Using the right paint is vital when it comes to protecting your home. Dan Schaefer is founder of Providence Renovation, LLC, a residential and commercial restoration and remodeling company based in Phoenix. He discusses here what type of paint is recommended for various projects.
When doing any type of home remodeling project, getting a paint finish that will protect the walls, cabinets, doors or whatever you are painting is important. It may sound obvious, but the first thing is you have to start with is a quality paint. Buying a cheap brand to save money will only cost you more in the long run.
I have several paint brands which I use a lot, and which I can recommend to potential customers. I primarily use Dunn-Edwards products. They are made in California, and they are environmentally safe. I like Dunn-Edwards products because they are tested in the desert to withstand harsh environmental conditions. Dunn-Edwards offer a wide variety of water-based paint for wood, stucco, drywall, residential and commercial use.
Interior Paint
For cabinets and doors and trim, it’s best to use a gloss or semi-gloss Latex paint. Paints with a higher acrylic content offer the best protection because of their unique molecular bond.
For walls, garages and ceilings, as well as wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, it is best to use a semi-gloss or satin finish as a water barrier to protect the drywall.
For hallways and high-use areas like offices and kid’s rooms, a satin finish paint or washable flat or matte finish paint is recommended. Interior flat paints have advantages. Those are used on ceilings and walls to reduce glare and create a softer light, usually for dining rooms, living rooms and formal areas where you don’t want the reflection of a window or a light. In those rooms, matte or flat paints are desirable.
Exterior Paint
Flat paints are also highly recommended for stucco surfaces and any concrete as they hide imperfections in the material and bond well and breathe on concrete surfaces. Flat paints actually allow water to pass out of the surfaces, from the inside out.
Some people have tried to use elastomeric paint as a water barrier but the paint fails and water penetrates through that type of paint. It actually holds the water inside the stucco surface and causes damage.
There are special water barrier paints made for barrier walls and foundation walls. Ask your paint retailer for more information, and call us if you need anything painted on either the exterior or the interior of your home.
Providence Renovation is a licensed, bonded, and insured company with zero-complaints with the Arizona Register of Contractors, and an A-rating with the Central Arizona Better Business Bureau. Together, our team of skilled trades people, and licensed contractors, will design and complete every phase of your remodeling project on time and within your budget.
