Interior Paints

Home Improvement

Interior paints are versatile and can be used on most surfaces in your home. However, it is important to use the correct paint for each material to avoid damage or poor adherence.

The vast selection of interior paints can be overwhelming, but each type has its own unique uses and benefits. It is important to be knowledgeable about the different options available. The articles previewed at the bottom of this page will provide more information about each type of interior paint, including which surfaces they are best suited for, the appropriate tools to use, and their advantages and disadvantages. You will also learn how to estimate the amount of paint needed for your project.

It is important to note that there is no all-surface paint. Using the wrong paint can cause damage and poor adherence. Modern paint technology has improved formulas for latex paints, making them suitable for high-traffic areas and resistant to dirt, moisture, and wear and tear. Therefore, there is no longer a need to use latex paints only for walls and oil-based enamels for woodwork, windows, and doors.

Gloss is an important factor in selecting interior paints as it affects both the appearance and durability of the paint. High-gloss paints contain more resin, making them more durable. They are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, doors, windows, and trim. Semigloss paints are less wear-resistant but still suitable for most woodwork. Flat paints are recommended for interior walls and ceilings as they provide an attractive low-glare finish for surfaces that take little abuse and require infrequent washings.

Below are previews of articles on different types of interior paints:

Latex Paint: This type of paint is affordable and easy to clean up with water.

Alkyd Resin Paint:

Rubberbase Paint: The presence of rubber makes this paint highly durable.

Textured Paint: This paint is ideal for achieving a finish with texture, such as stucco.

Dripless Paint:

One-Coat Paint: This paint contains more pigment, allowing for more coverage with each brush stroke.

Acoustic Paint: This paint is ideal for painting acoustic tiles without deadening their sound-reflecting qualities.

Primers: Use a layer of undercoat to smooth out uneven surfaces before applying paint.

Estimating Interior Paint: Learn how to calculate the right amount of paint needed for your project.

Find out more about painting and home improvement:

• Painting Interiors: Learn about painting the inside of your home with different methods.
• Exterior Paints: A guide to choosing exterior paints for your home.
• House Painting: Visit this page for all your home improvement needs related to painting.
• Home Improvement: After painting, find out how to make other fixes in your home.

Latex Paint

The term “latex” originally referred to rubber as the resin or solid in paint, with water as the thinner or solvent. However, today many water-thinned paints use resins that are not latex, and the industry is moving towards the terms “water-thinned” or “water-reducible.” If the paint is called latex, it’s often “acrylic latex” since it contains a plastic resin of acrylics or polyvinyls instead of rubber.

Acrylic latex paints dry quickly, have new opacity, and are washable. The biggest advantage of water-thinned paints is that you can clean up with water rather than using expensive and potentially hazardous thinners or brush cleaners. Latex paint works well over surfaces previously painted with latex or flat oilbase paints and can be used on unprimed drywall or unpainted masonry. However, it doesn’t adhere well to high-gloss finishes and may cause wallpaper to peel. Latex also causes bare steel to rust and raises the grain on raw wood due to its water content.

Looking for something else? Check out these helpful articles:

• House Painting: Tips for interior and exterior painting projects.
• House Painting Tools: Make sure you have the right tools for your painting project.
• Painting Interiors: Learn the essentials of painting walls and doors.
• How to Paint Safely: Tips to ensure your safety during a painting job.

Alkyd Resin Paint

Synthetic alkyd resin for solvent-thinned (oilbase) paints has several advantages, including a special formula that makes the paint thicker. This allows for more paint to be carried to the surface by a brush, and the paint spreads and smooths easily. Alkyd materials are still preferred for trim, doors, and heavy-traffic hallways in most gloss and semigloss paints. They are also commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens for their washability, despite water-thinned enamels being available.

Alkyd paints have been improved with the addition of a material that creates bubbles that scatter light, making the paint seem thicker than it actually is. One coat of white paint made with this formula can completely cover black or bright yellow. Although alkyds can cause paper coating to raise and should not be used on unprimed drywall or masonry, they are suitable for raw wood and almost any previously painted or papered surface. Alkyds are the most durable interior paints and can be recoated within four to six hours. Solvents are needed for thinning and cleaning, and it’s important to check the label for the recommended solvent. Rubberbase paint, which contains liquefied rubber, is waterproof and durable and ideal for concrete surfaces. It can be applied directly to unprimed masonry, but a sealing coat of clear varnish is required for brick surfaces. Before applying it on new concrete, it’s recommended to wash the surface with a 10 percent solution of muriatic acid, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry completely. Both alkyd and rubberbase paints require special solvents.

