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Why paint the
walls?
Color is a major component of your home's décor and painting
is one of the least expensive ways to improve the appearance
of your home, or even make a dramatic change. Choose a new color
to create a mood, match the season, brighten a room, accentuate
furnishings, or just to cover a dirty wall. Paint also provides
protection the material it covers.
How much
does interior painting cost?
To have the average 12 x 15 foot room with two windows, a door,
and the ceiling painted can cost anywhere from $350 to $450.
These prices can vary greatly depending upon conditions of existing
walls, height of ceiling, type of paint preferred and number
of coats required. Having existing wallpaper removed can also
cost substantially more.
How often
do interior walls need painting?
You can paint your walls as often as your tastes change, if you
like. Or, if you don't like, you can put off painting for a while
because a good paint job on well-maintained walls can last for
years. It's a matter of personal preference.
How is
the service performed and with what materials?
Choosing a color might be the biggest challenge about a paint
job. Paint stores or home improvement centers can mix custom
colors based on a swatch or sample. But if you don't know what
color to choose, a good resource to help you decide is the National
Paint and Coatings Association's guide. After you have decided
on a color, make sure enough paint for the whole job is purchased
at one time to ensure the color's consistency.
There
are two types of house paints: water-based or latex and solvent-based
or oil or alkyd. Latex paint is usually used for interior painting
but oil paint is good for trim because of its durability, although
it takes longer to dry and has a stronger odor. Your painter
will recommend what type is best.
Paint
finish also must be determined. Different finishes are recommended
for different surfaces:
Flat
-- Soft, non-reflective finish that helps to hide surface blemishes.
Good for bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, and ceilings.
Eggshell -- Similar to flat finish, with increased durability
and washability. Use in halls, bathrooms, playrooms and on trim
in place of semi-gloss.
Satin - Rich, versatile, scuff-resistant, easy-to-clean finish
for high traffic areas. Good for halls, woodwork, children's
bedrooms, family rooms
Semi-gloss - Shiny, highly wear-resistant, easiest-to-clean finish
provides decorative contrast to flat, eggshell or satin/silk.
Good for kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas, closet doors, trim.
Gloss - Luminous, reflective, smooth, hard shiny finish good
for wood trim, cabinets, doors, furniture.
Before
a painting job begins, you and the painter should agree to exactly
what work will be done, how many coats of paint are needed for
each surface, the type of paint to be used for each part of the
job, the preparation work that will be done, and who furnishes
the paint and other materials.
Preparation
work is a large part of a painting project; you can do much of
it yourself. (See What Preparations Need to be Made? below.)
Otherwise, expect the painter to spend a great deal of time performing
this work.
When
painting finally begins, the surfaces should be painted in this
order: ceiling, walls, woodwork (trim), floor. Generally, two
coats should be enough for good surface coverage. However, if
a dark color is covering a light color or vice versa, a primer
should be applied. A primer allows the finish coat to adhere
better, and have a smooth and uniform appearance.
What preparations
need to be made?
You might save some money (by saving the painter some time) if
you do some of the preparation yourself.
Remove
lightweight furniture.
Move
big or cumbersome items away from the walls; cover them with
plastic sheeting that is taped to itself.
Cover
the floor with heavy canvas painting tarps or heavy plastic sheeting
topped with old fabric sheets.
Patch
any holes with spackling and a putty knife. Blend with a damp
sponge.
Do two coats if spackling shrinks as it dries.
Sand
or scrape any cracks in the old paint.
Wash
the walls and trim.
Remove
switch and receptacle plates. If you plan to paint them, do it
separately.
Make sure walls are well lighted.
What
is the proper maintenance?
Keep your painted surfaces clean. Glossier finishes sustain scrubbing
fairly well but flatter finishes are more sensitive. Wash walls
and trim with warm, soapy water and wipe clean.
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