Do-it-yourself painting of walls with water-based paint

Painting your walls with water-based paint is a well-liked and reasonably priced way to update the interior of your house. DIY painting can be a satisfying project, whether you’re painting a room to update its appearance or taking on a renovation project. Because of their low odor, speedy drying times, and ease of use, water-based paints are preferred by both novice and expert painters.

It’s crucial to correctly prepare your walls before you start. This entails clearing away any debris, oil, or dust that might impair the paint’s adhesion. After thoroughly cleaning the walls with a mild detergent and water solution, let them dry completely before moving on. This is the time to fill any holes or cracks with spackling paste and, after they have dried, sand them smooth.

You should prime your walls after they are smooth and clean. Primer guarantees a more even finish and improves paint adhesion. Select a primer that is appropriate for the surface you’re painting (plaster, drywall, etc.) and use a roller or brush to apply it evenly. Prior to painting, let the primer dry in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Take into account your preferred color and finish when choosing your water-based paint. Water-based paints are available in a range of hues and sheens, including glossy, satin, and matte. Consider the lighting in your space as well as the general mood you wish to achieve. After selecting your paint, give it a good shake to guarantee uniformity. Paint should be evenly applied to the walls using a roller or brush after being poured into a paint tray.

Begin at the top of the wall and work your way down in little segments. To prevent obvious brush strokes or roller lines, use long, overlapping strokes. For a more consistent and long-lasting finish, paint is usually applied in two coats, letting the first coat dry completely before adding the second. After painting is complete, remove any painter’s tape carefully and let the paint dry completely before putting the furniture back in its original position.

Water-based paint can be used for DIY painting projects that are rewarding and give your house a brand-new appearance. You can get professional-looking results without paying a professional painter’s fee by following these instructions and taking your time. Take pleasure in the procedure and the way your room is changing!

Painting walls using water-based paint is one of the most useful and satisfying do-it-yourself projects available in the home improvement space. This article examines the advantages of using water-based paints, gives detailed instructions for priming and painting walls, and provides crucial advice for producing results that are on par with those of a pro. Learning water-based paint techniques can help you transform your space while saving money, time, and environmental impact, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.

Advantages and disadvantages of water-based paint

Paint that is based on water has advantages and disadvantages. Among the benefits are:

• the absence of a sharp unpleasant odor, which is imparted to other types of paint by a solvent, for example, acetone or white spirit;
• rapid dissipation of the damp smell that appears immediately after painting;
• environmentally friendly paint components – absolutely harmless to humans and the environment;
• Possibility of application to all types of wall materials;
• a fairly simple paint application technology, which makes it possible to paint walls with water-based paint yourself;
• Manufacturability: simply diluted, stirred, tinted and applied;
• variability of tinting with pigments – the paint can be given any color and shade;
• the ability to be easily washed off from tools, hands, clothing and the floor at the end of work;
• accessibility to the bulk of the population at a price;
• fast drying process;
• ability to fit into any interior and style;
• resistance to aggressive chemicals, primarily alkalis;
• vapor permeability allows the walls to breathe.

Among the drawbacks are:

• inability to withstand sub-zero temperatures – it cracks, and therefore cannot be used in unheated rooms (dachas, country houses, where visits are irregular in winter);
• significant labor costs in preparing walls for painting;
• susceptibility to colonization by fungus and mold, which multiply very actively in damp or poorly heated rooms.

Required materials and tools

To paint walls using water-based paint, you will need to buy the following supplies:

• water-based paint (you need to buy one batch – different shades are possible in different containers);
• pigment dyes (if the paint is purchased white) to give the water-based emulsion the desired color and shade;
• primers for painting (“Knauf”, “Ceresit” and others).

Along with the supplies, you’ll need the following instruments:

• ladder;
• screwdriver (electric drill) with a mixer for stirring paint;

• a set of paint rollers (for paint and primer);
• spray gun or paint brush (5-8 cm) for painting corners and places near the baseboard;

• small brush for color correction in hard-to-reach places;

• crepe (painting) tape;

• cuvette for primer and paint;

• plastic film to protect furniture and floors from paint splashes or cardboard (old newspapers);
• construction tape for fastening polyethylene.

Which paint to choose

Although there are numerous variables that affect the quality of the repair, the selection of the finishing material—which is done in accordance with particular standards—has always been the deciding factor. Regarding the emulsion of water, it is:

• paint color;
• degree of gloss;
• hygroscopicity;
• possibility of care.

Color

There are 200+ possible colors and shades for water emulsion. Paint with so many colors is not feasible to produce. Consequently, producers chose a more practical course of action: they introduced tinting dyes for sale at the same time as they made white the base color.

