How to Select Paint, Stain and Varnish
- 1). Choose acrylic latex formulas for wet conditions or climates. These adhere better and resist peeling and mildew. Latex (waterbase) paint ($12 to $30 per gallon) resists cracking and yellowing, emits less odor and dries quickly--and lets you clean up tools with water. Alkyd (oil-base) paints ($20 to $30 per gallon) can cover in one coat and adhere to difficult surfaces. Because alkyd paints dry slowly, brush strokes level out.
- 2). Decide how much sheen you want. Flat paint minimizes irregularities, but its dull finish can trap dirt. Satin or eggshell finishes resist dirt and stains on high-contact walls. Paint kitchens, bathrooms and trim with semigloss to repel dirt and mildew. Once sold only as alkyd, hard-gloss finishes now also come in latex.
- 3). Use water- or oil-base enamel to paint and protect wood in one step. Enamel hides blemishes and its durable surface wipes clean, making it a popular choice for bathrooms, kitchens and moldings. Spray enamel is handy for irregular surfaces.
- 4). Buy exterior paints ($20 to $25 per gallon), which are blended for color retention, mildew resistance and flexibility during temperature changes. It stays glossy and resists chalking, cracking and peeling. Acrylic latex paints absorb less water and minimize mildew growth. Oil-base paints offer one-coat covering and better durability if you're painting in temperatures below 50 degrees F (10 C). Every major manufacturer has several sheens and formulas, and good-better-best lines.
- 5). Follow sheen guidelines for exterior paints. Flat finishes hide imperfections on older wood siding. Use semigloss paint for trim or for smooth aluminum or vinyl siding. Satin and semigloss boost washability and stain resistance.
- 6). Highlight wood grain or harmonize different varieties of wood with either stock or custom-mixed stain ($5 to $10 per quart). Penetrating oil stains sink into pores, sealing and slightly darkening wood. Pigmented oil or wiping stains are easier to control. Powder-in-water stains clean up easily but can raise wood grain.
- 7). Stain wood siding for long-lasting coverage that breathes, which prevents blistering, cracking, or peeling. Solid stains cover like paint but let texture show through. Semitransparent stains impart subtle color without hiding grain. (Both run $8 to $19 per gallon.)
- 8). Protect high-traffic areas from scratches and spills with polyurethane varnish. Solvent-base varnish ($20-plus per gallon) contains more solids than water-base does, so it requires fewer coats--but as it slowly dries, it generates fumes and traps dust specks. Water-base varnishes ($30-plus per gallon) contain fewer irritating chemicals, are less affected by UV light and dry in under 2 hours--versus 5 hours to overnight.
- 9). Buy a high-quality paintbrush to make the job go faster and smoother. Premium brushes have hardwood handles and flagged or split-bristle tips that hold more paint. Use natural-bristle brushes with oil-base paints; they absorb the water in latex paints and become limp. Nylon or polyester brushes are better for water-base paints. Buy a 3- to 4-inch-wide (7.5 to 10 cm) wall brush for broad, flat surfaces; a 3-inch (7.5 cm), straight-edge trim brush for doors, wainscoting, and window frames; an angled-bristle sash brush for edging and painting windows. Single-use foam applicators are fine for touch-ups but deteriorate during big jobs.