Picking house paint colors isn't just difficult. It's terrifying! Pick colors that are blah, and your house will seem flat and featureless. But if the colors you pick are too bold, they might overwhelm the architecture... and upset the neighbors.
The best colors will highlight the most beautiful features of your home. Skillful use of color can even disguise design flaws, boosting the curb appeal and market value of your home. How do you find that magic color combination? Follow these tips.
1. Honor History If you're planning to paint an older home, you'll probably want to use a historically accurate color scheme. You can hire a pro to analyze old paint chips and recreate the original color. Or, you can refer to historic color charts and select shades that might have been used at the time your home was built.
2. Jazz Up the Past In some neighborhoods, homeowners fly in the face of history. Instead of choosing historically accurate colors, they paint their houses modern colors to dramatize architectural details. Using bright colors on old architectural details can produce startling and exciting results. But before you buy 10 gallons of bubblegum pink, it's a good idea to look at what your neighbors are doing. A fluorescent colored Victorian that looks splendid in San Francisco will seem wildly out of place in more conservative neighborhoods.
3. Consider Your Neighbors The house next door can give you paint color ideas, but don't copy your neighbor exactly. Choose colors that set your house apart, without clashing with nearby buildings.
4. Borrow From Nature The landscape around your house is blooming with color ideas. Trees may suggest an earthy palette of greens and browns. A beach setting might suggest vivid blues, turquoises, and coral colors. Even the garden in your front yard can inspire exciting color combinations.
5. Check the Roof Your house is your canvas, but it is not blank. Some colors are already established. What color is your roof? Your paint color doesn't need to match the roof, but it should harmonize.
6. Look For Things That Won't Be Painted Every home has some features that will not be painted. Does your house have brick walls? Vinyl windows? A natural wooden door? Will steps and railings remain their existing colors? Choose a color scheme that harmonizes with colors already present on your house.
7. Find Inspiration in Your Living Room It may seem comical to paint entire house based on the pattern of a pillow case, but this approach does make sense. The color of your furnishings will guide you in the selection of your interior paint colors, and your interior paint colors will influence the colors you use outside. Once again, your goal is to harmonize.
8. Focus on Details Depending on the size and complexity of your home, you may want to choose two, three, or as many as six colors. In addition to color for your siding, select accent colors for shutters, moldings, doors, window sashes, brackets, columns, and porch decks. But beware: too many colors will overwhelm your house. Too few can make your house seem flat and uninteresting.
9. Use Light to Add Size It's no wonder large, grand estates are often painted white. Light colors make a building look larger, and white is the favored color for traditional classical architecture. You can add to your home's sense of size and dignity by using white or a pale cream color.
10. Go Dark For Drama Dark siding or dark bands of trim will make your house seem smaller, but will draw more attention to details. Darker shades are best for accenting recesses, while lighter tones will highlight details that project from the wall surface. On traditional Victorian homes, the darkest paint is often used for the window sashes.
11. Discover Color Families Contrasting colors will draw attention to architectural details. But, extreme contrasts will clash and actually detract from details. To be safe, consider staying within a single color family. For some accents, try using a darker or lighter shade instead of a different color.
12. Strike a Balance A burst of a single color on just one part of your home may give it a lopsided appearance. Strive to balance colors over the entire building.
Below is a list of additives used in the manufacture of latex paints, and a description of how they affect the properties of those paints.
1. Thickeners and Rheology Modifiers (rheology is the science of how a liquid tends to flow)
• provide adequate viscosity (thickness), so the paint may be applied properly
• impact how thick the paint goes on and how well it flows out when applied
• modern rheology modifiers help latex paints
- resist spattering when applied by roller
- flow out smoothly
- be less likely to spoil than with older generation thickeners
(with spoilage, the paint may smell putrid and/or lose viscosity)
2. Surfactants (specialized soaps)
• stabilize the paint so that it will not separate or become too thick to use
• keep pigments dispersed for maximum gloss and hiding
• help "wet" the surface being painted, so the paint won't "crawl" (move about)
when it is applied
• provide compatibility with tinting colorants so that the correct color will be obtained
and help assure that it won't change before the paint is used
3. Biocides: two types are used in latex paints
1. a preservative to keep bacteria from growing in the paint
(This is especially important for paint stored in containers that are repeatedly opened and closed, because contamination can occur.)
2. a mildewcide, to discourage mildew from growing on the surface of the paint after it has been applied.
(This is used mainly in exterior products, although some interior paints, such as those formulated for use in damp areas, e.g., kitchens and baths, may also contain mildewcide.)
4. Defoamers break bubbles as they are formed in the paint when:
the paint is mixed in the factory
it is put on the shaker or stirred
it is applied to the surface (especially important when rolling the paint on)
5. Co-solvents are additional liquids other than water; that:
aid the binder in forming a good film when applied down to the minimum recommended application temperature
help the liquid paint resist damage if frozen
enhance brushing properties, including flow and "open time" (the time the paint can be applied and worked, before it sets up)
The co-solvents are generally volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Paint is one of the most versatile media to work with. But, before you use them in your home, it is essential to get the basics right.
What is paint?
