Paints

Learning About Paint

Altering the vibe, acoustics, and visuals of the living space is a great way to showcase evolving tastes. Splashing the walls with a new colour or adding an accent wall is probably the easiest way to do all that. 

From vibrant colours to subdued hues, and from matte enamels to glitter bombs, a world of choices is available for people who want to select only the best for their following projects. That is why it is essential to know the types of paints suitable for a task and the best ways to apply them. 

This guide is meant to acclimatize readers with all the options in New Zealand and help them make the right decision. Refresh the bedroom, give a new life to the office décor, give the living room more light or brighten up the kids' room.

Types Of Paints – A Quick Guide

Undoubtedly a great deal of talent, determination, tools, and techniques are needed to turn dull wall coverings into a masterpiece. This means that proper knowledge is crucial to do justice with this task and get things rolling. 

Here are the leading types available in New Zealand and the results they offer:  

Outdoor Paints

As the name suggests, outdoor or exterior paints are designed to withstand harsh weather, heat, rain, sunlight, and more. They can even tackle fading and mildew and bear the scorching UV rays emitted from the sun along with considerably high temperatures which we often get in New Zealand. These can also be used on the flooring surface due to their ability to withstand high foot traffic without fading quickly.

Interior Paints

Interior paints are made to complement the decoration and style on the inside of a home. Therefore, they might not be as durable as exterior paints, but they have their own qualities, such as being easy to maintain, easily washable, and stain-resistant. 

Water-Based Paints

These are preferred due to their ease of application. However, if oil-based paint is used, it would be a daunting task to use water-based color since oil and water don't work very well together. Therefore, it is essential to remove all traces of it before proceeding with this option. Use grit sandpaper to sand it off, leaving behind a wall that's ready for water-based paint. 

Oil-Based Paints

Oil-based paint is smooth and can be applied on almost all surfaces. It is known and admired because of its tremendous durability and smooth finish. However, it has one drawback that it can be harmful due to its overwhelming fumes. More than that, it is hard to remove because water is ineffective against it. 

To remove them, solvents such as turpentine are used to wash off brushes, hands, and other materials. 

Acrylic Latex Paints

Acrylic latex is the top quality of latex paints. It is suitable for any building material, including metal and masonry. As long as the surface is adequately primed, acrylic latex is good to go and can be used as metal paints. When buying acrylic latex, choose the right one for exterior or interior projects.

Aerosol Paint 

Aerosol paint, commonly known as spray paint, is used chiefly for arts, crafts, and funky designs. All the exciting, colourful graffiti is done using them. Other than that, they are quite effective on furniture, decorative items, and other projects around the house. 

Understanding Colours/Textures 

When it comes to colours and textures in New Zealand, the sky's the limit. Unlike the old times, people are getting braver with their colour choice. Colours like black, navy blue, and red look good anywhere, including the lounge walls.

Some homeowners don't shy away from using bold colours for bedroom walls, usually restricted to lighter shades only. 

Furthermore, texture paints are back in trend in New Zealand. People are experimenting with them using different techniques and materials to create incredible textures on their walls. The benefit of a textured wall is that it is fun to make, it requires no primer, and it repairs minor cracks and dents. 

It may also be a good idea to choose colours that go well with the tiles and stones of the kitchen. This will make the overall aesthetic more cohesive and aligned.  

Other Things To Consider 

The primer is an integral part of any successful paint job. Despite its importance, primer can never be used as the final coat. It has the same consistency and application process, but it is a layer that acts as an adhesive. 

In addition to that, primer is only required on new surfaces that have never been painted before. If the idea is to recoat, then there is no need to apply the primer. However, when the goal is to use a lighter shade over a darker shade, the primer proves to be quite handy because it lightens the darker colour and makes it less visible.