Things to know about your paint supplies

When shopping for paint supplies, there are a lot of options out there. Understanding the meaning of paint bases, primers, and finishes, whether it’s an interior or exterior project, all matter when buying supplies.

Benjamin Moore Pinnacle South in Edmonton is a professional paint supply and materials company. They share what you need to know about your paint supplies before buying.

Paint bases

Paint comes in many forms, the most commonly known are water-based (aka “Latex” or “water-soluble”) and oil-based.  “water” based paints are easier to work with, and are designed to be low or 0 VOC, meaning that they cut down on the amount of chemicals being emitted by the paint as it is applied and dries.  It needs to be said that everything has VOCs in it, even water and the human body, but by reducing the amount of VOCs being emitted by your paint, you help ensure that you don’t add extra to your body chemistry.  These features are also copied in water-based primers, being easier to work with and dry quickly so that you can complete your project in a day.

Alkyd paints are no longer as prevalent as they used to be, what with water-based paints providing comparable performance and superior dry time.  But there are some areas where an alkyd coating is needed, like sealing in smoke and fire damage, strong odours embedded in a surface, or priming over certain exterior products.  If you are painting wood doors, it also helps to prime with oil to seal in the tannin stains and prevent them from bleeding through.  These stains won’t always be stopped by water-based products, it’s best to do it once and never have any problems.

Paint sheen

Once you have a base in mind for your project, there is a range of sheens to consider next. Sheen refers to how shiny the paint will look once it is dried. Exterior and interior paints have five types of sheens or finishes, but it only really matters for performance when discussing the interior. Flat or matte is the least amount of sheen, which is best for ceilings and ideal for walls when using premium products like Regal or Aura. Eggshell has a moderate sheen which helps with durability and washability, this is the most commonly used for walls throughout your house, whether it be a living room or a bathroom.  Satin (or pearl) is slightly glossier than eggshell and can be used on walls, but also on doors and trims.

Semi-gloss is the ideal choice of doors and trims, because it allows the colour on the walls to really be accepted, and provides a nice contrast to the comparatively flatter walls.

Find inspiration with these Benjamin Moore Paint Colours!

Interior vs exterior

Interior paints can be highly specialized, some are made to resist scuffs and marks and are easier to clean.  Some are extra thick and have fast recoat times to ensure better coverage and performance.  Exterior paints are differentiated by their solar fade resistance and coverage and durability, with sheen serving as more of an aesthetic choice rather than being hardier.  Also, certain exterior products are designed to go over numerous surfaces without a primer, such as stone, stucco, brick, and even some metals like aluminum.

Paint Supplies in Edmonton

Benjamin Moore Pinnacle South provides a full range of primers, interior and exterior paint, wood stains and specialty options. They also offer a wide range of supplies, including brushes, rollers, tape, and everything you need for a successful DIY paint job. In addition, their team can help you pick the perfect colour to ensure a quality paint job that lasts for years and looks great.

Contact Benjamin Moore Pinnacle South today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com