Interior Painting Advice

[unregistered5595]

At least 8 rooms, interior, what paint is the one that makes sense?

I have seen advice before, but, in a search I didn't find it.
I've seen Behr, Martha Living and Glidden.
I know there are experts here, what to buy, what will take less time, what is your advice?
I know I can count on you, thank you in advance, Feather

[Backfourty,MI.]

I'm a big fan of Menards brand paint, it's the only place you can get it. It's called Conco & it comes in different varieties, I used the Conco 2000 for all my interior rooms & satin. In the bathrooms I use an Exterior paint, I figure if it works on the outside of a house in all kinds of inclement weather it's good for a bathroom that get's all the steam & moisture. So far 5 years later & still no mold or mildew problems on the bathroom ceilings, etc. I used the same when we remodeled our bathroom at the old house & it worked great there too.

The Conco brand is alot less exspensive than most other paints I've used. I used a semi-gloss on the kitchen wall behind the stove & it washes Great, never get any of my paint color on my rag. Also washed other areas where I used the satin & no paint comes off on my rag's either.
Goes on great & the only room I used a primer was in my Living room & dining room which I painted a brick red so I used a tinted primer. All the other rooms just had white paint over the drywall that the drywallers used after putting it up.

[wyld thang]

all I know I know is use the best quality paint you can afford, it will cover in less coats and last longer and look nicer longer. This is one instance where quality really does save you time and money in the end! I like semigloss(at least) because it's way easier to wash and keep clean(!!!!!!!!!! can't emphasize that enough )

[Callieslamb]

I use any of the brands at Lowe's or HD...but NONE of the brands from WM. Cheaper paint has less color pigment in it; it's thinner; and it doesn't hold up to family life. I almost always use satin on walls, I use semi-gloss for trim and doors. Didn't think of using exterior on the inside!!!

I always use a primer on bare sheetrock and have found that I can save money by buying a cheaper primer, having it tinted and then covering with the paint color I am using. Good luck!!! I love to paint my house!

[Windy in Kansas]

I think that such a decision would need to be made with factors such as the age those living in the home or visiting, etc., i.e. need for a washable paint that guards against finger prints, crayons markings, etc., as well as if there will be pets in the home.

In addition how often do you prefer to repaint in order to change decor? The reason I mention that some Valspar paint has a lifetime warranty. Care to live with the same paint for 20-30 years or maybe even longer?

[deb]

I love Consumer Reports because they test everything, they buy everything they test from regular stores and they don't take adds from manufacturers or other companies. If you don't want to subscribe to the magazine for a year, you can also subscribe online for a month.

Here are their picks:

Low Luster
Behr Premium Plus Ultra Satin Enamel (Home Depot)
Kilz Casual Colors Satin (Walmart) > Best Buy
Valspar Signature Colors Satin (Lowe's)

Flat & Matte
Behr Premium Plus Ultra Flat (Home Depot)
Behr Premium Plus Enamel Flat (Home Depot)> Best Buy
Valspar Signature Colors Matte (Lowe's)

Semi Gloss
Behr Premium Plus Ultra SemiGloss Enamel (Home Depot)
Benamin Moore Natural SemiGloss
Valspar Ultra Premium SemiGloss (Lowe's)> Best Buy

If you are painting over a much darker color or a much lighter color, then you may find using a primer is the way to go. Sometimes tinting the primer will also be necessary for very dark colors.

What is the surface you are painting? if It is an oil based paint or a very glossy enamel then painting with the right primer will create a better surface and keep your paint from peeling up.

deb
in wi

[Michele of MI]

I have worked as a painter, was an artist for a short while, and worked at Home Depot in the paint department. I really like the Behr paint the best. I have probably used most brands of paint. Behr is thicker, and covers better with one coat than any other paint I have used. It holds up well. Most of the ones listed here are good though.

[samm]

we use sherwin williams.......we use the promar 400...interior, and the A 100 exterior
and if you can get lucky, ask to see thier mistints, they sell for like 3.00 a gallon....and just because some else didnt like the color that was mixed, dont mean you wont like it.....we have painted many houses with mistints.....their paint goes on good and covers well......

samm

[Cabin Fever]

I'll let the rest recommend a paint brand. Here's my advice for anyone trying to paint walls with one coat.

(1) Properly prepare the wall to be painted. This includes a thorough washing with a solution of TSP.

(2) Use quality brushes and rollers. There is a difference!

(2) Choose a color that is close to the same that you are painting over.

[clovis]

I'm a Sherwin Williams guy too.

I like their upper line of Superpaint.

Good advice on the mistints. When you go in, ask "What colors do you have in mistints?" before you look talk about any other paints or colors. I've seen employees try to block you from buying mistints, just so they can try to sell you a new $28 gallon. Its happened more than a few times with me.

Behr is decent, but not my fave. I'd like it even better if I didn't hate walking into Home Depot. Definately not my fave store!!!

Buy a good quality roller cover...those that are in the $4 to $5 range are worth it. Less splatter, even coverage, etc.

I've painted professionally....it is all about the quality of paint and the quality of tools. If you go cheap on these, you'll spend the rest of your time cleaning up splatter, trying to get even coverage of paint, etc.

Good stuff costs more for a reason: It is worth the value.