Looking for something different? Check out these informative articles:

• House Painting: Get useful tips on interior and exterior painting in this helpful home improvement article.
• House Painting Tools: Make sure you have the right tools for your painting project by reading this article.
• Interior Painting: Discover the basics of painting walls, doors, and other interior surfaces in this article.
• Safe Painting: Stay safe during your painting job by following the tips in this article.

Textured Paint

If you want a stucco-like finish or need to cover up flawed surfaces, textured-surface paint can do the trick. Some types come premixed with sand-like particles suspended in the paint, making them perfect for ceilings. Other types require you to add the particles and stir thoroughly. There are also texture paints that are thick and smooth, which are applied to the surface and then textured with special tools.

Textured paints come in flat-finish latex or alkyd formulations. Latex versions are often used on bare drywall ceilings because they can be used without a primer and help camouflage drywall seams.

One drawback of textured paint is that it can make painting over it difficult. The peaks and valleys created by the texture increase the surface area of the wall, requiring 15 to 25 percent more paint for the second coat.

Looking for something different? Check out these informative articles:

• House Painting: Get useful tips on interior and exterior painting in this helpful home improvement article.
• House Painting Tools: Make sure you have the right tools for your painting project by reading this article.
• Interior Painting: Discover the basics of painting walls, doors, and other interior surfaces in this article.
• Latex Paint: Find out which painting jobs are best suited for latex paint in this article.

Dripless Paint

Dripless paint is thicker than conventional alkyd paint and won’t run off a roller or brush, making it ideal for ceilings. While it usually covers any surface in one coat, it is more expensive and less spreadable than other types of paint.

Looking for something different? Check out these informative articles:

• House Painting: Get useful tips on interior and exterior painting in this helpful home improvement article.
• House Painting Tools: Make sure you have the right tools for your painting project by reading this article.
• Interior Painting: Discover the basics of painting walls, doors, and other interior surfaces in this article.
• Alkyd Resin Paint: Learn when to choose alkyd resin paint for a particular home improvement project in this article.

One-Coat Paint

True one-coat paints are more expensive versions of ordinary latex or alkyd paints with additional pigment to improve their covering capabilities. They work best on flawless, same-color surfaces that have been previously sealed.

Tip: Don’t assume that all “one-coat” paints are truly one-coat. Check the warranty to be sure.

Looking for something else? Check out these useful articles:

• House Painting: Ready to take on a house painting project? Get helpful tips for both interior and exterior painting in this home improvement article.
• House Painting Tools: Make sure you have the tools you need to do the job right before starting any painting project. This article can help.
• Painting Interiors: Learn the basics of painting walls, doors, and everything inside the house on this page.
• Latex Paint: Find out which painting jobs are best suited for latex paint in this article.

Acoustic Paint

This paint is specifically designed for acoustic ceiling tiles and won’t affect their sound-absorbing properties. While it can be applied with a roller, a paint sprayer is more efficient and less likely to cause any issues with the tile’s sound-deadening capabilities.

Looking for something else? Check out these useful articles:

• House Painting: Ready to take on a house painting project? Get helpful tips for both interior and exterior painting in this home improvement article.
• House Painting Tools: Make sure you have the tools you need to do the job right before starting any painting project. This article can help.
• Painting Interiors: Learn the basics of painting walls, doors, and everything inside the house on this page.
• How to Use an Airless Sprayer: This article offers tips on how to use a paint sprayer, as well as which home improvement projects are best suited for the tool.

Primers

Primers are inexpensive coatings that smooth out uneven surfaces, provide a barrier between porous surfaces and certain finishing coats, and allow you to use an otherwise incompatible paint on a bare or previously painted surface. For flat paint finishes, the primer can be a thinned-out version of the paint itself. But that’s often more expensive than using a premixed primer, which contains less-expensive pigment, dries quickly, and provides a firm foundation or “tooth” for the final coat of paint.

