Choosing a new wall colour is an easy way to revive your home's design

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By John Pollack
Times & Transcript Staff

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If you're becoming bored with your home's decor, but aren't ready to take on a large redesign project, a visit to a local paint store to check out the many options they have available may be just the thing you need.

Painting a couple rooms is very manageable for most do-it-yourselfers, though there are a few things you should know before you get started. If you're looking to re-paint a lot of rooms or aren't confident with a roller, there's also the option of hiring a professional to take care of it for you.

No matter which route you take, these tips from local experts should help make the task a little easier.

First and foremost, many amateur painters will neglect the most important part of painting -- preparation.

"Two thirds of the time for any job is in the preparation," says professional painter Dan Johnson of Painters' Edge.

The painting veteran, who has been in the business since 1985, says lack of preparation, or a poor preparation on any project, can compromise the final product both in look and in durability.

Before picking out a paint, determine what kind of paint you need. The two basic types are latex and alkyd, sometimes referred to as oil-based paint. When painting over a previously painted wall, Dan says it's best to use the same type of paint that was used before. To figure that out Dan rubs a wall with a rag dampened with menthol hydrate.

"If the paint on the wall comes off on the rag, that means it's a latex, if it doesn't come off, it's an oil-based," he says.

After you've determined what kind of paint you want to use, it's time to start getting the space ready.

If it's indoors, move all the furniture to the middle of the room and cover it with plastic. It's also advisable to cover the floor. To avoid splatter on the base boards or trim, protect them with painter's tape.

Next, Dan says any cracks need to be filled with putty and sanded down.

After that comes the priming.

"It's a super bonding agent that sets up the surface to accept the new paint," explains Dan. "It's becoming more and more necessary with new paint."

He says at the very least any crack filled areas will need to be primed. Once the primimg is complete, you are ready to get started with the paint.

Dan says it's always better to have a bit more paint than necessary, because you can run into problems when going back for more.

"There's always that chance it's going to be slightly off (from the original colour)," he says, adding that 90 per cent of the time it's fine.

To test the colour, drizzle a small amount from one can into the other with a stirring stick. It should be readily apparent if one is a different shade than the other. Knowing how much paint to get can be hard, but Dan says a good rule of thumb is a gallon (3.8 litres) per room, two litres (half a gallon) per ceiling, and one litre (a quarter gallon) per closet.

Brett Jones, a New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island business development representative for Benjamin Moore & Co. Ltd., says if you know the square footage of the room you want to paint, the paint store will normally know how much paint you need.

Dan estimates each room will likely need two coats of paint and a light sanding in between with a fine grade of sand paper dragged lightly across the wall.

If you're painting outdoors, be sure to check the weather forecast before getting started and take the time to cover up any patio, grass or plants that could end up on the receiving end of paint splatters.

Painting likes relatively warm weather, but not direct sunlight. It can't be raining either because the surface has to be completely dry.

Brett is often asked if vinyl siding can be painted or not. He says 100 per cent acrylic latex paint will do the job.

"The only thing to be cautious of is, we don't recommend using any paint that is a darker colour," he says, because it will absorb more heat and the vinyl may warp or buckle.

Brett's other piece of advice is that home painters may want to consider latex over alkyd paints.

"Alkyd paints will be removed from the paint industry in the next two years," he says, citing environmental reasons and a vast improvement in latex paints. "There are some areas in the house that it's probably better to have a profession come in and do it," adds Dan, explaining stairwells or the outside of the house can be difficult. Professional painters are used to being on ladders, and usually have scaffolding for the outside.

"Many times we have consumers come home and say 'Oh my gosh, it's so great to have it done while I'm not here.'"

At the end of the day, the great part about painting is that it's all up to you. There is no shortage of colours and brands to choose from and there's always the option of having someone else do the dirty work for you -- meaning the sky is the limit when it comes to freshening up your home.