With interior decorating there are many things you need to think about not only what colours you are going to use but also what materials you will need such as paint brushes, rollers and even masking tape. Before choosing your materials you need to look at what surfaces need to be painted and what finish you would like for each surface. Once you have made this decision you can look for the products that will give you the exact look you require. Some of the most basic materials needed when decorating the interior are described below.
- If you're preparing a surface for painting or wallpapering that has a hole or gap that needs filling before you start you can use a filler, that are sold at most DIY stores. You can buy a pre mixed filler which is great for those that are not confident DIYers, if however you are slightly more confident you can usually save a little money by mixing the filler yourself. If using a filler on a wooden surface or a window frame its generally advised that you use a Linseed wax putty instead of any other filler.
- Sandpaper will nearly always be used when preparing a wooden surface, the roughness of the product is shown in the sandpaper grade. The rougher sandpaper should be used firstly to remove any thick layers of paint or imperfections, followed by a fine sandpaper to smooth the surface ready for the paint or varnish to be applied.
- 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 used generally in areas that need to be waterproof, this is why they are used often in bathrooms and kitchens. There are also specialist window sealers generally used for Upvc windows that are fitted.
- 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 of paint 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 a water based paint so lack the longeviety and coverage abilities to cover wooden and metal surfaces.
- Thinners are used to reduce the thickness of paint or varnish. Usually made from water and turpentine (for use with emulsions) or white spirit (when designed for solvent-based paints), they also come in useful for cleaning your decorating equiptment once you have finished.