You can create complex colors that are not available on the market by combining colors in different ratios with white paint. Additionally, you can achieve varying color intensities by varying the proportions of different pigments, transitioning from a rich tone to a restrained one—a technique known as the "gradation effect" in the world of designers.

Paint and pigments can be mixed on-site (this service is offered by all major retailers) or at home. Since the color of the diluted paint does not match the color of the dried water-based emulsion, tinting a house lets you see how the walls will look after painting.

Here’s where a little trick comes in handy: paint a small section of the wall with diluted paint. You can see how the painted surface will appear after two to three hours. Paint can be used to add dyes to the container if necessary to change the color. Here’s a tip on achieving various colors by combining multiple colorants.

Degree of gloss

The gloss level affects the surface’s appearance as well as how the room appears to the eye in addition to the color and shade chosen. It might be:

• deeply matte – looks impressive and respectable, but even a one-time cleaning with a damp cloth can damage the texture at the micro level (in plain language – you can"t rub, as shiny spots may appear);
• matte (the room visually increases in size, but on such a surface the slightest staining defects are clearly visible, it is difficult to wash with a damp cloth or napkin);
• semi-matte – maximum hides mistakes in preparing the wall for painting, is resistant to abrasion (washes well);
• glossy (emphasizes flaws, but maintenance is not a problem);
• semi-gloss – washes well.

Purchasing semi-gloss or semi-matte paint is your best bet.

Hygroscopicity

The apartment’s rooms always have varying humidity levels:

• dry (children"s room, bedroom, living room);
• with high humidity (hallway);
• with a high level of humidity (bathroom, toilet, kitchen).

Paints that are resistant to moisture are available for rooms where there is an abundance of moisture in the air. It is important to consider this when buying water emulsion.

Ease of care

Water-based paints that are created can be:

• unsuitable for wet cleaning (clean only with a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth);
• washable (can be cleaned with a wet cloth or sponge using detergents);
• indelible – wash only with clean water.

Influences the kind of water-based paint and the finished appearance. She could be:

Mineral. Because mineral emulsion is made of inexpensive cement or lime, it is a low-cost paint type. applied well to wood, plasterboard, brick, and concrete. Sales have decreased as a result of the product’s short lifespan (which fades out quickly), high hygroscopicity, and impossibility of wet care.

Acrylic. The most widely used water-based paint is this one. It can seal microcracks up to 1 mm wide, has a long service life, requires little energy per square meter of wall, and is simple to maintain. And above all, the best possible balance between cost and quality.

Because acrylic resins prevent the polymer film from deforming and repeating all of the irregularities on the wall, semi-matte acrylic water-based emulsion perfectly conceals minor surface defects when applied in multiple layers—at least three. Furthermore, painted walls are resistant to severe mechanical impacts and temperature changes, which keeps the paint layer from chipping.

One of the drawbacks is that low vapor permeability degrades paint quality when applied to partially dried surfaces.

Silicate. After drying, silicate paint leaves a thin glass film on the wall because potassium liquid glass was added to the mixture. There are many benefits to this paint:

• does not fade until the end of operation;
• serves for a long time – more than 20 years;
• resistant to temperature changes;
• does not burn;
• easy to clean;
• excellent resistance to fungus and mold;
• has a low price.

Still, the drawbacks are greater than the benefits.

• poorly tinted;
• there is no plasticity, and therefore all microcracks and other defects are not hidden, but, on the contrary, are emphasized;
• does not withstand high humidity well (you can only paint the living room and bedroom);
• does not adhere to porous and loose materials, as well as wooden walls.

Consequently, the site’s editors recommend against buying silicate paints.

Silicone. The most recent innovation from producers of paint and varnish products is a water-soluble silicone dye. It only has benefits, not drawbacks.

• good vapor permeability while being waterproof;
• high elasticity, which allows the paint layer to heal microcracks;
• resistance to mechanical stress;
• long service life;
• high aesthetic characteristics, etc.d.

Naturally, a high price tag goes along with high quality.

As a point of reference, a lot of professionals call painting supplies made of polyvinyl acetate "water-based paint." Plasticizers and dyes are added to PVA glue, which serves as their foundation. We believe that this kind of paint is not appropriate for this material since it does not conform to the traditional definition of a water-based emulsion.

To ensure clarity, we have included a table with the key characteristics of water-based paints.