It is a mixture of solid pigments (finely-ground particles) suspended in a liquid medium (water or mineral spirits) that dries to form a protective or decorative coating. Pigments are encapsulated by resins or binders which help attach them to the surface being painted and create the paint film.
All paints fall under two categories: water-based, commonly known as latex paint, and oil-based. The former includes all water-borne paints such as vinyl-acrylic, 100% acrylic and alkyd-modified latex. You can use latex paints both indoors or outdoors. Latex provides an excellent finish and is an easier paint to use. It can be cleaned with soap or water, dries quickly, has milder odours, is non-flammable, and easy to touch up. These environment-friendly paints allow moisture to evaporate through the film thus reducing blistering.
Inexpensive latex paints use softer vinyl-resins (binders) and more water in the formulation. More durable latex paints use 100% acrylic-resins and less water. The term enamel is normally associated with paints that have a glossy finish. These are formulated with higher concentrations of resin as they are used in areas subject to heavy wear and tear. Alkyd paints are more commonly used for areas prone to impact and high wear and tear such as floors or cabinets. These paints take a long time to dry, so they do not show brush strokes as much. But they are more expensive and odour-intensive when drying.
Interior paints can be grouped into two categories:
Distempers: These are traditional economy paints which produce a perfectly satisfactory finish with good workmanship. However, their life cycle is shorter. Dry distempers (which are available in powder form) and oil-bound/synthetic distempers are not washable. Acrylic distempers, being partly based on acrylic resins, give greater smoothness and are washable.
Emulsions: Also known as plastic paints, these are based on a fine dispersion of resin in a solvent, which on drying, creates a remarkably tough, adherent and durable coating. Special additives in emulsions give them an incomparably smooth finish in various shades that last for years. These are resistant to water, chemical, fungus and algae. They come in three categories: silk—premium acrylic emulsions, with silky smoothness and a luxurious silk-like finish; regular—they produce a smooth eggshell finish; and economy—a generation ahead of distempers, they are more durable, washable, fade-resistant and smooth.
Exterior paints
Emulsions are good to be used on the exterior as they contain high acrylic content which gives them a long lifespan. Special additives also make them exceptionally resistant to algae, fungus and atmospheric erosion. Other popular choices are cement paints and textured plasters.
Cement paints come with a weather-resistant coating that is considerably effective. The coating contains special additives that are equipped to deal with the rigours of the external environment. Textured plasters are emulsion-based and provide even stronger protection than silk emulsions, besides unique visual appeal. Their thick surface can be designer-patterned by sponging, stippling or with the help of patterned rollers. They are also washable.
Levels of gloss
The sheen, or gloss, of paint refers to the amount of light reflected by its surface. There are four basic sheens:
• Flat paints exhibit non-reflective properties, providing a matte finish that helps hide surface imperfections. It is normally used for ceilings and walls in areas less prone to wear and tear, such as dining and living rooms.
• Satin finish paints are used to create soft lustre. A satin finish provides a harder surface finish, which is more durable and more stain-resistant than a flat finish.
• Semi-gloss paints are more durable, easier to clean and more stain-resistant than satin-finish paints.
• Gloss paint has a harder, more durable and more stain-resistant finish. It is easier to clean than all other paint finishes.
Q:My stucco house has never been painted, and from years of never being cleaned it is very dirty. I have had several power-wash companies look at the house. They have tried various chemicals and they do not seem to take this dirt or mold off. None of the companies has washed the house, they have only looked at it and then refused the job.
A: Your house needs more than just a good cleaning. It needs the finish refurbished. We don't doubt that your house has never been painted. But we do question that it never had what is known in the plastering trade as a "color coat."
Stucco is a porous material made of water, lime and cement. If left unsealed, over many years it will become stained. That is the condition we think you face now.
Your question brings back memories from our youth. We've written before that our dad was a master plasterer. He could do anything with the mud, from the finest ornate ceiling work in San Francisco to coating a tract home in Newark. After working Monday through Friday on his real job, he and his buddy, Babe Mesquite, would take on "little jobs" on Saturdays to earn a few extra bucks. Many of these side jobs would be to redo the color coat on tract homes in San Leandro or San Lorenzo.
As we see it, you've got two choices to spruce up your home: a new color coat or paint.
Plastering should be left to the pros. Contact two or three licensed, bonded and insured plastering contractors for quotes.
Painting you can do yourself. The first step is to clean the surface. The quickest and easiest way is with a pressure washer. The water blasts away dirt (not stains). Pressure washers can be a little tricky to operate. For unpainted stucco adjust the spray pattern to a wide spray. Start on an out-of-the-way part of the building to get the hang of using it. Pull the trigger (there will be quite a kickback) and move the wand over the wall in a consistent side-to-side pattern. An additive designed to kill mildew is available to use with the pressure washer. Use it.
Pressure washers are available at rental centers. Make sure to ask the salesperson for a quick tutorial on operating the machine.
Once the building is washed, let it dry for a few days. Wood trim can take as long as a week to dry, depending on the weather. While the building is drying out, scrape off any residual loose paint. Feather the edges of scraped areas with 120-grit sandpaper. Carry a dust brush with you to brush any sanding dust off the newly washed building.
