Rules for Painting Interior Walls – Read the article to get ideas on paint selection, surface preparation, application technology, etc.
Self-painting of walls is a creative and useful work. It allows you to realize any fantasies and give comfort to the room. Painted surfaces are practical, easy to clean with a soap solution from dirt. In case of mechanical impacts, it is possible to restore only the damaged area.
Walls and ceilings painting is not only practical but also economical coating. Different compositions differ in the application technology, type of coating, and technical characteristics.
The success of the case depends on the proper preparation of the walls and compliance with the sequence of actions. Before working, you should make sure that there is a sufficient amount of material and that all the tools are available.
Paint selection
The coloring agent is chosen to take into account the purpose of the future room or surface. For example, in the bathroom or kitchen, the humidity level is increased. This requires the use of a special composition.
A universal option is a water-based paint for the following reasons:
- environmental friendliness;
- fire safety;
- no pungent smell;
- non-toxic.
Paints for interior decoration are classified according to the basis:
- Water-soluble: They will be an excellent solution for interior work. Main advantages: safety, high environmental friendliness, easy to use, coating strength, no toxins, fire resistance. This type does not form smudges and does not spread. All tools after painting should be washed underwater.
- Diluted with solvents: The painted surface has high hydrophobic characteristics, it is permissible to use most household compositions. The coating is durable and resistant to mechanical stress. The only drawback is a sharp smell, harmful to human health.
- Acrylic base: The compositions are relevant for wet rooms when using aggressive detergents. They have high strength characteristics, have proven themselves well when operating in rooms with high traffic. High vapor permeability eliminates the appearance of condensation. They are applied exclusively on drywalls.
It is better to choose paint with a long drying period. This allows the components to be evenly absorbed and get into all the pores. It is better to use a primer and a helmet from the same manufacturer.
The composition is divided into:
- water-based emulsions;
- acrylic;
- latex gloves;
- silicone;
- based on PVA;
- alkyd compounds;
- eco-paints.
The most budget option is water-based paints. However, they have low practicality: they collect dirt and dust. Well suited for ceilings. On the walls, apply a water-based emulsion based on latex and acrylic.
Acrylic paints are ideal for public spaces. They are wear-resistant, retain color when exposed to sunlight, and dry quickly.
Latex paints form a thin layer on the wall, which allows you to convey the texture of wallpaper or plaster. The coating is moisture-resistant and protects against mechanical damage. The only drawback is the low vapor permeability.
The alkyd type is similar to latex, creates a strong and moisture-proof coating, allows the walls to breathe.
Oil paints are dissolved with drying oil, which affects the drying rate. Their cost is low. There is no vapor permeability, which causes the destruction of the surface under the paint.
Silicone paints are wear-resistant, vapor-permeable, moisture-resistant. In most cases, they are used for external work.
Eco-friendly paints are made from natural ingredients. They are safe for health but quite expensive.
Paint for kitchen and bathroom
For the kitchen, suitable paints create a strong and washable layer (latex, acrylic-latex). They will absorb moisture, fat and do not allow mold to appear.
In the kitchen, glossy or semi-glossy surfaces look beautiful. They give the wall an amazing evenness and do not absorb dirt. Distortions and irregularities exclude the use of glossy paints, as all the shortcomings will be emphasized. Then use matte layers.
To give the effect of gloss, it is recommended to choose alkyd paints. The wall surface will be moisture-proof. However, when drying, a strong smell is released. Use alkyd paints only in a well-ventilated area.
Paint for children’s room
For children’s rooms, special paints with a water base and KID marking (for children’s rooms) are provided. They are very convenient and easy to use, non-toxic and eco-friendly.
If a child has an allergy, hypoallergenic paint with silver ions is used. The painted surface will not absorb dirt and has bactericidal properties.
Preparation of walls
The area of the walls in the room is the largest, which explains the close attention to their surface. If the work is done carelessly, then the eyes will come across uneven smears, not putty cracks, stains, stuck debris. For a good result, careful preparation is required.
