A Guide for Choosing House Paint

If you haven't been down a paint aisle lately, prepare yourself. If you have, then you already know what I am talking about when I say there are so many paint choices available these days that you can get dizzy just looking at them all. That said, there are some distinct differences in types of paint and in what they should be used for. The following information will help you decide which type to purchase that is best for the job you will be performing. Know too, that when going through this guide, that you are no longer limited to the paint colors available only on the store shelves. You can now have paint mixed and matched to any hue, color, or shade you would like. This is true in home improvement centers, traditional super stores, such as Wal Mart or Sears, and even in some of the smaller hardware stores. In fact, it is pretty much a common element in shopping for paint, just be sure to check with the person on duty in the store, that they have this option, if you think you are going to need it.

Latex, matte emulsion paint: This is a very common paint that you will find in any place that sells paint. It is made from a water base and used commonly for painting walls of rooms. It dries with a flat look and is easy to apply. The downside is that it is easily marred, so frequent touch-ups may be in your future if used in a room that gets a lot of activity or is in a place where it will be in contact with anything else.

Latex, silk emulsion paint: This too, is a water based paint that is used for painting interior walls. It is very similar to the matt emulsion but its durability is slightly higher. Note too that the color is not solid, but rather a sheen finish, so care must be used to apply this in situations where that look would be appropriate to the style of the room.

Eggshell paint: This paint is an oil based product that is best used on woodwork or wooden furniture. It has a moderate durability level but will most likely require touch-ups with time, especially in rooms with a lot of action going on in them.

Gloss paint is oil based and great for walls, wood working and furniture. It is extremely durable and its best feature, besides that shiny look, if that is what you are looking for, is that it is easy to wash clean.

Satin paint is oil based and used on woodwork or furniture. It is washable, like gloss but does not stand up to use quite as well as the gloss will.

Ceiling paint is what you want to use if you are doing a ceiling. You could use traditional paint but the ceiling paint is created specifically to deflect the light in the proper manner that will add to the overall beauty or enhancement of a room.

Floor paint: This type of paint is oil-based, and as it is titled, used on flooring. It has to have strong endurance simply because of its intended use. Another plus is that applying floor paint is easy because you simply roll it on with a long-handled paint roller.

Knowing the basics of different paint types prior to selecting which one you are going to use is essential to the outcome of your task at hand. For example, you may love the color of paint you find for your floor, but if the paint is latex satin or matte emulsion, you now know that you cannot purchase it for that particular use. What you can do, however, is take the paint color you do like and ask the retailer to match it in a floor paint (or whatever type of paint you need for the job you are doing). Being informed is also essential because even though you would think the workers where you are purchasing your supplies would be aware of different paint characteristics and thus able to help you select the proper type for your individual need, that is unfortunately, not always the case. A little knowledge when doing any kind of home improvement work can go a long way. Now you know what type of paint to purchase for the job you are doing. Happy shopping!