Next, apply a high-quality, stain-blocking latex or oil-based primer, which is a critical step when working with unpainted stucco. The primer will seal the stucco, preventing the finish coat from being absorbed unevenly and looking splotchy. Add a mildewcide to the paint to protect against the rebirth of fungus that may have been present.
We suggest you buy the paint at a store that caters to the trade. The salespeople will be able to suggest primer that is compatible with the finish you select. They also are a fount of useful information should you ask - and you should.
Allow the primer to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions before applying the finish coat. While the primer is curing, caulk any open joints or cracks in the stucco with a good-quality acrylic caulk. Smooth the caulk with a wet rag. Don't think about leaving the primer unpainted. Primer is designed to act as a base for the finish. If left unpainted for any length of time, it will fail, and all of the preparation done to this point will have to be redone.
The final and most exciting step is the finish coat - "putting on the color." Use a top-of-the-line, 100 percent acrylic house paint in the sheen of your choice - flat, satin, semi-gloss or gloss. The shinier the finish, the more any defects will show. We've always been partial to a satin sheen for its washability and because it hides defects well. Because you are dealing with a previously unpainted surface, the stucco may require two coats of the finish.
Over the years, we've used brushes, rollers and airless sprayers to apply primers and finishes. Our best results have come from using the airless sprayer to apply paint to large surfaces, then going back over the area with a roller or a brush while the paint is still wet. We think that method gives us the best of all worlds. The sprayer gets the material on quickly, and the brush or roller gives a uniform coat that gets into all the nooks and crannies.
Did you know that cement waterproofing paint can actually be made into many different colors? This makes it very good for those that want to use it on the cement surfaces of their home, but want to maintain the certain color scheme they have chosen.
Now you should know that using cement waterproofing paint is not going to help too much with the actual waterproofing of your home. It will help to keep the surfaces that you apply it to from being damaged, but it will do very little to help keep the moisture and water from actually entering your home. If you try to waterproof just with paint it will end up costing you more than you could imagine and you will be sorely disappointed.
You may think that you do not need to waterproof your foundation and the rest of your home because your area does not get heavy rainfalls or snow storms, but you would be wrong. Even if you live in the dessert there is still moisture in the ground that can effect the foundation of your home. Plus the moisture in the ground can travel in any direction and will get into your home over time if you do not waterproof correctly to keep it from doing so.
You will want to start your waterproofing from the beginning, with the foundation. This is something the contractors should have experience in and should be able to do for you. You will want to ask them before you allow them to pour your foundation or basement. Make sure they give your foundation about a month to reach its' full strength before they begin to backfill it. You will also need external draining tiles around your foundation and at least a few feet of large gravel so that the water will not be encouraged to go directly into your basement or foundation. Instead it will move around your home and avoid making your life miserable.
It is incredibly important that you make sure your home is protected from water damage. Water damage can be very costly and many times your insurance will not cover it. Make sure you use more than just cement waterproofing paint to get your home protected and make sure you do it as soon as possible.
Exterior house painting tips can make a job go much smoother. AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter shares some house painting tips from his years of experience. His pointers will make your house painting job much easier.
Many choices of painting material are available and the trend is to look for best-looking and durable paintwork, irrespective of the cost involved. However, simply buying the best and most expensive paints doesn't bring the desired results. Certain workmanship points too need to be kept in mind. Renaissance is the idea at the back of the mind when a house owner decides to repaint his house. The old paint needs to be removed and surfaces prepared. And, painting a newly-built house demands equal attention, as the first paintwork lays the foundation for all future works. So, a few guidelines given here and in next six episodes must be followed.
First check
Before doing internal and external finishing work, ensure that all doors and windows have been installed in position, all electrical conduits, their boxes and fixtures embedded in walls and walls finished smooth. There should be no plaster finishing marks along the conduits. All plumbing and sanitary pipeline chases must have been filled and finished. Take some more precautions. Tape all the edges of switchboards and window frames. Put jute bags or waste clothes on the floor to save it from paint droppings. When painting external walls, remove your vehicles from the site and cover the plants and shrubs, if you can't move them. Cover all door and window fittings with polythene and tape to avoid messy blotches.
Colour Magic
Decide the colours you are going to in your home very carefully. Pastel shades of pink, green and blue bring a soothing effect to a room while yellow and red are very attractive and make the room look warm. In India, pastel colors are preferred as these look cool and soothing. Decide colour scheme as per your personal liking and comfort. Take a look at the effect of each colour and take your pick.
Generally, a colour palette displaying hundreds of colours is available with paint dealers. Check it to choose shades of your choice. The present trend is to use a dark colour on one wall of a room to highlight it and project it as the feature wall while lighter colour is applied on the other walls.
If the walls and floor are light-coloured, a room will look bigger. So, choose light colours if you want your room to look bigger. If the ceiling is low, again choose light colours as these will enhance visibility in the room. If the ceiling is too high, apply a dark colour to it and see the room height decrease instantly. Shining and reflecting wall surfaces will also make the room look bigger. If you run a strip or band of colour all round a room, it will give a compact look.