Proper preparation will help to avoid stains and smudges on the surface. Many common mistakes of beginners have to be corrected by professionals for several hours. Also, prepared surfaces retain their appearance longer and serve longer.
Preparation of new walls
If the surface has not been painted before, then it is cleaned of dust and dirt. In the presence of irregularities and potholes, they are pre-removed with putty. If you do not clean the dirt, the paint will lag behind with a layer of dust.
Walls with old finishes
The first step is to prepare the entire room for painting:
- remove the curtains;
- take out decorative elements;
- remove sockets and switches;
- when painting doors, remove the handles and locks, or carefully disguise them.
Furniture can be left in the room. It will be enough to move it a little away from the walls and cover it with a protective oilcloth. Put paper or other material on the floor to protect it from paint drops.
Wall preparation involves:
- Cleaning of wall surfaces. With a hard brush, remove the drops of plaster mortar. It may contain an alkali that is incompatible with solvent-based paints. The rule applies to all types of walls.
- If there is a layer of old wallpaper, they are removed and the layer of glue on which they were held is removed. If the wallpaper is strongly fixed, then you can apply a primer and paint.
- Also, if you plan to repaint the surface, then the exfoliated layer should be scraped off, and the irregularities should be putty. Then use fine-grained sandpaper to clean the borders.
- Fungi, mold, and oil stains are eliminated in one of two ways: mechanical or acid-base.
Cracks are sewn to the retaining base, filled with alabaster. For a strong fixation, you can add PVA glue to the alabaster.
- Completely prime the wall to eliminate the matte spots of the treated areas.
- In good condition, the painted wall is well enough to wash and degrease.
- If you plan to paint the wallpaper, then you should make sure that they are glued firmly. Painting can only be done in the absence of departed wallpaper.
- Apply the paint on drywall.
After complete preparation of the wall, you can proceed to paint.
Paint preparation
According to users, the paint should be well mixed. To speed up, you can use an electric drill. Acrylic paint is diluted with water in the proportions indicated on the package.
The finished paint is poured into a paint tray or bucket. If not the entire jar is used, then it is tightly closed. In the open air, the paint dries quickly and becomes unusable.
Experts believe that, the paint should be designed for interior work-it is environmentally friendly. The consumption and the number of layers required will be described on the packaging.
Applying paint
After preparing the surface and arranging the workplace, you can proceed directly to painting the wall. In order for the paint to lay down correctly, follow several rules:
- Paint is applied evenly. The brush moves alternately in two directions. To prevent smudges, the surface is slightly shaded. Also, do not paint with a thick layer or a rare paint.
- The last movements should be from the bottom up.
- For paints with drying oil, use a hairbrush, which will provide the lightest movements.
A large surface is divided into several parts. Ideally, if the borders will pass along the seams, corners, and slats. When painting doors with oil paints, the division into sections is also used. Only colorants with drying oil are applied entirely.
When decorating complex surfaces with irregularities, do not use a lot of paint – it will drain and wrinkle.
If it is difficult to visually determine the clear boundaries of the walls, then the paper tape is used to mark them. It accurately outlines the area to be painted. Molar tape is also suitable for preserving the line of the floor and ceiling.
General paint application technique
Apply the paint in a certain sequence. On 1 square meter, draw three stripes. Then they are evenly distributed over the surface with the pressing tool. If multiple colors are used:
- On the wall, they draw the borders of the stripes with a pencil. Paint tape is glued to the marks, the marking strips should be painted over. Well, press the tape, as there are smudges.
- To achieve perfectly smooth lines, a colorless varnish is applied to the seam between the wall and the tape. It should be remembered that the tape can be painted, but it is forbidden to go beyond the opposite side.
- The tones are carefully selected and their combination is checked. The tape is removed after the paint is completely dry.
Painting the walls in stripes is similar. Initially, the main tone is applied, and then the stripes are drawn.
Painting of brick walls
Fashionable interiors are full of whitewashed brick walls. How to achieve the desired effect? When applying paint, take into account some features:
- The surface is cleaned with a hard brush and then washed with a soap solution. It will take at least a week for the moisture to evaporate from the pores of the entire skin.
