The heat of the sunny season is truly upon us now, as more and more people feel the sun beating down on them.  This usually means it is the perfect opportunity to engage in a little renovation project at home, since the weather permits the drying of any substance that needs drying, like paint, for example.  Picking out the right color combinations for the sunny seasons, however, may involve a little more thinking, planning, and contemplating than what one may think is needed.  For one, the sun has this tendency to really give exposed portions of the house a heavy burn and beat down, thus making previous paint, even that which was just applied last year, look like it was applied more than 10 years ago.  This is why careful consideration must also be put on the type of paint to be used specifically for the re-paint on the house this sunny season, since using house paint colors that is sure to looked old and weathered by next year isn’t really cost-effective.

Paint colors are typically classified into two major groups: oil-based paint and latex.  Most do-it-yourself enthusiasts and advocates know this, although the real significance of the difference is not really put into perspective when choosing paint colors.  These differences are particularly important because considering them and matching them to the environment and conditions that the surface coated with the paint will endure could go a long way to ensuring you get a paint coat that lasts, regardless of that it stands up against.

Oil-based paints - Like the name suggest, oil-based paint is a type of paint that is made up of color pigments that are mixed and is suspended in a drying oil compound.  Oil-based paint, compared to latex paint dries rather slowly but is quite hard-wearing if allowed to dry thoroughly.  Oil-based paint tends to blend and mix with other colors, often producing other subtle colors.  Oil-based paints produce vivid colors characterized with a natural sheen distinctive contrast.  Rather than the traditional drying by evaporation, oil-based paint actually dries through an oxidative reaction, quite like the chemical equivalent to a slow combustion, although without the flame.  Because of the long time it takes for oil-based paint to dry, artists will often this type when painting, since it allows them to resume painting after some time, and the paint will still mix readily with other colors.

Latex paint - latex paint, otherwise known as acrylic paint, is a fast-drying  paint made up of color pigments mixed in an acrylic polymer suspension.  This type of paint can be diluted with water, and once it dries, it even becomes highly water-resistant.  Latex paint differs from oil-based paint primarily only in the time that takes them to dry.  While oil-based paint will take several hours to dry, latex paint is known for its ability to dry pretty fast, which is a trait often appreciated when used in painting the inside of homes or on surfaces where a fast-drying paint is needed.  Latex paints also display a great resistance to drying, peeling, and fading even when continually exposed to the sun.

These differences being said, the type of paint that could do quite well for a repaint job just in time for the sunny season is latex paint, since this type of paint will pretyt much stand up better to the weathering that the heat of the sun will provide during the very sunny months, on top of also resisting damage that moisture and water will normally do to painted surfaces.

Benjamin Moore Fan Deck Collection

The complete Benjamin Moore color collection contains over 3,645 colors. These colors are available in three different fan deck collections (Benjamin Moore color wheels): Classic Collection, Preview Collection and the new Affinity Collection. Benjamin Moore creates these color books to be portable color tools to help home owners, architects, designers and painting contractors in selecting colors.

The Benjamin Moore Paint Preview Colors Fan Deck features 1,225 colors of the Benjamin Moore Color Preview colors, 140 Off Whites (OC), 174 Historical Colors (HC), 42 America’s Colors (AC), and 33 formerly ready made colors. The colors are organized into strips going from light to dark in each hue to make finding coordinating colors very easy.

The Benjamin Moore Paint Classic Fan Deck features 1,887 classic colors, 174 Historical Colors (HC) and 33 of the formerly ready made colors. The classic fan deck shows colors that are no longer available on the color racks in Benjamin Moore paint stores.

The Benjamin Moore Affinity Fan deck features the 144 new colors Benjamin Moore created to go with the revolutionary new color science technology of their new Aura paint. All 144 of the new paint colors harmonize with each other which helps you easily find colors that go well with one another in your home.

See a complete selection of Benjamin Moore fan deck collections.

Paint Types

There are a variety of different paint types and you may want to understand the differences between them before you start to paint. Both interior paint and exterior paint jobs will require different types of paint.

There are basically two types of paint that people use for painting: water based “latex” paint or oil “alkyd” based paint. You will find water based paints have mostly acrylic based resins and dry quickly. Oil based paints have a linseed or Alkyd resin which is a synthetic oil and takes very long to dry. Within these types of paint bases there are categories of specialty paints.

The main differences between these two has to do with how they dry, how easy or difficult it is to clean up and their finishes.

Oil Based Paints
Oil based paints take the longest to dry and therefore leave a smoother finish. These products are more difficult to clean up as they require mineral spirits or paint thinner. Alkyd based paint products are most popular for applications that require a uniform, sprayed-on look such as doors and trim.

Water Based Paints
Water based paints are the most popular type of paint for both interior and exterior applications. Latex based paint products dry faster and are easier to clean up. These paints come in a variety of finishes, can be used for interior or exterior projects, and are easy to work with.

Both oil based and latex products come in various categories. Primers are one category and they are essential when starting a new paint project. Primer makes painting over things, such as sheetrock, metal, wood and various other surfaces, much easier. Latex primers are the most common for basic applications while oil based primers are used more for covering stains and areas that were previously covered in wallpaper.

Another category contains specialty paints like those for kitchens and bathrooms that have a mold, mildew or anti-condensation additive built into it. They cannot totally eliminate condensation but they can lessen the effects of these situations.

Other specialty paints include floor paint which can be used on porch, basement and other concrete floors. Chalkboard paint which transforms any wall into a chalkboard falls under this category as well. Magnetic primer which is most commonly used in conjunction with the chalkboard paint would also fall under the specialties category. Also under this category would be decorative glazes for faux finishing.

In some cases people use interior paint that is heat resistant or fire retardant. The reason for this is because it can withstand the higher temperatures of a fire so it will slow the spread of the fire down. Often this is the type of paint that is used around fireplaces, old fashioned radiators and stoves.

Knowing the types of paints that are on the market will help you to be a more informed consumer. If you would like more information on how to find the right paint for you it might be good to talk to local paint store about your specific needs.

A lot of people seeking to do a re-paint, or maybe even decide on the first paint job on their new house will undoubtedly have a little trouble deciding on what house paint color to use on their dwelling.  The trouble may arise from having difficulty in picking out a color from a pre-decided selection, or having absolutely no idea what paint color to use at all.  While everyone may not be exactly gifted with the ability to artistically select a beautiful paint color for the house, choosing paint colors should not be a near-impossible task.

Inspiration for picking out new paint color ideas for the house can come from almost anywhere.  It can come from either inside or outside of the house.  From the inside, simply take a look at the existing fixtures and pieces of furniture already in the house, and that is as good a place to start with as any.  This practice also precludes having to throw out or sell any fixture or appliance that does not go with the house paint color that has been picked.  On top of it all, this method creates the impression of having “new” stuff inside the house, and give that “familiar” feeling at the same time, primarily since the older fixtures and pieces of furniture are still there.  Take a hint from a favorite easy chair, a favorite coffee table, wallclock, or some other items that may give you a good hint as to what interior paint color combinations to try out for the house.

This method of drawing inspiration from practical and already present things and conditions may prove to be the cheapest and fastest way to come up with interior paint color ideas without having to do a massive trial and error run on the house, and probably waste a whole lot of money and a good deal of your time and effort.  With this in mind, it stands to reason that getting inspiration for interior paint colors need not always be through the most complex of ways, but rather, from something as simple as looking around where you are.