Properties\Types of paints	Mineral	Acrylic	Silicate	Silicone
Vapor permeability	low	high	medium	high
Film strength	high	good	good	good
Color fastness	medium	good	high	good
Fire resistance	no	medium	high	medium
Elasticity	medium	high	no	good
Resistance to washing	high	medium	high	low
Mold resistance	medium	low	high	medium
Color palette	high	good	medium	high
Hygroscopicity	high	low	no	medium
Price	low	medium	low	high

The information in the table supports the initial findings, which state that silicone dyes work best. However, when it comes to the value for money, acrylic paints are superior.

Calculation of the required quantity paints

It is never pleasant to perform repairs when the material that was purchased is insufficient. The severity of this issue is highest when buying paint that is water-based. After all, if the paint is tinted separately, it is nearly impossible to obtain the same shade after making a second purchase. Thus, it is important to pay close attention to the question of how much paint to use on walls. There are three stages to the entire process.

Step 1: The surface area that needs painting is identified. Measure the height of the ceiling first, followed by the wall’s perimeter, to accomplish this. The total area of the walls is found by multiplying the resultant values. Doors and windows have measurements. Their area is deducted from the outcome that was previously acquired.

Step II: The initial paint quantity is established. In order to do this, multiply the area that needs to be painted by the paint consumption per square meter (which is always stated on the packaging), the number of layers (minimum two), and the average value that is provided in the table.

Table 2: Water-based paint consumption on average per square meter.

Water-based paint	1 layer, g/m2	2 layer, g/m2
Mineral	340-370	200
Acrylic	250	150
Silicate	400	350
Silicone	300	150

Stage III. The outcome has been adjusted. Let’s be clear right away: the paint consumption is displayed on the packaging for a pre-primed, flawlessly smooth surface. Drawing:

• unprimed plastered surface increases consumption up to 10%;
• drywall without putty and primer by 40%;
• wallpaper for painting by 40-45%;
• trellises for painting with a relief surface up to 70%.

The type of tool you use to apply the paint matters as well. When utilizing a roller and spray gun, no extra modifications are necessary. An approximate 5% increase in water-based emulsion is needed for a paint brush.

You can cut costs on paint supplies by:

• a perfectly flat surface that can be obtained during the preparatory work;
• applying primer to the walls;
• Observe the order of painting: first, paint the corners with a brush, then the wall near the trim and baseboard (it’s still better to remove them). Only after this the rest of the surface is painted with a roller or spray gun. If the order is reversed, 1-2% of the water emulsion is lost.

The best way to apply water-based emulsion

Three categories of painting tools are made possible by painting technology:

• brushes;
• roller;
• spray gun.

Painting with a brush requires a lot of time, which raises the amount of paint used. A spray gun can be costly for the family budget to purchase or rent. Hence, painting the walls with a roller is the only thing left to do. But here’s where things get tricky: which roller works best for painting walls with water-based paint? Paint rollers come in dozens of varieties and types on store shelves, after all.

Which roller is better to choose and how

Numerous materials are used to make rollers:

Rubber foam. This kind of paint roller is the most basic and least expensive. On the one hand, it’s convenient that there’s no need to constantly dip the tool in paint because of the material’s low density, which enables it to absorb a large amount of dye. On the other side, a lot of paint on the roller causes a lot of tiny bubbles to form on the painted surface.

Velor. This kind of tool is only available for purchase in specialty retail stores because experts have a mixed opinion about it. Velor’s dense structure is unique in that it applies paint evenly and prevents splashes. However, there is a drawback to this coin as well: for experts, this means losing money because you have to continuously dip the roller into paint.

Fur. Both real and fake fur are available. Since there isn’t much of a difference between the types of materials, you can’t really consider that when making a purchase. However, you must consider how long the pile is. Paint is heavily (i.e., widely and copiously) splattered on short villi. Long piles tend to emerge from the base and splash a little bit as well. As a result, a fur roller with a medium-length pile is the best choice.

Preparatory work

The right way to paint walls using water-based paint requires careful consideration of the preparatory work. Their quality has a big impact on the outcome. In order to carry them out, it is required that:

• empty the room of furniture, cover the floors with film or newspapers;
• remove old finish;

• inspect the walls. If necessary, remove old plaster, seal cracks and crevices;
• treat the walls with primer;
• level the surface using drywall or cement (gypsum) plaster;
• apply a primer under the putty;
• putty the walls using a technology that involves applying the last layer of finishing (fine) putty. If finishing putty was not purchased, and the walls were sanded using the starting composition of the putty solution, it is advisable to prime the surface.

Note: The work "Aligning walls for painting" shows the thorough procedure for priming walls for painting.

How and what to prime

Painting the walls with a water-based primer is not required. Other than increased material consumption, no other negative effects are noted. It should be noted that when it comes to renovations, this is typically what apartment owners do. But because silicone paint is so expensive, the walls must first be primed; the cost savings outweigh the technological advancement.

