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.

A lot of times, many homeowners are so excited and psyched about being able to purchase the house paint colors they like that they often forget some very essential things that should be done before the actual paint is slapped on. This oversight often leads to disappointment later on, when the paint dries and reveals a painted surface that is less then satisfactory, leaving the homeowner with the option of leaving the ugly imperfection as it is, or stripping away the paint and fixing the imperfection underneath. Both scenarios are equally frustrating and tedious, so why not nip the problem at the bud?

It is of the utmost importance that the surface to be painted is thoroughly checked for imperfections before the paint is applied. In cases of imperfections, there are several ways to deal with them, and make sure a surface that is smooth and even enough for a coat of paint is achieved.

Houses that have seen years of living in and scores of families are bound to bear the marks of habitation. These marks include scuffs, cracks, nail holes, and gaps in the walls. This is unavoidable, as wear and tear is a natural consequence of being inhabited. The best way to deal with this is to patch up what can be patched up or replace sections that cannot be patched up. Removing these imperfections is absolutely essential to achieving an even and smooth surface to paint on without having those unsightly bumps and indentations after the paint has dried. A good way to deal with the smaller and more manageable imperfections, indentations and holes is by using putty to fill them in. Putty makes for a malleable filling agent that sets well, easy to shape, and is a good medium to paint over. After the holes and imperfections have been filled in, the surface must be absolutely even, so the patched surface must be sanded over until it is even with the rest of the wall.

Surprisingly enough, a lot of people tend to overlook other sources of imperfections on the surface while painting over it. Holes, gaps, and indentations are not the only sources of imperfection on a surface. Each and every house is bound to have additional occupants in it other than the family. Insects and rodents have been known to make their homes inside houses, and as such, they also tend to leave their mark of inhabiting the house, leaving cobwebs and droppings and other detritus that we often look over when we paint over a surface in the house. These small things that get painted over also leave imperfections in paint coat, as small as they are. Even something as trivial as clumped dust or dirt will lead to an imperfection when painted over, so be sure to brush away and thoroughly clean the surface to be painted over to be sure there won’t be lumps later on when the paint dries.

It goes without saying that there are things on the wall or other surfaces that you don’t want to paint over, such as curtain rods, switch plates, picture hooks, protruding nails, and hung picture frames. Remove these from the wall or surface before starting to paint, or if they cannot be removed, simply cover them with newspaper and tape the edges to make sure paint does not seep into the edges.

Living in a house will familiarize you with the very annoying phenomenon known as the stain. Stains can come from anywhere, spilled food that didn’t get cleaned thoroughly, crayons from when the kids had a go at the wall, even moisture seeping in from somewhere between the walls. Paint over this and you are bound to see some nasty discoloration going on in that particular spot.

Lastly, unless you plan to color the entire room from ceiling to walls to floor in the same color, be sure to cover firmly areas you do not want to be colored in the same paint as the one you are painting with. It’s not up to the wall paint color to discern where it should and shouldn’t go. Cover areas you don’t want to drip paint on with layers of newspaper, and tape the edge of the newspaper firmly, so as to ensure nothing seeps over.

Many do-it-yourselfers have asked which particular type of paint is essentially better for their painting project: oil-based or latex? House paint colors available in stores are generally broken down into these two categories, so more often than not, a choice boils down to any of the two. While there may scores of reasons to pick one over the other, here is an intrinsic look at both types of paints, and their particular peculiarities.

Surface adaptability

Oil-based paint can often be used on almost all types of surfaces, with the possible exception of galvanized metal. Also, a sealer or pre-treatment may be required if an oil-based paint is to be applied on surfaces like stucco, new concrete and other masonry. Latex, on the other hand, works quite well with galvanized metal, vinyl and aluminum siding, brick, concrete, stucco and wood.

Cleaning

Paint will always require clean-up, to prevent the settling of stains on the surface, and to generally make it look like the way it look as fresh as when it was first applied. Oil-based paint requires solvents such as paint thinner or turpentine for cleaning, unlike Latex paints, which will require only water for clean-up.

Adhesion

One of the primary considerations in picking out paint is how long can it stick to the wall and remain as good looking as the day it was applied. In this aspect, both oil-based and latex paints have been formulated to stay on where it was applied for a very long time. Oil-based paints have a tendency to adhere better on heavily chalked surfaces, while latex paints adhere better to most substrates, although this type exhibits better elasticity than oil based-paint, making it less prone to cracking.

Application

Depending on your expertise, actually applying the paint may be anywhere from being a pleasurable activity to a downright chore. With this in mind, considering the ease of application of a paint type may be a primary consideration for some. Oil-based paint is formulated to be thicker in consistency, creating a “drag” effect when being applied, although this fact is offset by allowing it to go on heavier, and thus resulting in better one-coat hiding. Latex paint can be applied more evenly and smoothly, producing significantly less brush drag.

Resistance to “habitation”

Mildew is one of the most common problems in most households, since it has a tendency to settle even on painted surfaces, clinging onto the paint itself and sometimes even feeding off on the paint, allowing it to spread even further. Some oil-based paints have components of vegetable oil in it, which has nutrients that allow mildew to grow faster, although some oil-based paints contain chemicals that inhibit mildew growth. Latex paint, not having the oily compounds that promote mildew growth, is less appealing to mildew.

Resistance to Fading

Paints have different formulations, allowing it to retain color longer, despite exposure and weathering. Oil-based paints, having some organic compounds in them, are more prone to fading and chalking when exposed directly to sunlight, while latex paint can stand up better to direct exposure to sunlight and retain colors longer.

These are just some points for comparison, and while one particular paint often has a perk over the other, and vice versa, the end decision should also involve considering the actual area of application, what conditions the area is exposed to, and if the interior paint color or exterior paint color combination you picked is quite suited to this area.