impact rooms first, such as your entryway, living room and master bedroom.

If you’re painting to upgrade your home, then consider the tips we provided earlier in this article.

Choosing the Experts

If you want to avoid the hassle of painting your home yourself, get in touch with us at Pelham Painters in Hobart. We’re available to take on the prepping, prioritising and painting process from start to finish.

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The Difference is in the Polymer

The type of polymer in your paint is the main differentiator between indoor and outdoor paints.  The polymer is the material in the coating that sticks to the surface.  In exterior paints, the polymer is often softer and more flexible which allows the paints to move as the substrate expands and contracts in different temperature and weather conditions.  This assists with preventing cracking, flaking and peeling in exterior paints.

Interior paints can often use a harder or less flexible polymer, which make it less prone to damage from scuffing and washing and easier to clean.

Indoor and outdoor paints

The differences in polymer and other materials means that it is mostly not advised to use exterior paints indoors and vice-versa.  Interior paints will not in many circumstances be able to withstand the outdoor environment and substrates and exterior paints may be too soft to withstand the wear and tear and marking that interior paints can.

From a health perspective, many exterior paints are not low VOC compared to interior paints.  Small amounts of solvent are added to exterior paints so that the paint does not dry to quickly and form a poor paint film when applied in warm and windy conditions. Outside these solvents will evaporate harmlessly into the air, inside they can result in a lingering odour that some people may find offensive.

Ask the Experts

If you’re in doubt about which paint to use, please get in touch with us at Pelham Painters in Hobart. We’re always available to assist and provide the information you need.

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INTERIORS

1. Paint Quality

When it comes to paint, you don’t want to skimp on price at the expense of quality. Cheap paints simply won’t last, and will peel and fade quite quickly. The Premium Ranges you find in stores are usually a good bet.

It’s also useful to know the type of paint you should buy for your interiors. Here’s a handy guide:

• • Oil-Based Paints:
    These highly-durable paints are popular for use on woodwork but have a long drying time of 6 to 8 hours. You’d need to set aside a good day or two to get all your coats done. They’re also not very environmentally friendly due to their high levels of VOCs (gassy, unstable chemicals).
  • Water-Based Paints:
    These are more environmentally friendly than their oil-based counterparts and better for your health. We use and recommend the Haymes Low VOC range for your interior painting jobs.

2. Surface Condition

Adherence to a surface is key for a long-lasting paint job. Make sure you clean surfaces of dirt to improve adherence and reduce the chances of chips and flakes.

3. Room Usage

Interiors are usually spared the ravages of weather, but they are susceptible to wear and tear through usage. As such, you need to choose your paint carefully to be resistant to moisture (in kitchens and bathrooms), scratches (in busy areas like hallways) and kids!

EXTERIORS

Your exterior paints are faced with a number of challenges. How you prepare for them determines the quality of your paint job.

1. UV Rays

The sun’s ultraviolet radiation causes colour to fade, paint to crack and a significant deterioration of paint quality over time. For wooden surfaces, you’re looking at a lifespan of around 5 years. If your house is exposed to the sun, do yourself a favour and spend the money on UV-resistant paint.

2. Three Layers

The best barrier against deterioration is a 3-coat system. Start with a layer of primer, then add 2 coats of good quality paint. The third layer is the protective one which retains the colour and prevents mildew and rot from creeping in.

3. Keep it Clean

Paint lasts longer if it’s looked after. You don’t need to clean your exterior walls every weekend – a good scrub a few years after the initial paint job will do fine, but always perform regular inspections.

Cleaning the surface before you paint is also crucial to the job’s longevity, so ensure the walls are scraped, filled and sanded before the first brush stroke.

4. Be Colour-Wise

Colour is not just about aesthetics – your choice could have a definite effect on the quality of your paint job. Dark colours attract the sun’s rays, so if you live in a sunny area, the colour will fade fast. Just keep this fact in mind.

Pelham Painters Can Help

With over 60 years in the business, we have the expertise and experience to ensure your paint jobs are made to last. If you need help, please give us a call.

The post Making Sure Your Paint Job Lasts appeared first on Pelham Painters Hobart.

Not to worry though, we’ve compiled a list of the many different types of paint finish so you’ll never go wrong.