It is important to remember that the primer permits:

• improve adhesion between the wall and the paintwork;
• strengthen the surface to be painted;
• protect walls from fungus and mold.

The best primer to use is acrylic primer from the well-known brands "Knauf" or "Ceresit." Not too bad are Russian primers like "Tex," "Prospectors," and others (cost per liter: 30-100 rubles).

One pass is made with a brush and two passes with a roller to apply the primer.

Customized soil works just as well for walls. Paint is diluted with water in a 1:2 ratio (one part paint to two parts water) to achieve this. Painting this composition in two layers greatly enhances the painting quality.

Painting instructions

How should water-based paint be applied to walls? Nothing is hard to comprehend or put into practice. A novice can complete the task. You just have to abide by the guidelines:

• Painting is carried out using a completely dry primer or putty.
• The second and subsequent layers of paint are applied to completely dry previous layers (from 2 to 12 hours).
• Under sunlight, dry paint changes color. Therefore, work must be carried out either in the evening or with the windows closed with plastic film.
• Drafts contribute to the appearance of streaks due to uneven drying of the applied paint. The same situation is observed when forced heating of walls with a heat gun or electric heating devices.
• A coat of paint should be applied to one wall within 15-20 minutes., which eliminates breaks and smoke breaks.
• According to technology, each layer of paint requires a new roller. In practice, they do it a little differently: thoroughly wash the used roller and then dry it. In terms of the quality of paint application, a previously used roller is not inferior to a new one.
• When changing the consistency of paint or tinting it, special attention must be paid to the periphery. It is on the sides of the container that poorly mixed paint is most often found, which is especially unacceptable when coloring pigments are introduced into its composition.
• The corners and narrow sections of the wall adjacent to the ceiling and floor are always painted first with a brush.
• If the trims and baseboards cannot be dismantled, they must be sealed with masking tape.

• For the first layer, the paint is diluted a little more.

Preparing the Paint

Paint comes in containers that are typically much thicker than what is needed for the task at hand. In order to avoid diluting the paint more than is necessary, water is added to the paint in small amounts and mixed thoroughly.

The easiest tool to use for this task is a screwdriver with a mixer attachment. Any object can be used to stir if you don’t have a power tool, but it will take longer and the quality will be slightly worse.

This is the time to add different sparkles to the paint if the wall design is creative and includes the surface shimmering under streams of light. However, owners seldom ever come up with such ideas.

Three layers of gauze need to be used to filter the water emulsion if tiny grains start to show up on the paint’s surface in the funnel.

Paint tinting

The following algorithm is used to determine the color and tone of paint at home:

• The water emulsion is poured into a large container (usually a 10 liter bucket) so that it is enough to paint the walls in one room, since it is almost impossible to get the same color and shade again. As an exception, for a wall with a window you can make the paint a little lighter, which will make the room visually larger;

• adding water in small portions, the paint is brought to the required consistency while mixing;
• Tinting pigments are added to the water-based composition, after which the paint is thoroughly mixed. If necessary, the resulting color is adjusted: new pigments are added or the number of those already added is increased. Everything gets mixed up again;

• With the resulting paint, a small section of the wall is painted so that after about 2 hours you can see the real color scheme of the interior. If the result is not satisfactory, the tinting process continues.

Painting technique

Walls can be painted using a brush, roller, or spray painter. For this, there are technologies that have evolved over time.

Painting with a brush

If you’re yearning for the good old days, we suggest using a brush to paint the walls. But let us warn you up front. It is labor-intensive, of low quality, and uses a little more paint (part of it will drip off and leave a thicker layer of paint on the wall), but it also takes a long time.

In order to ensure that no bristles are left on the wall while working, brushes—a large flywheel and a small corrective one—are soaked in water before work begins.

If the packaging is large, the paint is poured into the cuvette or stays in the jar. In the latter instance, to maintain a homogeneous composition, the water emulsion is mixed on a regular basis, roughly every half hour.

After dipping the brush about one-third of the way, excess paint is removed by lightly blowing against the jar or tray wall. The upper left corner is where coloring starts, and narrow stripes descend from there. Application of the coloring composition is done in thin, even layers. With minimal pressure, the brush is held nearly perpendicular to the wall.

Although there are variations in application methods, professionals recommend applying a vertical smear first, followed by zigzag shaving. Therefore, it is possible to ensure that there will be no divorces and no subteces in the wall.

The second method enables the application of one layer with vertical movements and a second layer that is horizontal and shade-free. Passes are not included in this application, but the possibility of subtexts and divorces is raised.