Light and shade
While deciding the colour scheme, you must see how they look in artificial light. Generally, dark colours look brighter in artificial light while light ones appear suppressed. Shade cards don't give you the exact idea. Choose by visiting a friend's house or showrooms where you could see the colours on a wall. Before buying your total requirement, buy samplers (easily available now in most leading brands). Paint a small area of wall, allow it to dry and then decide. You just cannot go wrong this way.
Sequence it Right
Paint a room in the following sequence: Always paint the ceiling first. That way, any drops trickling on to the walls will not be a problem. Next, do the walls and finally, the doors and windows. The most important part of painting, white washing and colouring your house is to find a really good painter. Take extra pain here -- a good painter can put an end to more than half your worries instantly.
Brand Matters
Always buy good quality paint from a reputed company. Never go for cheap and low quality paint even if the painter suggests so. Look for reputed names. Even if you choose a lower grade -- i.e. first, second or third quality -- let it be of a reputed brand. This will help in getting a well-finished surface. Buy the paint in one lot. Different manufacturing lots may have slight difference in appearance. So, to avoid a variation in shade and to have a uniform look, buying full quantity of paint in one lot is important.
Options Aplenty
A large variety of wall and woodwork paints is available and it is difficult for the house builder to decide which paint to choose for each surface. For internal surfaces, the choice is between whitewash, colourwash, dry distemper, oil bound (oil emulsion) distempers, plastic (acrylic) emulsion paints and premium emulsion paints. For exterior surfaces, choice is between cement paints such as Snowcem Paints red paints, semi acrylic emulsion paints, 100% acrylic emulsion paints, heritage finish, spectrum finish and cladding. For woodwork, choice is between synthetic enamel paint, French polish, polyurethane polish and melamine polish.
Calculation Time
Work out the required quantity of each type of paint to be used by measuring the areas of the walls and the ceiling. Deduct the area of doors, windows, ventilators, openings, cupboards etc from the wall area. Work out the area of ceilings. If you can't work this out, as a thumb rule, multiply your floor area by 5 and this is the approximate total area to be painted. Different type of paints have different covering capacities. Wall emulsions such as acrylic, plastic and lustre cover about 80 to 150 sq ft. area a litre when applied in two coats. Acrylic and oil bound distempers cover 60 to 100 sqft per kg per two coats. Wood enamels cover 80 to 90 sqft per litre per two coats while transparent finishes cover just 40 sq ft per litre per two coats. Exterior acrylic or textured can cover 50 to 75 sq ft area per litre per two coats and cement paints cover about 30 sqft area per litre per two coats. Coverage capacity differs from company to company.
Cost Factor
For least cost of finishing work, the combination of paints is cement paint for external walls, dry or oil bound distemper for internal walls, French polish or synthetic enamel of second quality for woodwork and third quality synthetic emulsion for metals. For best quality work and no cost consideration, use a combination of dirt proof and weather proof 100 per cent acrylic exterior emulsion paint or heritage finish or spectrum finish for external walls, premium emulsion paint for internal walls, melamine or polyurethane finish for woodwork and first quality synthetic enamel for metallic surfaces. For medium cost and quality, use textured exterior emulsion paint or semi acrylic emulsion paint or cladding for external walls, low range plastic emulsion for internal walls, low range melamine or polyurethane polish for woodwork and second quality synthetic enamel for metallic surfaces.
Exteriors of a house are constantly exposed to severely acting elements of weather. In India, the weather effect is quite variable -- sometimes, it is harsh sunlight and at others, severe and unkind winter. Rain, fog, high and low temperatures also tend to fade the exteriors. As the appearance of cracks and infestation of algae ruin the first impression of a house, owners seek an exterior paint finish that is able to resist all these weathering effects.
You have many choices for the exterior surfaces and the elevation. You can have exposed brickwork or plastered surfaces or a combination of both or cladding of walls with various types of stones or textured finish. While choosing exterior finish, our main purpose is to make the elevation look beautiful and appealing, to have a durable finish that survives for a few years, at least, to choose a finish that resists dust and weathering effects and the one that breathes -- allows moisture of walls to escape without hurting their beauty.
All these aspects can be well fulfilled through right choice of finish and proper workmanship. Here are a few guidelines for durable painting of exterior surfaces, but first choose what you want.
Exposed Brick
Many homeowners prefer exposed brickwork on the elevation. Since ages, man has been seeing exposed brickwork in buildings, monuments and forts and an inbuilt desire to have part elevation with it remains. However, the decision to have exposed brick in the elevation should be made early and one should keep sorting out good bricks while doing the brickwork of foundations and internal walls of the house and use these bricks in exposed brickwork for a uniform look. Otherwise, use mechanised bricks. When the exposed brickwork of external walls is in progress, do raking of joints to a depth of 10 mm at least while it is still green. Before applying paint, make sure to do pointing.
