Painting Questions?
What are paint VOC’s?
VOC’S are Volatile organic compounds or the solvents used in paint. The amounts vary based on the grade/type of paint. Low VOC’S have 50 parts per gallon or less. There are also No VOC or ZERO VOC paints available such as Sherwin Williams Harmony and Pro Mar-200 Zero VOC. Many find these to be great choices if you have a new baby or pets around the house.
These VOCs are solvents that release into the air as the paint dries. Some other products emit solvents, including adhesives, cleaning supplies, and even some home furnishings. VOCs symptoms may include headaches and dizziness. Pro Color Jax chooses to use Zero VOC paints in the home whenever possible. Our Jacksonville customers benefit in several ways.
What Paint Sheen is Best?
Paint sheen can seem like a minor consideration compared with color. High shine or glossy surfaces are easier to keep clean. Semi gloss to high gloss sheens produce the most durable & resistant finishes. Used on high-traffic areas and trim/doors.
Both latex and oil based paint are available in many sheen. Gloss sheens have the highest light-reflective characteristics. Next are semigloss sheens; then satin, eggshell, or low-lustre sheens; and then flat or matte sheens. The lower sheens have a duller finish. Generally, lower sheens are less expensive and used more in low traffic areas. Here is some information for deciding on which sheen finishes to use.
*Flat: Low traffic areas such as ceilings walls in living/dining rooms. Not as scrubable as others.
*Matte: Low traffic wall areas such as living room/dining rooms. Can be washed.
*Satin: Medium traffic areas such as kitchens, baths, family rooms. Can be washed.
*Eggshell: Medium traffic areas such as kitchens, baths, family rooms. Can be washed. Higher glare on walls than satin.
*Semi-gloss: Usually found on trim, doors, windows, moulding throughout the house/office/apartment. Washes well and resists abuse.
*Gloss: High use areas such as kitchen cabinets, doors & mantels. Washes very well.
If one of these sheens don't work aesthetically for your painting project, try mixing 2 sheens together and get your own custom sheen.
Paint sheen can seem like a minor consideration compared with color. High shine or glossy surfaces are easier to keep clean. Semi gloss to high gloss sheens produce the most durable & resistant finishes. Used on high-traffic areas and trim/doors.
Both latex and oil based paint are available in many sheen. Gloss sheens have the highest light-reflective characteristics. Next are semigloss sheens; then satin, eggshell, or low-lustre sheens; and then flat or matte sheens. The lower sheens have a duller finish. Generally, lower sheens are less expensive and used more in low traffic areas. Here is some information for deciding on which sheen finishes to use.
*Flat: Low traffic areas such as ceilings walls in living/dining rooms. Not as scrubable as others.
*Matte: Low traffic wall areas such as living room/dining rooms. Can be washed.
*Satin: Medium traffic areas such as kitchens, baths, family rooms. Can be washed.
*Eggshell: Medium traffic areas such as kitchens, baths, family rooms. Can be washed. Higher glare on walls than satin.
*Semi-gloss: Usually found on trim, doors, windows, moulding throughout the house/office/apartment. Washes well and resists abuse.
*Gloss: High use areas such as kitchen cabinets, doors & mantels. Washes very well.
If one of these sheens don't work aesthetically for your painting project, try mixing 2 sheens together and get your own custom sheen.
Best Paint to Use?
There are many fine paint manufactures; in the Jacksonville, FL area, we prefer Sherwin Williams & Benjamin Moore. These are the industry leaders. Their products have outperformed others consistently for us over the years. Yes, there are other paint manufactures available and we have used a variety of other products; however; they just do not perform like our preferred suppliers for quality, performance & longevity.
When exterior painting, insist on acrylic latex. Please consider three important things when making your choice: pigments, binders and solvents. Once paint has dried the binders and pigments remain, any solvent will evaporate as the paint cures. The binders of the pigments are volume solids, so the best paints will have a high percentage of volume solids (and better binders to ensure durability). It’s most always true that premium brands have much more volume solids then cheaper brands. And don't forget to power wash!
What About Paint with Primer?
No. These types of products don't have primer mixed with paint. The “Paint - Primer” products use a high quality resin that allows for good adhesion; helping to eliminate the use of primers in some situations.
There are many fine paint manufactures; in the Jacksonville, FL area, we prefer Sherwin Williams & Benjamin Moore. These are the industry leaders. Their products have outperformed others consistently for us over the years. Yes, there are other paint manufactures available and we have used a variety of other products; however; they just do not perform like our preferred suppliers for quality, performance & longevity.
When exterior painting, insist on acrylic latex. Please consider three important things when making your choice: pigments, binders and solvents. Once paint has dried the binders and pigments remain, any solvent will evaporate as the paint cures. The binders of the pigments are volume solids, so the best paints will have a high percentage of volume solids (and better binders to ensure durability). It’s most always true that premium brands have much more volume solids then cheaper brands. And don't forget to power wash!
What About Paint with Primer?
No. These types of products don't have primer mixed with paint. The “Paint - Primer” products use a high quality resin that allows for good adhesion; helping to eliminate the use of primers in some situations.
Oil or latex paint?
For the majority of applications – latex. Latex paints sales in todays market far exceed those of oil. The reason? PERFORMANCE!. Most paint manufactures spend their research dollars geared towards latex paint. Characteristics such as leveling, coverage, mildew resistance, washing and color choices improve every year. Sherwin Williams latex paint is a cut above. Benjamin Moore is great as well; however; we have found Sherwin Williams gives the most bang for the buck in most instances.
Oil paint/primer is still used, mostly with water stains, industrial applications, smoke damage, exterior priming, commercial painting and with some metal.
For the majority of applications – latex. Latex paints sales in todays market far exceed those of oil. The reason? PERFORMANCE!. Most paint manufactures spend their research dollars geared towards latex paint. Characteristics such as leveling, coverage, mildew resistance, washing and color choices improve every year. Sherwin Williams latex paint is a cut above. Benjamin Moore is great as well; however; we have found Sherwin Williams gives the most bang for the buck in most instances.
Oil paint/primer is still used, mostly with water stains, industrial applications, smoke damage, exterior priming, commercial painting and with some metal.
Is a primer necessary?
Primer is not needed on interior or exterior if you are painting "sound" previously painted surfaces. Primer is recommended with raw sheetrock or bare wood. Also, troubled areas and where efflorescence is occurring, or water/smoke stains are present. In addition, we always use primer before applying textures. When in doubt consult your Jacksonville painting contractor or local Sherwin Williams store for the right answers.
904-293-4600
Call the Jacksonville painting service that cares about using the right products, every time!
Primer is not needed on interior or exterior if you are painting "sound" previously painted surfaces. Primer is recommended with raw sheetrock or bare wood. Also, troubled areas and where efflorescence is occurring, or water/smoke stains are present. In addition, we always use primer before applying textures. When in doubt consult your Jacksonville painting contractor or local Sherwin Williams store for the right answers.
904-293-4600
Call the Jacksonville painting service that cares about using the right products, every time!