Which paint to buy?

Lilith1980

Hi all,

Sorry another set of questions about decorating my flat

There is this horrid 'raised' wallpaper throughout the property, and I checked with the landlord to see if I could paint it because it looked in need of 'freshening up' and the landlord was fine with this.

So which paint would be best? I'm only going to be doing it white or off-white so keeping it neutral.

What are the differences between silk, matt and gloss paints? Is it just the end result or can certain paints only be applied to certain surfaces? Would matt be best in this case? Would it be matt emulsion or is there another type??

I have seen one in Wilkinsons which is 'one coat' - are these any good? Trying not to make it too hard for myself

Thanks!

BandJB

Use a water based emulsion paint. Brilliant White and Magnolia are usually cheaper than 'colours'. Magnolia tends to 'pick up' the colours around it and can appear quite different in different surroundings. Brilliant white can be a bit 'clinical' in a large area IMHO.
Silk reflects light and appears a bit shiny, so not what you want if you're trying to hide the pattern: use matt.

Gloss is normally oil-based and not suitable for covering paper. Use it for woodwork and, possibly, plaster walls in areas of high condensation. High (or full) gloss is very shiny. The gloss equivalent to matt is usually called eggshell. You need to clean brushes with turpentine spirit (white spirit) if this type of gloss is used. There is also a type of gloss called Acrylic which is less smelly and generally cleans up using just water (but check the can!). Acrylic is quicker drying but gives a less smooth/shiny finish.

If the paper has a deep or elaborate embossing then you'll have to use a brush, not a roller. Brush in circles: clockwise, then anti-clockwise to ensure the paint gets down into the dents/pits of the pattern.

Haven't used Wilkinsons paint for many years, but when I did it was very good. Not so many colour options as, say, Dulux or Crown. Stay away from DIY store's own brands (and Leyland) because they tend to be a bit thin and not cover well at all. Don't waste your money on 'special' emulsions for kitchens/bathrooms, super tough, odour free and other such blandishments - you don't need it.

Never yet met a 'one coat' paint that didn't need a second coat to get a truly even colour on a flat wall. However, standard Brilliant White or Magnolia should cover a white embossed wallpaper in one coat if it's decent quality paint. The embossing means that the finish can never appear truly even, anyway, because it scatters the light.

That's my experience, anyway. Happy decorating.

Lilith1980

Thanks very much for that - a lot clearer now on what I need

vikkers14

If you want a paint that can be cleaned pretty well afterwards from dirty hands etc i recommend Dulux diamond matt ..10 times tougher than normal emulsion ,you can give it a fair old scrub ,little bit dear initially but saves you time and money in the longrun .