[Cindy in NY]

I like Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. I don't like Glidden. I bought some Valspar paint at Lowes to do the porch ceiling and it was the thickest paint I have ever used or also had a really strong odor.

[ronbre]

honestly Walmart carries a really good paint..and primer..i'm an interior designer and have used Walmart paint with really good success..but i always use a primer.

also..if you are doing fancy pants paint techniques i really would go with Ralph Lauren ..they carry it at Home Depot..i've used it for technique paint and it is fabulous..however..very pricey

[wyld thang]

one thing too, clean up splatter right away. If you let it harden(like after a month or so), it will be MUCH harder to get off. I do housecleaning and I always take the extra time to clean up the splatter when people paint(cuz I can't stand looking at it--though they seem to not care ha)

[Freeholder]

I like the Behr paints. I'm slowly repainting the inside of our house -- it's a manufactured home, six years old, and was originally painted with the cheapest flat off-white (grayish shade, yuck) that they could find. I've painted the kitchen with semi-gloss in a pale yellow, and plan to extend that to the laundry room, hall, and hall bathroom. DD's room is bubble-gum pink (with a Winnie-the-Pooh border). My room was going to be sage green, but on my way into the store to get the paint (not Home Depot -- Diamond, which is similar but a smaller chain) I spotted a flat dolly full of mismixed paint and decided to see what I could find there. I got a gallon of off-white semi-gloss, and the only thing I could find to go with it was some exterior pink (an earth-tone pink, like you'd see on a stucco house). I thought that might be okay as an accent on one wall, so I got it. (Both cans were half-price, not quite as good as the $3.00 mismixes that you used to be able to find, but better than full-price!) I painted one wall of my bedroom with the pink, just to see if I liked it, and decided to see how far I could go with it -- it actually did my whole bedroom!! And I like it! It's not a real girly shade of pink at all. And the exterior paint (semi-gloss) should hold up even longer than interior paint, and be more washable.

Kathleen

[unregistered5595]

First, thank you, all of you for your advice. I agree, we should use quality equipment, prepare the walls well, prime when needed, get a quality paint.

I haven't bought the paint or more equipment yet and will be doing that soon.

I'm painting over white semi-gloss walls for the most part, and I will be painting an accent wall (darker) and 3 lighter walls in most rooms, especially upstairs. The ceilings will be flat while the walls will be semi-gloss.

I'm not planning on painting again for many many years. I'll get primer for the patches and the peeling paint areas in the bathrooms--and I really like the suggestion of using exterior paint in the bathrooms.

In getting a quality paint, throwing more money at paint won't make it a quality paint, but, no I don't plan on skimping on the price and then have to paint two coats. We have Lowes, WM, Home Depot, Menards, Sherwin Williams available here. I'm still not sure what brand I'll go with. Thank you again, keep the advice coming.

Shopping list: paint, primer, quality roller cover, tape, quality brushes, TSP, elbow grease, time.

[samm]

one more thing........we use no less than a satin finish......in the rent houses a gloss is all we use (unless a mistint) it is easier to wipe stuff off of it....i just do not like a flat paint, .........but its all a matter or opinion.

samm

[Joshie]

I like California or APM paints. You have to get these at a paint store. I absolutely hate Sherwin Williams paints, Lowe's or big box paint stores.

California or APM paints don't splatter and you only need one coat. All the other ones say they are one coat but are not.

You need to get the highest quality paint you can afford. I don't like flat. I like satin or matte paints for walls. They are easy to wash but don't look shiny.

[Jolly]

A few thoughts...

1. Coronado was bought by Benjamin Moore. Very similar paint, $10 gallon cheaper.

2. I also like the better levels of Sherwin-Williams. They make the best hi-gloss latex on the market, IMO.

3. Never tried Behr, so I don't have a clue about the quality of their paint.

4. Last several times, I've used Devoe. Good paint at a reasonable price.

5. I know it's not the best, but I've got several gallons of Sears (I think SW makes it for them) 15yr interior paint I bought for $8/gal. Does fine with a decent prep job, but may require two coats...the reason I mention the Sears paint, is that I would take a bargain in a homeowner grade paint if painting several rooms. It has been my experience most all satins and semi-gloss paints will hold up 5 or 6 years, and by that time folks are ready for a change.

6. Our local Benjamin-Moore dealer has 35-gallon drums of "renter paint". he takes all his miscolored or rejected stuff and throws it in drums...white, yellow and beiges in one drum, blues and purples in another, greens in another, reds and pinks in a fourth. The drum is whatever color it wants to be and it's a $100. Heckuva deal if you don't mind the color, because you get what you get.

My two cents, YMMV...

[jill.costello]

Zinsser 1-2-3. Zinsser 1-2-3. I cannot put into words how much I love this product! You can buy it in a 5-galon pail for $76.00. It is a primer/sealer/stain cover and it STICKS TO ANYTHING! No need to scuff or sand high-gloss trim before painting; just brush on 1-2-3 and you instantly have a flat matte surface to paint with any new kind/brand paint you want. I have even 1-2-3'd a formica countertop as prep to re-surface; held up for the 3 years we used it till we sold the place!

[watcher]

My advice, good primer and cheap paint. Not the cheapest but cheap. I second the wal mart paint and primer.