Pointing: Prefer deep pointing to flush. Flush pointing doesn’t look good on brickwork and mars its very character. Always begin deep pointing work from top downwards. See that all extra mortar is cleaned off and not smeared over the bricks. Do pointing work with 1:2 cement sand mortar. Take care that the vertical joints are truly at right angles to horizontal lines and any minor errors in brickwork are hidden by the pointing work. A very important point to see is that the vertical lines should not end away from horizontal lines nor should these extend into them creating ridges there. Cure the pointing work well for at least seven days.
Cement Paint
If you choose cement paints, commonly known by the trade name Snowcem, on external surfaces, choose a reputed brand like Super Snowcem by Killick Nixon or the one by Asian Paints. Always choose from a fresh lot and see that the bags are IS 5410 marked. Open a bag, feel the Snowcem in your hand and see that it is free of lumps. In general, cement paint bags or sealed drums showing date of manufacture as within one year of purchase are considered fit but try to get a lot as fresh as possible. Reason for this is that cement paints are just a mixture of cement and pigments and cement attracts moisture from air and loses strength with time. So, don’t go by the expiry date on the bags or drums but get a lot as fresh as possible.
Preparation: While preparing cement paint for exterior walls, take care that dry powder is added to water and not water to powder. First take 50 per cent quantity of water to make a paste and then add balance 50 per cent to make a workable mix. Always mix thoroughly. At one time, mix only a quantity that will get used up within an hour of mixing with water. Otherwise, the paint mixture will start setting, will lose strength and brush marks will appear on surfaces.
The coats method: Clean exterior walls of dirt, dust, loose material and efflorescence with wire brush and then by washing, before applying the first coat of Snowcem. Thoroughly wet the surface before applying paint. Apply second coat after 24 hours of first. However, you need not wet the surface before applying second coat. After second coat, keep the surface fully wet for next two days by spraying water on the paint and not by throwing water with a pipe or container. I recommend a fog spray. It is a tried method and yields best results.
Texture Paint
In case you don’t want to paint the exterior plastered walls with Snowcem, consider Birla White Textura. Textura is also a cement-based paint but gives a textured wall finish — as the name suggests — instead of a plain surface. It comes in a variety of textures and designs. Unlike acrylic paint, no primer coat is required and is an economical textured finish. Above all, Textura needs no curing, has extra adhesive strength and resists water and weather. It is mixed with water and applied with trowel or roller or spray. Roller or spray finish textura is termed as RF while trowel finish textura is called TF.
The method: Prefer to use RF textura on interior surfaces and TF textura on the exterior. Textura contains Birla white cement, some minerals, polymers, quartz sand and additives. You can apply it even on damp walls. Textura TF and RF are sold in 25 kg bags. A bag costs around Rs 700. Generally, a bag cover gives 100 sq ft. area. Though the textura shade card may show many colours, it is applied only in white colour and then paints like Apex are applied over it. Its overall cost, including labour, should be about Rs 16 to 18 a sq ft. While applying, take care that at one time, only that much quantity is prepared that can be used up in 1.5-2 hours. To prepare its solution, add about 45-50 per cent water to it. If you want to use the spray method, some more water may be added to make it sprayable with a gun.
Acrylic Emulsion
Cement paints used for painting external surfaces of walls are not fully resistant to algae and fungus. Other paints available are semi acrylic and 100 per cent acrylic exterior emulsion paints. These paints give extremely good performance and also provide protection against fungus and algae. However, these are many times costlier than Cement paints. Therefore, you must make your cost calculations and buy paints your budget allows. All inclusive cost of semi-acrylic paints is around Rs 6- 8 per sq ft. This includes labour component. Good semi-acrylic paint costs around Rs 100-125 a litre. One litre should cover about 50 sq ft. area in two coats. No water curing of this paint is required.
Cost factor: For really good results, choose a 100 per cent acrylic exterior emulsion paint. It costs around Rs 180-220 a litre and covers around 50 sq ft area in two coats. All-inclusive cost of its application shall be about Rs 10-12 per sq ft. Today, labour component is very high and tends to equal material cost if you engage skilled painters. Do no water curing for this type of paint as well.
More tips on paintwork shall follow. Till then, happy painting!
Cement paint is water based paint and is applied on external walls/surfaces of the house. It is made from cement with different pigments and gives the best results on newly concrete surface. It can also be applied on bricks. It gives the best results on newly concrete surface but it should not be applied on white wash, color wash and dry distemper.
According to Indian standard cement paint should confirm IS: 5410 of approved brand and manufacturer. ‘Snowcem’ and its variants are a popular brand. They contain white or colored Portland cement with water proofing agent accelerator and extender.
Characteristics
Highly water resistant
No primer is required
Most suitable for worse environments
No chance of drying up due to its solid form
Guidelines for Surface Preparation
The surface should be cleaned of all mortar dropping, dirt, dust, grease and other foreign matter by brushing and washing.
Patches in plaster should be repaired and a coat of waterproof cement paint should be applied over patches after wetting the surface completely.
The surface should be cleaned thoroughly by scrapping of all whitewash; color wash if water proof cements paint is required to apply on existing surfaces previously treated with white wash and color wash.
Mixing Procedure
First Stage: The first stage consists of 2 parts of cement paint and one part of water stirred thoroughly and stands for 5 minutes. Care should be taken to add cement paint gradually to the water and not vice versa.