Roller

The steps involved in using a roller to paint the walls are as follows:

• paint is poured into the bath;
• The roller is wetted throughout the circumference. To do this, it falls into the paint, and then rolled along the ribbed surface of the cuvette. And so on several times until the fur is saturated with the water-based composition. If you skip this work, there will be “unpainted” marks on the wall that are not visible when wet;
• wet the roller again and, rolling it along the edges of the ditch, distribute the paint evenly over the entire circumference;

• you need to start painting from a corner, any. Lead from top to bottom according to a pattern reminiscent of the Latin letter “W”. Paint strip about half a meter. The stripes are applied with an overlap of 5-10 cm;
• paint drips are removed with a used (dry) roller – the pile will absorb the drips. In this case, the movements of the roller should also be similar to the letter “W”.

How many times should I use a roller to paint a wall? It only takes two layers. On top of the first layer of dried paint, applies the second layer.

Spray gun

Painting walls with a spray gun is not only a simple and enjoyable task, but it also yields great results. There are various steps in the technology.

• The paint is diluted (more than usual), mixed, and then filtered through cheesecloth (small particles can clog the nozzle).
• The supply of dye is regulated, for which an unnecessary object is dyed within a few seconds.
• After stabilizing the paint flow, the nozzle is brought perpendicular to the wall at a distance of 30-60 cm. The movement for the first layer is horizontal, for the second – vertical, at a speed of approximately 1 m per 5 seconds.
• Coloring starts from the top. Paint in sections. The next square is started after coloring the previous one. The pace should be even. Any delay leads to a thick layer of paint that begins to flow down. Therefore, it is better to underpaint than to overpaint – the next layer will hide the defect.
• Improved painting of walls with water-based compositions when using a spray gun is achieved by painting 3 times – three layers are applied.

Decorative painting

The practice of painting walls unevenly is growing in popularity because it gives the walls an unusual appearance and highlights the owners’ unconventional ideas. There are numerous decorative painting methods and design approaches. A few of them have already been taken into account in the project "Decorative plaster wall decoration."

Some of these are listed below (you cannot possibly consider everything due to the volume of work).

• The wall with the pattern is obtained when applying 3 layers of paint with a two -part roller, where one roller in the paint moistens the second with a cut pattern. The technique is clearly visible in the photo below.

• Stencils with a pattern are cut out of dense, but thin material, on which paint is applied. It is best to work on a stencil with a sponge or, in extreme cases, developed by a roller. Otherwise there will be stencils for stencil.
• A homemade roller can get an unusual, chaotic pattern. How it works can be understood from the photo below.

• Another non -standard coloring technique: spraying. The first coat of paint is applied to the wall. The second is applied with a brush, but not with strokes, but chaotically.

Textured paint produces an even more striking effect. Compositions containing water do not fall under this category of dye. However, the water-based emulsion behaves like textured paint if you thicken it (evaporate some of the water), allowing you to have unique walls.

Thus, an "Atacama" relief can be created by adding reflective quartz sand (available commercially) and metal particles to a light brown, thickened water-based composition, then applying the mixture unevenly.

A satisfying and affordable way to update your living area is to paint the walls with water-based paint. Water-based paints are perfect for do-it-yourself projects because they are simpler to use and clean up than oil-based paints. They are more ecologically friendly, dry more quickly, and smell less.

It’s important to prepare properly before beginning any painting project. This include giving the walls a thorough cleaning to get rid of all dirt and grease, using spackle to seal any holes or cracks, and sanding down any rough spots to give the walls a smooth finish. By following these instructions, you can be sure that the paint will adhere properly and produce a polished look.

Choosing the appropriate equipment and supplies is crucial to a successful painting project. When applying water-based paints, high-quality brushes and rollers can significantly impact the outcome. Additionally, you can improve the overall appearance of your walls by choosing the appropriate paint sheen level for the finish you want, such as satin, matte, or eggshell.

When applying paint, begin by cutting in, or painting with a brush along the edges and corners, and then move on to larger areas with a roller. To prevent drips and uneven coverage, apply paint evenly in thin layers. Depending on the color and state of the walls, several coats might be required, so patience and close attention to detail are essential.

After painting, give the space enough time to dry completely before rearranging the furniture or hanging decorations. To keep your tools functional for upcoming projects and to increase their lifespan, clean them right away with soap and water.

When painting walls with water-based paint, do-it-yourself enthusiasts can achieve professional-looking results by following these steps and tips. The satisfaction of completely revamping your space with a new coat of paint is easily attainable, regardless of whether you’re painting a single room or taking on a whole house renovation.

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