Latex primer has all the benefits of latex paint — almost odor-free, quick drying, and easy to clean up — and is the best undercoat for drywall, plaster, and concrete. However, it’s not recommended for bare wood because the water in it may raise the grain. For raw wood, it’s best to use an alkyd primer.

Looking for more information? Check out these useful articles:

• House Painting: Need help with an interior or exterior painting project? This home improvement article offers tips and advice to get you started.
• House Painting Tools: Before you begin painting, make sure you have the right tools for the job. This article provides a helpful list.
• Painting Interiors: Get the basics on painting walls, doors, and other indoor surfaces with this comprehensive guide.
• Latex Paint: Find out if latex paint is the best choice for your painting project with this informative article.
• Alkyd Resin Paint: Learn when to use alkyd resin paint for your next home improvement project with this helpful guide.

Estimating Paint Needs for Interior Walls

Calculating the amount of paint you’ll need is a simple process. First, measure the area you plan to paint. A gallon of paint typically covers 450 square feet, but it’s safer to assume 400 square feet of coverage per gallon. If you’re using multiple gallons of the same color, it’s a good idea to mix them together to avoid any differences in shade.

To determine the amount of paint needed for a wall, multiply its height by its length and divide by 400. For example, a 10 x 15-foot room with 8-foot walls will require one gallon of paint for one coat or two gallons for two coats. Keep in mind that other factors, such as the texture of the wall and the type of paint, can affect coverage as well.

The amount of paint needed for a project depends on several factors. If the wall has a textured or rough surface, it will require more paint than a smooth wall. The added surface area of the texture needs to be covered, which can be estimated at 300-350 square feet per gallon for medium-rough, porous, or unpainted walls. Non-painted areas such as doors, windows, and fireplaces will also reduce the amount of paint needed. The total square footage of these areas can be multiplied by their lengths and widths or subtracted by 15 square feet for windows and 21 square feet for doors. The time it takes to complete a project is less precise and varies from person to person. On average, 120 square feet of flat surface can be covered in an hour, while bare wood or plaster may require about 100 square feet. For a typical 12 x 15-foot room, the first coat may take four to five hours, including trim work. The second coat will require less time but will need to dry for 2 to 36 hours. For more information on house painting projects, tools, and techniques, check out the helpful articles provided.

FAQ

1. What are interior paints and why are they important?

Interior paints are coatings applied to the walls, ceilings, and other surfaces inside a home or building. They serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, protecting the surfaces from damage while also enhancing the overall look and feel of the space. Interior paints come in a wide variety of colors and finishes, allowing homeowners and designers to customize the look of each room to suit their taste.

2. What types of interior paints are available?

There are several types of interior paint available, including latex, oil-based, and specialty paints like chalkboard or metallic finishes. Latex paint is the most popular choice, as it is easy to apply, dries quickly, and is low odor. Oil-based paint is more durable but takes longer to dry and has a stronger smell. Specialty paints are used for specific purposes, such as creating a chalkboard wall or a metallic accent.

3. What factors should I consider when choosing an interior paint?

When choosing an interior paint, you should consider factors like the color, finish, durability, and ease of application. The color should complement the other elements in the room, while the finish should match the desired aesthetic. Durability is important in high-traffic areas, and ease of application is important for DIY projects.

4. How do I prepare a room for painting?

To prepare a room for painting, start by removing furniture and covering the floors with drop cloths. Clean the walls and repair any damage, such as holes or cracks. Sand the walls to create a smooth surface, and then apply a primer to help the paint adhere. Mask off areas like trim and windows with painter’s tape to get clean, straight lines.

5. How many coats of paint should I apply?

The number of coats of paint you should apply depends on the color and type of paint you are using, as well as the condition of the surface you are painting. In most cases, two coats of paint will provide sufficient coverage and ensure a consistent finish. However, you may need more coats if you are painting a light color over a dark color or if the surface is particularly porous.

6. How do I maintain and clean my painted surfaces?

To maintain and clean your painted surfaces, avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could damage the paint. Instead, use a soft cloth or sponge and a mild soap solution to gently clean the walls. For tougher stains, try using a baking soda paste or a magic eraser. Regular dusting and vacuuming can also help keep the surfaces looking clean and fresh.