- Putty large chips, potholes.
- Acrylic and oil paint is well applied to the brick.
- Prime the surface according to the type of paint. The primer is laid in a thick layer. It should dry well and form a strong water-repellent layer.
- Brick walls are painted with a brush in the horizontal direction. When using the roller, the effect of carelessness is created, which is considered fashionable.
- The effect of antiquity is achieved by using a sponge, which is applied to the contrasting spots on the surface.
Painting the walls with a roller
If a roller is used for applying paint, then at the baseboards, behind the battery, and near the sockets, paint with a brush. The wire mesh on the bucket will help to avoid a large paint fence, which leads to drops and smudges. On the molar tray, an inclined ribbed surface is used for this purpose: a roller is drawn over it several times in different directions.
The roller can be with a long and short handle. The first option is used for hard-to-reach places. The roller consists of a “fur coat”, a roller, and a frame. The “fur coat” absorbs the coloring agent and distributes it over the surface. The roller is equipped with different materials:
- Fabric base made of polyacrylic and nylon. The color of the roller is white with multi-colored stripes. It is resistant to the aggressive effects of paints and is quite durable. This type will be required for epoxy, polyurethane, nitrocellulose paints.
- Polyester or velour. It is characterized by good flexibility and absorbs paint well. It is used for finishing or varnishing.
The size of the roller depends on the volume of the surface to be painted. For larger surfaces, a roller with a larger working surface is required.
Paint, as well as glue wallpaper, should be from the window to the door. When using water-based paint, the roller is driven alternately in the horizontal and vertical directions. It will stick evenly and distribute the paint itself over the surface.
For water-based paint, take a felt roller. The new roller should be cleaned of lint – go through the sticky side of the tape on the surface.
Water-based paints
On the shelves, you can find water-dispersion paint, which differs from water-emulsion suspension by binding components (pigments, polyvinyl acetates, styrene copolymers, polyacrylates). They do not dissolve in the water environment and do not change their structure. After applying the paint, the water evaporates, and the components remain, forming a high-strength paint film.
Water-based paint can be applied in both wet and dry areas. The remaining film is not subject to the long-term influence of moisture. Water-based emulsions are suitable for drywall, wood, concrete, and brick surfaces. The exception is metal objects that will start to corrode.
For water-based compositions, a color is provided. It is added to the base to give a certain shade. The greater the amount of it, the more saturated the color is. The color is added gradually, stirring the mixture well. To get solid colors on all surfaces, the dye is diluted in the required volume for the entire room. Otherwise, it will be difficult to choose the intensity of the tone.
It is good to dilute the paint in reserve. This will allow you to touch up frequently rubbed places in the future (the switch area, corners, at hand level).
Apply the emulsion in several layers. To save money, the first layer can be made from paint diluted with water (10%). This does not affect the overall quality. For subsequent layers, you should not dilute the composition.
Rules for painting the bathroom and kitchen
A painted bath looks neat and beautiful. However, it is necessary to take into account the conditions of constant humidity. It is important to eliminate the fungus and dampness and then apply moisture-resistant paint.
In the bathroom, it is easy to find signs of waterlogging, which should be removed before applying paint. Mold and mildew cause permanent smudges, improper ventilation, and hydraulic problems.
Mold is removed with a brush or sponge. The problem area is well dried and treated with an antiseptic. In the future, it is necessary to provide good air circulation to prevent the appearance of mold. Painting the walls in the bathroom is faster and easier with a roller.
Standard actions for walls in the kitchen and bathroom:
- Apply a moisture-resistant primer.
- Putty and plaster.
- Impregnate the walls with a special composition to increase moisture resistance.
- Apply primer paints with increased moisture resistance.
After preparation, paint: If necessary, apply a pattern or patterns with a finishing paint. To increase the stability, apply a layer of varnish. The composition will be more durable.
Self-painting of walls does not require special skills, any master can cope with it. However, each type of paint has its own characteristics, pros, and cons. They are taken into account when preparing the walls and applying the coating. To increase the service life, an additional layer of varnish is applied to the painted surfaces.