There's more to interior decorating than simply splashing on a new coat of paint. For a start, you have to consider the type of materials you will be working with. Your choice of paint or decorating material will depend not only on aesthetic matters, but also on the type of surface that is to be painted and the kind of finish you require. There are countless different decorating materials on the market, with the most common described in more detail below.
- Sometimes known as "caulk", filler is a sealant that is generally used to fill gaps and cracks in a wall being prepared for painting or wallpapering. Pre-mixed fillers (such as Polyfilla) are the best choice for novices, although you can save money by opting to mix the filler yourself. Linseed oil putty is usually preferable for filling wooden and metal frames and windows.
- Sandpaper is an example of a so-called abrasive, used for rubbing down surfaces to prepare them for painting. Abrasives are classified according to their level of "roughness". Rougher abrasives should be used in the first instance, with finer sandpaper employed at a later stage in order to finish the surface.
- Primers play an important role in the preparation of bare wood and metal for painting. If you are looking to paint on galvanized metal, you will need to use a special zinc primer to prevent subsequent coats flaking off.
- Sealers are employed for preservation and waterproofing purposes, and to prevent additional problems that might affect subsequent coats of paint.
- Applying an undercoat is the most important step in the whole painting process. The undercoat provides the base for the finish coat. As such, it is advisable to apply two or three layers of undercoat in order to achieve the best possible finish.
- The finish coat is the top layer of paint on a wall or other surface, although two coats of the finish paint are usually recommended. The most popular finishes include matt, eggshell, gloss and semi-gloss.
- Emulsion paints are generally used only on ceilings and walls. They are water-based and as such tend to lack the longevity and hard-wearing qualities associated with undercoat and gloss.
- Thinners are employed to reduce the viscosity of a paint or other decorating fluid. Usually made from water and turpentine (for use with emulsions) or white spirit (when designed for solvent-based paints), they also come in handy for cleaning paint brushes, rollers and other decorating equipment after use.