Paint Selection for a Mural
For painting murals and creating faux finishes on walls, some understanding of paints and their properties and possibilities is essential if you don’t want to make ugly and potentially costly mistakes. If in doubt, you should be able to get good advice from your paint retailer or hardware store.
* Creating murals isn’t just about applying your design. It starts with preparation of your wall surface. You’ll need a special sealer for fresh plaster or concrete and any holes or cracks that you’ve filled will also need sealing before painting over. Once you’ve completed your mural you may need to protect it with a clear glaze that will also give it a shiny finish.
* Make sure that your paint is designed for your purpose, whether that is use inside or outside. Think about the wear it will be subjected to. Murals in kitchens and bathrooms will require a steam and/or water-resistant paint. Don’t be tempted to cut corners and buy cheap, low quality paint.
* Once your wall is prepared, make sure your base coat is the right type, because paint will not ‘take’ well on some paints. So-called ‘flat paint’ is a cheap matte finish often used for interiors. This low gloss paint is to be avoided as a base. It saps color from paint applied on top of it. It also dries too fast, when what you need is a ‘wet edge’ to ensure paint spreads evenly. Pearl or satin paints, which are glossier, make an ideal base layer for your mural.
* Acrylic and latex paints are a good choice for interior murals. (Modern latex paints do not necessarily contain rubber and are sometimes called ‘acrylic latex’ paints.) They are water-based, which makes cleaning brushes and spills easy.
* Remember to check before you mix paints. Acrylic and latex paints are water-based and mixing them with oil-based paints is an easy error to be avoided at all costs. It can even be a problem applying latex or acrylic paints onto a glossy base layer, since they may not ‘take’ well.
* You can get down to the crucial matter of choosing colors after you’ve selected a suitable paint for your purpose and location. Bear in mind that the color on the sample may look very different on your wall. Colors change, and can vary in intensity and depth depending on whether they are in a shady or sunny room. They may also appear brighter or more intense when applied to large areas of wall. You can do a few test patches before you leap in. If the color isn’t right you lighten or darken it by mixing it, as long as you remember the golden rule that oil and water don’t mix.
If you know what paints are available and what their properties are, then you are ready to experiment with interesting effects. You can have a lot of fun with the many novelty paints available, with finishes ranging from texture, to metallic to fluorescent!
Tags: d, gardening, h, home, home & family, home repair, home-and-garden, home-improvement, home;improvement, home;repair, interior-design, o, painting
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