Second Stage: The second stage comprises of adding remaining one part of water to the mixture and stirring it thoroughly to obtain uniform stability.
Guidelines for Application
Painting work should be started after preparation of the surface.
Cement paint should be used within an hour after mixing otherwise the mixture would be set and thicken which affect the flow and finishing.
Before applying cement paint, the cement or concrete surface should be wet thoroughly to provide moisture to aid in proper curing of the paint.
The surface should be moist not wet when the paint is applied.
The solution should be applied on the clean and wet surface with brushes or spraying machine.
The solution should be stirred well during the period of application.
The solution should be applied on shady surface of the buildings so that direct heat of the sun may be avoided on the surface.
The completed surface should be watered after days work.
The second coat should be applied after first coat is set at least for 24 hours.
Water proof cement paint should not be applied on the surface treated already with white wash, color wash; distemper dry or oil bound distemper, varnishes, paints etc.
It should not be applied on gypsums, wood and metal surfaces.
In special cases a coat of cement primer should be applied followed by two or more coats of water proof cement paint.
Residents of Dennisville, New Jersey are seeing red because of a hot pink house.
The owners of the Nathaniel Holmes, Jr. House located in Dennisville's historic district have painted the building and neighboring gift shop "forward fuschia".
The house was built 208 years ago, and up until this week was white, much like the other historical buildings that surround it.
Some residents are upset over the color choice, but there may be nothing they can do.
According to the town council, the community doesn't have any rules about house color.
Choosing exterior paints can be complicated because of the wide range of surfaces. These surfaces include clapboard and aluminum siding, wood shingles, tar shingles, cedar shakes, brick, concrete block, stucco, and, of course, old paint. On many older homes, you’ll find a combination of these surfaces. Fortunately, there is an exterior paint for every type of surface, and some paints are suitable for more than one surface.
Like interior paints, exterior paints are available in either water-thinned or solvent-thinned formulas and in three lusters: flat, semigloss, and gloss. There are, however, several characteristics that distinguish exterior paints from those used inside the house. For one thing, exterior paints are more expensive. They also contain more resin (for moisture resistance and durability) and more pigment (for color).
You may want to choose your exterior paint based on what was used before. As with interior paints, latex works best over latex and alkyd works best over alkyd. If you can’t tell or are unsure about what type of paint is on the house, use an alkyd-base paint.
Latex exterior paints are easier to apply, dry quickly, and can help minimize moisture problems because they “breathe.” Cleaning up is a matter of soap and water. These paints do not adhere as well to oilbase or alkyd-base paints or to poorly prepared surfaces, however. Alkyds, on the other hand, are extremely durable, but they are more difficult to work with and they dry slowly. Also, solvents must be used with alkyds to clean brushes, rollers, paint trays, and drips.
One of the alkyd types of exterior paint may be especially appealing because of its regulated, self-cleaning property. It’s called “chalking,” and that’s exactly what it does. Over a period of years, the paint surface slowly oxidizes. Each rainfall washes off a minute quantity of the paint — along with dirt. As a result of this shedding, the paint surface is constantly renewing itself. The price of this convenience used to be chalky residue on foundations and shrubs, but the newest formulas control the shedding so it doesn’t stain adjacent surfaces.
Chalking paint is not recommended for every house. In areas with little rainfall, for example, the powder tends to remain on the surface, dulling the paint. In wet regions, chalking paint may not be worth the extra expense because frequent rainfalls will keep the outside of the house clean no matter what kind of paint is used. If you live in or near either of these climatic extremes, ask your paint dealer if the chalking type is suitable for your area.
Exterior house painting tips can make a job go much smoother. AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter shares some house painting tips from his years of experience. His pointers will make your house painting job much easier.
Probably one of the most confusing terms in paint is “solid color stain“. Not only does this confuse customers, but it confuses new paint store employees, too. So if you find yourself wondering what the difference is between solid stain and paint, then you are not alone.
Traditional stain refers to a pigmented oil that penetrates into the wood surface (like a dye). It is different than paint in that paint is a coating that doesn’t absorb into the wood, rather it is a coating that sits on top of the wood. Paint is a film that could peel whereas a penetrating stain could never peel.
But what is a solid color stain? In essence a solid color stain is an exterior coating just like exterior paint. In fact, solid stain basically is an exterior paint; very different than a penetrating stain (typically referred to as a semi-transparent or semi-solid stain). But solid stain does describe a certain type of exterior paint. Typically a solid stain is thinner than paint and as a result, has the advantage of showing more texture, being flatter and less likely to peel. On the other hand, it’s thinness means that is will not last as long and will need to be done more frequently.
The rule of thumb is that the solid stain will need to be done every 7 years, and redoing it will be a bit easier than if it were paint. On the other hand, paint will need to be done every 15 years and redoing it will be a bit more difficult due to its thicker film. The sold color stain will show more the the texture of the wood and be flat. The paint will typically have a low lustre and better fill cracks and be smoother.
Solid color stains come in either a siding stain for vertical surfaces and solid deck stain which are made to be walked on.
