All About Paints and Stains

As a project nears completion, it’s time to start choosing how it will be finished. Are you building or renovating a deck? Maybe drywall is being replaced or you’ve built a few pieces such as chairs or a table. Whatever it may be, a coat or two of paint or stain will be required to finish the project. Here’s what you should know about paints and stains when working on anything in the home. 

Prime Time

While you may want to be finished quickly, slow down and don’t try to skip a primer base. Certain paint brands have primer and top coat combinations, but it’s still necessary to add a primer before anything else. One type of primer to look at is an oil-based primer. It can take a little longer to dry and have a small odor, but also sands easily and helps prevent bleed-through from paints or stains. Another primer type is water-based, which is much easier to clean up and has less odor than oil-based. Shellac-based primers don’t stick well to metal surfaces, but they are great at sealing and hiding stains or knots in wood. 

There are also different primers for multiple uses. This can include rust metal, moldy surfaces or damaged drywall. If you are experiencing a specific issue that needs to be repaired or rebuilt, be on the lookout for these options to help save you from buying unnecessary products. 

Get Pricey

Premium paint options are almost always worth the price. The more expensive a paint is, the better the ingredients are likely to be. Look for titanium dioxide as a pigment while paint shopping as it holds pigments longer to maintain a fresh look. 

Finish it Up

Wood decks are a classic staple in many homes. Water and UV light are their biggest threats, so it’s important to find a finish that can absorb the ultraviolet rays. Oil-based stains and finishes stick much better than other types, so they are worth a try. 

Hybrid finishes such as oil and latex have the benefits of good water retention and ease of cleaning as they only require water for removal. 

These are the basics to look out for when completing any project around the house. Do your research on the type of finish that will work best for your piece and follow the directions accordingly.