Here in Canada oil based paints have been taken off the shelf, and not used anymore because of their toxic nature, so your probably asking yourself, what’s the best paint for interior walls.
The latex and acrylic paints are water based, and give off little odor when drying, so do make an ideal paint for walls inside your home. The Acrylic paint is most often used in the kitchens and bathrooms.
The Positive Sides of Latex and Acrylic Paints
You will find these paints are very environmentally friendly and easy to paint with.
They don’t smell like the oil paints, and dry quite fast, often being able to put a second coat on in four hours or less.
Another good thing is that they clean up with soap and water, so it is very easy to clean up your brushes and rollers.
They keep their color better even in direct sunlight.
Oil Paints
If you can find oil paints you will notice that they have excellent adhesion to any surface you happen to be painting.
They leave a smooth finish and are easy to clean.
If you have sap or a stain showing then the oil paint will cover this better than a Latex paint on these hard to cover areas.
There are also special paints to cover stains before putting on a top coat, such as BIN sealer which I have used, and it works very well.
With the oil paints you will need a paint thinner or solvent to clean up the brushes.
Oil paints are also great for painting in the bathrooms or kitchen areas.
Paint Sheen
Paint sheen is basically how shiny you want the finished surface to look, and is usually left to the preference of the individual.
Eggshell paints are more of a flat sheen, and are often used when their are imperfections in your drywall, or other rough surfaces that need to be hidden, and the finish will end up looking like an eggshell in texture.
Semi-gloss paint or satin will have a little more sheen then the eggshell, and are often used in bathrooms or kitchens.
The Satin is easier to clean then the flat eggshell finish, and is also able to hide most surface imperfections.
The Glossy paints are easy to clean and will often be used on doors, moldings, and any trim you have. One of their drawbacks is that they won’t hide any imperfections, so are not recommended for walls in your home.
Preparing Walls for the Paint
You might want to fill any holes that were from hanging pictures, etc, before applying the primer, and any spackling compound works very well, as it will dry quite fast, and is easy to sand smooth.
Any large holes and you probably will have to use joint filler and tape which takes longer to dry, and needs three coats before sanding.
Once your walls look like their ready to paint apply the primer over your repair work, or if you are painting over any darker colors is best to prime all the walls.
Related: Scrape Paint Off A House
Choosing the Color
Today their are many paint colors to chose from, and it is probably best to go to your local hardware store, and pick out the color you like with the help of their color charts or cards.
I have seen people paint walls black, dark blue, purple, pink, etc, so is always best to let the home-owner pick out the paint color and sheen that they like.
Another thing to mention is that its always best to go with two top coats as they look better and last longer.
Brushes and Rollers
When it comes to brushes I prefer about a two inch angled sash brush for doing the corners and trims, and the better quality the brush is then it will make the paint easier to apply.
Rollers come in different thickness with about a1/4 inch to be used on smooth surfaces, and a 3/8 inch for semi-smooth such as drywall, and then 3/4 inch up to 11/2 inch thick are usually used for rougher surfaces like a stucco ceiling, etc.
A tip here for you is if you don’t finish you are painting in one day then put your brush and roller in a plastic bag sealed up as best you can to keep the air out, then your brush and roller will be good to go the next day, and this saves you time and water from washing them after every use.
Final Thoughts
So when you ask yourself what’s the best paint for interior walls, well their are many brands of paint that are of excellent quality, from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin- Williams, Seco, Glidden, Beauti-tone, and the list can go on.
One of the best things to remember is do not buy cheap paint thinking your saving money, the voice of experience here will tell you your walls will end up looking terrible, and then you will be spending more money to make them look better.
Pick out any of the major brands and buy their best quality paints, you will end up completely satisfied with your paint job.
Wishing you all the best on you are painting projects.
