Master painter Karl Saxon has brandished his brushes at Perth’s finest houses for more than 20 years.
WORK OUT WHAT YOU NEED
When you’re thinking about painting any room, consider how it’s used. Is it a heavy-traffic area, likely to be knocked about a bit by pets or children? In that case, I’d suggest a good-quality low-sheen acrylic. You can wipe or scrub it without fear of damaging the paint work. If exposure to water or steam is going to be an issue, I’d choose a semi-gloss acrylic or a specially formulated paint that has a fungicide in it. For a low-traffic room, you might go with a more specialised finish; a distemper or Tuscan finish could work well. French-wash lends a peaceful feel to bedrooms and a suede-effect paint is a good choice for media rooms.
FOR EXTERIORS THINK DURABILITY
To ensure you exterior paint job is going to last, choose a premium-quality paint and make sure you prepare all surfaces correctly so its adhesion is good. Lime paint is great on rendered wall, especially if you think you may have a moisture problem such as rising damp. Exterior low-sheen acrylics with UV inhibitors are ideal for weatherboards and the Dulux water-based Aquanamel is a great product for exterior woodwork because it expands and contacts in the heat.
GO EASY WITH GLOSS
Steer clear of high-gloss finishes if the surface you’re painting is uneven or blemished, because the gloss will draw attention to any imperfections. For high-gloss paint to look its best, the preparation work underneath should be very neat.
PAY FOR PREMIUM
No matter which company you go with, stick to its premium line of paints. They can be more pricey, but they’re worth it for the extra durability. Check your paint is covered by a guarantee, and - let me stress this - always do the correct preparation work to the substrate being painted.
CHECK YOUR COLOURS
Choosing paint colours can be very daunting exercise. Get sample pots of the colours you like and brush a square in the area you are paining. Exterior colours on a paint chart tend to look lighter once they’re painted up in the sunlight, whereas interior colours can look darker because they can be slightly shaded by facing walls. Make sure you are 100-percent happy with your choice.
PLAY IT SAFE WITH NEUTRALS
Paint colours go in and out of fashion, but neutrals stay pretty constant. I have a couple of favourites I like to use on interior walls, They are Solver Paints Moondust and Dulux Hog Bristle.