As the days grow shorter and the nights grow cooler, you may suddenly realize that you only have a few weeks left to finish your exterior painting projects. However, beware of painting outdoors when the weather turns nippy. Painting when the weather is too cold is a mistake that will leave you with unsightly consequences.
Most manufacturers instruct homeowners to apply solvent-based paint when ambient and surface temperatures are above 45 degrees F and latex paints when ambient and surface temperatures are at least 50 degrees.
Solvent-based paints thicken in lower temperatures, causing stiffer brushing, heavier application and slower drying. This can mean paint runs, sags and wrinkling on vertical surfaces, plus an overall reduced rate of coverage per gallon.
Below 50 degrees, latex paints dry more slowly, especially when high humidity is present. This hinders coalescence, which can lead to poor film-forming, lack of surface adhesion and premature paint failure.
Some manufacturers offer latex paints that can be applied at temperatures as low as 36 degrees F. These specially formulated products contain coalescing agents that aid in film-forming during lower temperatures. Check with your local independent paint retailer for information about these products.
Another thing to consider about seasonal painting is the amount of daylight. When the days are short, there is less daylight available to aid in drying. If you're using a solvent-based paint, which dries by oxidation, daylight is especially critical. So, be sure to paint early in the day so that light is present to add in the drying process.
Also consider the effect of heavy dew. Humidity affects the drying time of all paints, but especially latexes. Most manufacturers recommend that at least two hours be allowed for paint to dry before sunset if cool temperatures and heavy dew are expected that evening.
Finally, keep in mind that cooler temperatures may extend the time before the paint reaches serviceability or hardness. An enameled door requires more time before it can be closed without sticking to the jamb. A clear coating applied to a deck will need more time before you can walk on it. Primers require more time before top-coating. Knowing all of this may aid you as you go about your painting chores in the spring or in the fall.
When in doubt, remember to call your local paint and decorating retailer for advice and assistance. Or contact Snowcem Paints.
Taking a serious note of the health hazards posed by lethal paints laden with lead, particularly to children, the global community has resolved to eliminate the noxious element from paints worldwide.
A resolution in this regard was adopted by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS), a body formed by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The IFCS, which held its VI session at Dakar in Senegal, deliberated on issues in the area of sound management of chemicals.
"The resolution could prove to be an important milestone in the annals of chemical safety and management.
"It could result in setting up international standard for lead and eventual elimination of the element from paints which is deadly for children’s health, particularly the nervous system," said Ravi Agarwal, director of Toxic Link, an NGO which had moved the proposal.
"Noteworthy is the fact that the developed world had long ago replaced lead from paints with easily available lead-free alternatives such as titanium dioxide. Only a global effort can phase out the toxic element from paints in developing countries like India," he said.
The move would also pave way for the country to frame specific regulations, which at present are not adequate, Agarwal added.
Last year, Toxics Link had conducted a study on levels of lead found in various brands of paints available in India for household use and claimed to have found high concentrations of lead exceeding the globally accepted standards in all popular brands of paints, except for one.
When it comes to selecting a paint, facility executives are faced with a variety of options. Both a blessing and a curse, the large number of choices enables facility executives to closely match the characteristics of the paint to the requirements of the application. But unless one understands paint characteristics, it is easy to select the wrong type of paint for the application.
Compounding the problem is the wide range of paint prices. The lowest cost paint may not be a bargain, particularly if its service life is half that of a higher quality, more expensive paint. But always selecting the highest cost paint also may not be the best option. Facility executives may be paying for paint characteristics that are not needed for a given application.
When evaluating paint options, it is important to remember that paint cost increases with increasing paint quality. This is primarily the result of two factors. Quality paints tend to use higher cost components than paints of lesser quality. Higher cost components translate to higher product costs. Quality paints also have a higher concentration of solids. As a result, higher quality paints have a long list of advantages: They are are easier to apply, flow better during application, require fewer coats for the same coverage, splatter less during application, have better hiding characteristics, hold color better, resist pealing and flaking, resist mildew, and provide a longer service life.
While these characteristics are common to all high quality paints, the problem is determining just what a quality paint is. It isn’t good enough to simply rely on the name of the manufacturer; most manufacturers offer a range of paint qualities. Instead, facility executives must look at the components that go into a paint, particularly their quality and concentrations. This is the only way to determine the difference between a top quality paint and one of lesser quality.
Paint has four basic components: pigments, binders, liquids, and additives.
Pigments provide the color (or whiteness) to the finished product. They can be organic or inorganic. Their concentration has a direct impact on the durability of the paint’s film.
What to Look For One measure used in evaluating the quality of a paint is the pigment volume concentrate, the ratio of the pigment volume to the total volume of solids in the paint. Expressed as a percentage value, the pigment volume concentrate indicates how much binder is contained in the paint to surround and protect the pigment. A pigment volume concentrate value of 45 percent is considered to be the optimum level for most applications. Paints with lower pigment volume concentrate values produce a high gloss finish, poorer color uniformity, lower tensile strength and lower permeability to water. Higher pigment volume concentrate values tend to increase water permeability and the risk of blistering and rusting.
