DIY from a woman’s point of view

Paints

There are so many different kinds of paint on the market nowadays that it would be foolish to try to list them all here, so I’ve divided this page into three main sections; emulsion paints, gloss paints and special finishes.  Each has its own properties and uses; choosing the right one for the effect you want to create and for the surface to be covered is of paramount importance.

EMULSION PAINTS

Suitable for general coverage of walls and ceilings. Emulsion paints can be applied with a brush, a roller or a paint pad, the latter being my personal favourite, along with a good brush for cutting in.

Clean up is easy too, your brushes, etc, and any accidental spills can be cleaned with water and a little detergent.

Vinyl Silk

By far the easiest to clean, vinyl silk gives a shiny finish. Because of the way that the light catches it, it will show up every fault in the surface underneath, so time spent on preparation is especially important.

Vinyl silk is particularly useful in kitchens and bathrooms where the surfaces may need washing more regularly than in other parts of the house, and where condensation can be a factor.  There are paints on the market specifically designed for these rooms and the range of colours available is improving all the time, so it’s worth having a look at them.

A silk finish is also useful in areas frequented by pets and small children; sticky finger marks, the occasional piece of artwork and the grubby patch where the dog lays can all be more easily removed from a silk finish than from a matt one.

Vinyl Matt

Vinyl matt gives a softer finish than silk; because it doesn’t reflect the light, it won’t show up imperfections in the underlying surface quite as much, but that’s no excuse to skimp on your preparation! Light marks can be removed carefully from a matt finish with a damp cloth, but heavy scrubbing is not advisable.

GLOSS PAINTS

Gloss paints can be divided into two types; water based and spirit based.  Both will give a tough finish to woodwork or metal, the main difference being in the method that you use to clean up your brushes and accidental spills.

Use either a full gloss or, for a softer finish that is still hard wearing, choose an eggshell finish.

Water Based Gloss

Relatively new on the market, water based gloss is often labelled as low odour gloss paint.  Brushes and spills can be cleaned up with water and the strong odour associated with more traditional gloss paints is avoided.  Ideal for use where there are asthmatics and young children.

Spirit Based Gloss

The more traditional type of gloss paint that many of us know by its distinctive smell!  Cleaning up should be done with white spirit, followed by a good wash with warm water and detergent.

SPECIAL FINISHES

Where to start?  There are paints for almost every type of finish imaginable.  Many involve applying a finishing coat over a base coat and can be a little time consuming, but the ones that I’ve tried have been worth the extra effort.  There is only one guideline to follow here; APPLY ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TIN!!! If it says use a roller, don’t think that you’ll get away with using a brush - you won’t!

The other thing to bear in mind is that these paints are better used on small areas or to create a feature wall - you would not achieve such a good effect if you were to use them on a whole room.