Choose the right paint for each surface — HomeGraft

Pick the right paint and prep for each surface in the room so it goes on evenly and lasts.

PT-01Work out what you're paintingWalk the room and list every surface: plasterboard walls and ceiling, bare or painted masonry, skirting and door frames, and any metal such as radiators or pipes. Each needs a different paint, so get this list right before you buy anything.

PT-02Check for old lead paint on woodworkIf the property was built or last decorated before 1960, old paint on skirting, doors or windows may contain lead. Buy a cheap lead test swab and check before you sand it, since dry-sanding lead paint creates harmful dust. If it tests positive, keep it wet while removing it and avoid power sanders.

1 each · Lead paint test kit

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PT-03Clear and protect the roomMove furniture clear of the walls, take down curtains and pictures, and lay dust sheets over the floor and anything left in the room. Loosen switch and socket faceplates slightly and mask around them rather than removing them fully.

2 each · Cotton dust sheets

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1 roll · Low-tack masking tape

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PT-04Choose paint for plasterboard walls and ceilingsFor a normal painted wall or ceiling, use vinyl matt emulsion for walls and a flatter ceiling white for ceilings. If the plasterboard is brand new and unpainted, do not use ordinary emulsion straight away, it will soak in patchily.

1 tin · Vinyl matt emulsion, 2.5L

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1 tin · Ceiling white paint, 2.5L

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PT-05Mist coat new or bare plasterboard firstDilute your first coat of emulsion with about 10% water to make a mist coat. This seals the plasterboard's paper face evenly so your proper top coats go on without patchy dull spots. Let it dry fully, usually 4-6 hours, before your normal coats.

PT-06Prepare and paint solid masonryFor an internal brick or block wall with no plasterboard, check first for damp or loose, crumbly render, since paint will not fix that. If it's sound, a mist coat works the same way as on plasterboard for a very absorbent wall, otherwise go straight to emulsion. For an exterior masonry wall, use a proper breathable masonry paint, never ordinary indoor emulsion, which will trap moisture and blister.

1 tin · Breathable masonry paint, 5L

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PT-07Prepare a wall that's already been paintedWash the wall down with sugar soap to remove grease and dust, then fill any cracks or holes and sand smooth once dry. If the existing paint is a shiny gloss or silk finish, key it with a light sand so your new coat grips instead of sliding off.

1 bottle · Sugar soap

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1 tub · Fine filler

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1 pack · Sandpaper, mixed grit

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PT-08Prepare and paint skirting, doors and framesSand woodwork lightly to remove the shine, then fill any dents or gaps and sand again once dry. Bare wood needs a wood primer first; previously painted wood just needs an undercoat if you're changing colour drastically or the old paint is patchy. Finish with satinwood or gloss, both hard, wipeable finishes suited to skirting and doors.

1 tin · Wood primer/undercoat, 750ml

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1 tin · Satinwood or gloss paint, 750ml

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PT-09Prepare and paint metal, such as radiators or pipesTurn radiators off and let them cool fully before painting. Sand off any flaking paint or rust, wipe away dust, then use a proper radiator or metal paint, which is designed to cope with heat and won't yellow like ordinary gloss.

1 tin · Radiator/metal paint, 500ml

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PT-10Use a moisture-resistant paint in bathrooms and kitchensIn a bathroom, kitchen, or any room with a lot of steam, use a specialist kitchen and bathroom emulsion rather than standard matt. It contains a mould inhibitor and copes far better with condensation on the wall.

1 tin · Kitchen & bathroom emulsion, 2.5L

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PT-11Paint in the right orderDo the ceiling first, then walls, then woodwork last, cutting in with a brush along edges before rolling the main area. Most emulsions need two coats and most gloss or satinwood woodwork needs two coats over the primer/undercoat for even colour.

1 set · Roller and tray set

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1 each · Angled cutting-in brush

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PT-12Clean up and dispose of leftovers properlyWash water-based rollers and brushes in warm water; use white spirit for oil-based gloss tools, then wipe them dry. Reseal part-used tins tightly for storage, and take any unwanted paint to your local council recycling centre rather than pouring it down a drain.

1 bottle · White spirit, 1L

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