A paint’s pigment volume concentrate also helps determine the sheen level. As more pigment is added to the paint, the pigment volume concentrate value falls and the finish gloss of the paint decreases. Manufacturers can also reduce the finish gloss by introducing larger pigment particles. In general, low pigment volume concentrate paints adhere better and last longer. The glossier the finish, the more durable it is and the easier it is to clean.
Paint binders are used to help bind the paint pigment to the surface and to bind the pigment into a continuous film. The type, quality and quantity of binder used in a particular paint will affect a wide range of performance characteristics, including durability, stain resistance, adhesion and crack resistance. In most cases, the higher the quality of the paint, the higher the paint’s ratio of binder to pigment.
Manufacturers use many types of binders, depending on where and how the paint is to be applied. Different binders can be used to improve the paint’s resistance to moisture permeability, sunlight exposure, damage from abrasion, adhesion to the surface and flexibility.
Special applications, however, will require working with the manufacturer to determine which paint binder is best suited to the application.
Another basic component of paint is the liquids. Liquids carry the pigment and the binders. In most paints, the pigment and binder solids account for between 25 and 50 percent of the total volume of the paint. The majority of the remainder of the paint’s volume is the liquid carrier.
Two types of liquids are used in paint, solvents and diluents. The purpose of the solvent is to dissolve the binder and hold it in suspension along with the paint’s pigment. In oil-based and alkyd paint, the liquid is an organic material such as paint thinner. In latex paint, it is water.
In contrast to solvents, diluents do not dissolve the binder. While they help to keep the pigments and binders in suspension, their primary function is to reduce the cost of the paint. Higher quality paints have lower levels of diluents.
The fourth paint ingredient includes materials added to help produce certain properties of the finished product. Thickeners and modifiers make the paint easier to apply. Defoamers reduce the formation of bubbles during manufacturing. Co-solvents can be added to increase the hardness of the film formed by the binder. Other additives increase the splatter resistance of the paint during application. Biocides are often used in exterior paints and paints applied in high moisture interior applications to prevent the growth of mildew on the paint’s surface.
The first source for information in evaluating paint quality is the manufacturer. Manufacturers should provide information on paint ingredients, including the types of pigments and binders used, as well as the percentage of solids contained in the paint. Another good source for information is the material safety data sheet (MSDS). The MSDS will list several characteristics that reflect the quality of the paint, including the weight per gallon, the specific gravity, the flash point and the quantity of solids in the paint by both percent volume and percent weight.
Finding the Right Paint Given the differences among paint formulas, ingredients, and performance characteristics, how does a facility executive select a quality product? While there have been attempts to set standards for paint manufacture and performance, there are simply too many variations between products to be certain that a fair comparison is being made. Add in the fact that different applications require different paint characteristics, and it is easy to see why there is so much confusion when it comes to selecting a quality paint.
One indicator of quality is past performance. Learning from the successes and failures of others is a painless experience that requires only a small investment in time. Talk to others who have similar applications. What paint has performed well in those applications? What paint hasn’t? As long as the two applications are similar with comparable requirements for paint protection and performance, the experiences of others can teach valuable lessons.
One caution: As they say in the investment business, past results are not a guarantee of future performance. Seemingly subtle differences in applications can result in major differences in paint performance. And manufacturers are constantly modifying their formulas, both to improve performance and to control costs. Either of these factors may be sufficient to make a particular paint unsuitable for an application.
Taking it All In
Beyond experience, there are several rules of thumb to help ensure the selection of a quality paint.
1. Price and Quality. In general, as paint quality increases, so does the price of the paint. Assuming that the different paint products being compared are intended for the same type of application, the more expensive paint most likely will have higher quality ingredients, a higher volume of solids, or both. While higher priced paint is not a guarantee of higher quality, it is a very strong indicator.
2. Solids. The percentage of solids contained in a gallon of paint is a general indicator of quality. It indicates how much of the volume in the paint will form the protective paint film, and how much will disappear as the paint cures. The higher the percentage of solids in the paint, the less liquid there is. Because the primary purpose of the liquid is to suspend the solids for application, a higher percentage of solids translates into more dry paint on the application. More paint means better and longer performance. Paint with a higher percentage of solids will also cost more as a result of higher material costs.
3. Finish Selection. Paints are available in finishes that range from flat to gloss. There is a tradeoff in performance based on the finish selected. Flat and eggshell finishes tend to hide minor defects in the surface well, but are not very durable. Semi-gloss and gloss finishes resist marking and are easy to clean, but tend to highlight surface defects.
4. Pigments. For better coverage over old paint colors select a paint with prime pigments such as titanium dioxide.
5.Binder Type. In latex paint, look for a higher percentage of acrylic binders. These binders bond better to surfaces and offer higher resistance to cracking.
6. Mildewcide. Any paint that is applied in an area exposed to moisture should contain a mildewcide to resist the formation of mildew on the surface of the paint. These include exterior and below grade applications as well as surfaces exposed to high levels of humidity on a regular basis.
7.Aesthetics. While aesthetics is an important consideration when selecting paint, there are so many options today in colors and finishes that it is not necessary to sacrifice performance for aesthetics, or aesthetics for performance. When it comes to paint, it is possible to have both.
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