How to Match Old Paint

You love the paint on your living room wall, and you'd like to touch it up - but what color is it, exactly? And what kind of paint? Here's how to find out.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brushes
• Denatured Alcohol
• Rags
• Rags
• Utility Knives

1. Determine what color you have. Cut out a 4-by-4-inch piece of painted drywall from an inconspicuous corner of the room. Take this sample to the paint store to be matched.

2. Determine what kind of paint you have by rubbing a small section of the surface with a clean rag saturated with denatured alcohol. If paint rubs off as a gooey substance, it's a water-based paint. If paint remains unchanged, you have an oil-based paint.

3. Verify the paint type by dabbing a small amount of water-based paint onto the surface. If paint beads or separates, it's an oil-based paint. If nothing changes, it's a water-based paint.

Tips & Warnings

• Patch the corner before painting the room.
• If you choose to apply a water-based paint over an oil-based paint, you must apply an oil- or alcohol-based primer before applying finish coat.
• Typically, it's possible to apply an oil-based paint over a preexisting water-based paint.
• Be absolutely certain of the type of preexisting paint before you apply a new coat; water-based paint will not adhere to preexisting oil-based paints.

[CSrichardson]

on 8/19/2007 I've had a little experience with color matching. In a house I rented, I was trying to touch up some spots the kids had damaged. The room I was in was a large room, so I really was wanting to avoid painting the whole thing. The problem is that old paint will be wore down from washing and other things. When you try to match the old paint, you could get one of many different darknesses. When I tested the paint, it was very obvious it was touched up just from the color difference. Thankfully I found a can of the original paint in the basement to use, otherwise I would have had to paint the whole room. In my opinion color match is only good for matching an old color and repainting over the whole thing. To get the sample, I used a chip from the damaged area since I had to repair anyway. You could use a razor and cut out about a 1x1 area, then spackle over it to get it leveled out.

[Thrash]

on 6/15/2007 CUT DRYWALL??? To match paint??? You're an EXPERT!??? I'd hate to hear how an amateur would suggest you do it!

on 11/22/2005 Please remember when you are getting paint matched that no matter how accurate the match is, you WILL be able to see where you have touched up on the wall. Due to different application techniques, drying times, and sheen differences, touching up is not recommended. Just repaint the whole wall. You will be much happier with the appearance.