The easy choice: Durable High Gloss

This is what you need for exterior or exposed walls which require a durable, easy-to-clean finish. This paint is resistant to grease and moisture and reflects light beautifully. Don’t be tempted to use it on your interior walls, though, as it has a habit of showing off surface imperfections. It also requires quite a bit of prep work and a few coatings to maximise its value.

Pick Durable High Gloss for your doors and windows, kitchens and stairways.

The bright choice: Semi-gloss

Got a room which needs brightening? Semi-gloss is the way to go. It boasts just the right amount of gloss to look great, making it easy to clean and maintain.

Use semi-gloss in areas with high humidity and moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms. It is also a good choice for playrooms, hallways, cabinets windows and room trims.

The flawless choice: Matte/Flat

This type of finish doesn’t reflect light and so is perfect for hiding problem patches from old, bad paint jobs.

It is, however, difficult to clean and tough to remove. As such, use this for less-busy areas such as the office, ceilings, main bedroom and dining room.

Need advice?

At Pelham Painters in Hobart, we know exactly what finish works best with what you have, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need an expert guiding hand.

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The difference between primer and paint

The main difference between primer and paint lies in their respective chemical formulations. Primer makes use of an adhesive resin which helps create a smooth surface, while paint utilises a pigmentation formula.

The importance of primer

A wall which hasn’t been primed is easy to spot: chances are the surface will be rougher and less vibrant than you’d expect it to be. Primer makes rugged surfaces smoother and becomes an extra layer of protection for the coloured paint on top.

In fact, a single coat of primer with a single coat of paint on top provides a lot better finish than a double coating of paint without primer.

Primers also extend the quality of the paint job, preventing blistering and blotching in the long run.

Types of primer

There are two general categories of primer paint you should be aware of:

1. Stain Blocking Primer

If you have kids or pets, this keeps your walls blemish free. Use an oil-based primer if you’re after a glossy finish and you’re working on walls which have been damaged by water, smoke or rust. Use a water-based, or latex, stain-blocking primer to block solvent-based stains like crayon, grease and ink.

2. Coloured Primer

You can find primer in various accent colours which will work with whatever tint or shade you’d like to give your walls.

Working with surfaces

It’s important to choose the right primer for the right surface. Here’s how to tell what is best for the surface you’re working on.

• Metal – Latex primer and good quality oil primers work best here as they prevent rust.
• Bare wood – Use a wood primer to prevent moisture penetrating the surface and tannin acid from the wood causing discolouration.
• Dry wood – Oil-based primer works wonders here by sticking to the surface, allowing a smooth flow of coloured paint on top.
• Stained cement surfaces – Crack open some stain-blocking primer to prevent the growth of mould and mildew.

Pelham Painters are the prime choice

As you will have read, it’s no easy task choosing the correct primer. If you’re in any doubt, give Pelham Painters in Hobart a call and we’ll gladly take care of the job.

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1. Scrape and sand

If you’re painting over a previous paint job, it’s important that you scrape as much of the old paint off as you can. Not only will you get rid of paint flakes, you’ll also clean the wall of efflorescence (that white powdery substance) and other defects such as blistering and cracking.

When you’re done, spend some time sanding the rougher edges to smoothen them out for a better finish.

2. Fill the cracks

To ensure the smoothest surface possible, mix up some crack filler and use a putty knife to fill imperfections such as broken and cracked plaster and nail holes. When the filler is dry, use some sandpaper to smoothen things up.

You can also fill cracks with one or two thin base coats, applied gently with a roller. Note that two thin coats will be more adhesive than one thick coat.

3. Time to prime

The purpose of priming an exterior wall is to stop moisture from seeping through in the future. If your wall is new, a single coat of primer will be fine.

Your choice of primer for interior walls depends on if you’re after a glossy or rough finish. For a sleek and shiny surface, choose an oil or acrylic primer. Plasterboard primer is the right choice for porous surfaces.

If your walls have stained areas, think about spot priming them to make your surface 100% smudge-free before starting the paint job.

4. Test the colour

Before committing to a colour, we recommend purchasing a sample pot of 2 or 3 shades of the colour you’re considering and painting them to a small portion of the wall to see how they look when dry. Here’s a tip: paint two coats of each small strip because that’s when the true colour will shine through.

Call Pelham Painters in Hobart

Considering the importance of prep, you might want to call in the experts to take on the job. At Pelham Painters, we’re happy to help, so please get in touch.

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