Paint and surface guides

Guides to choosing paint, measuring walls, estimating quantity, understanding surface condition and preparing a paint requirement.

Guides

Written for the questions people actually ask before buying. Direct answer first, then the detail.

The difference between interior and exterior paint, and why exposure conditions decide which to use.

What wall putty does, what primer does, and why a job may need one, both or neither.

How painting new plaster differs from repainting an existing surface.

How matt, low sheen and gloss finishes differ in appearance, defect visibility and cleaning.

Measuring wall area for paint, including gross area, opening deductions and net area.

Estimating how much paint a job needs, using the coverage rate stated on the product.

Choosing a paint shade, including lighting, sample testing and why screen colour is unreliable.

Common reasons paint peels, flakes or chalks, and what to record before repainting.

What to do before painting a damp wall, and why a coating alone does not solve water ingress.

What information turns a vague paint enquiry into a quotable requirement.

Plan a job

Measure the walls, estimate each layer using the real coverage figure, and build a paint list to send.