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How To

How to Pick an Interior Paint for High Traffic Areas

Contributor
By Sheila Wilkinson
eHow Contributing Writer
(2 Ratings)

How do you know what paint to pick for a high traffic area? The paint would have to be scrubbable as for a kitchen or bathroom. High gloss, semi gloss or an eggshell would be needed, but what would work best? How do you pick the type of paint? What properties would you look for? Read on for some great advice on selecting paint for well traveled areas.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Use a latex paint if you want to choose the easiest paint to use. It's water-based and cleans up with just soapy water. It also dries quickly and it's very low on paint fumes.

  2. Step 2

    Choose a high gloss latex paint for most inside surfaces that withstand constant use such as bathroom and kitchen cabinets. For trim work such as door frames, window sills and baseboards, high gloss is also the best choice for durability.

  3. Step 3

    Use high gloss paint wherever you want to be able to scrub the painted finish. Know that a high gloss finish equals a high shine finish. This is great for a baseboard or a cupboard, but you wouldn't want that much glare on a huge surface such as a wall.

  4. Step 4

    Use an eggshell or low gloss paint for wall areas that will have hard use, such as a child's playroom or a laundry room. Remember that the higher the degree of shine, the more easy it will be to clean.

  5. Step 5

    Prime dark surfaces if you want to lighten them, such as when going from brown cabinets to white. If they are really dark, you may need to use two coats of primer. You shouldn't need to prime lighter surfaces as glossy paints cover exceptionally well.

  6. Step 6

    Prepare your surface as flawlessly as possible when using a gloss paint. The higher the gloss the more noticeable every imperfection will be, so make sure to fill, sand and prime if needed to ensure a good looking finish.

  7. Step 7

    Buy as good a quality of paint as you can afford. It will save you a lot fo money in repainting in the long run.

Tips & Warnings
  • Remember that gloss paints show up imperfections so prep your surfaces as perfectly as possible before painting.
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