Paint for a perfect finish

For years, when one got ready to renovate their house or paint a new building, the conventional wisdom was to paint all the walls white. But all that is gone.

According to Mr Charles Kyeyune, the sales executive at Regal Paints, painting is considered to be the basic form of home décor, whether it is a tiny dwelling or an extravagant luxury building.

“Painting plays a major role in determining the beauty of a house, and yet it is also considered to be one of the key ingredients in home appearance,” Kyeyune says.

Paint types
A variety of paints, both for interior and exterior spaces are available in the market. They include oil and water paints and come in different colours.

Kyeyune says interior paints are of three specific types and the most used paint is the matt paint. Matt paint, doesn’t shine once applied, but offers a smooth protection to the walls.

The eggshell paint is in form of oil and it is slightly shiny compared to other oil paints. It is perfect for interior finish.
“Vinyl silk emulsion is also water based, washable plastic paint that comes in a variety of colours,” says Mr. Joseph Kibuuka, the Business Development Director of Lilly Paints.

Colour choice
Different paint colours have the ability to create visual appeals and should be chosen appropriately. Colours of other accessories like tiles and carpets may have a major impact in providing the right look of the house, but paint will enhance the home theme immensely.

“Interior paint colours are also categorised; we have adult, children and co-rporate colours,” Kyeyune says.
Different innovative ideas in interior home decoration can be helpful in decorating a house with good colour tone.
“It’s best to use soft, warm decorator colours that are current, especially for the low income budget paints that are available in the market. Lilly Pave Matt can be used as an exterior paint. it’s weather-friendly and can last for two to three years before repainting,” Kibuuka says.

He says some people like using red for the exterior, not knowing that it has a red pigment, which is affected by the weather unlike other colours. He adds that white can be the perfect colour, but this will also depend on the area where one’s house is located.

“Try not to paint very bright, bold or deep colours. If colour names like sunny yellow, hunter green, peach, federal blue, maroon or reddish-purple can be used to describe any of your rooms, then a paint colour consultation is in your future,” Mr Allan Mugwere, a painter says.

He adds that even though guests have always said they love one’s paint finish, they shouldn’t dwell on the compliments thinking that such colours should stay. When guests come over they aren’t thinking of living in one’s house.

“Colours that are soft and a little smoky or creamy work better than very pure colours, finishes, the right finish, eggshell, flat, will make a difference too,” Mugwere says.

When painting
Interior and exterior house painting involves plenty of different works. Some paints may fade out easily, which gives an awful appearance.

“I would like two colours incase I am to repaint my house; white for the exterior and light blue for the interior,” says Mr. Orhan Pala, a businessman. He says white is not easily affected by weather; the same applies to blue unlike red which fades.

He said painting materials like brushes and other equipments should be in good quality to ensure fine appearance; and be applied by a skilled and experienced person.

Kyeyune says there is weather shield as an exterior paint, which is rough and dough and that it is the best texture for exterior finishing. There are also washable paints that can help in cleaning the walls effectively.

Paint guide
• Make sure the walls are smooth and damage free, especially when it’s a new house.
• Clean the walls by peeling off the old paints, use proper paint brushes, and paint rollers, to repaint.
• In case the roller or brushes have roughened up, deep them in paraffin to soften them or purchase a new brush or a roller for perfect work.
• Improper painting texture can affect the beauty of a house. They are to be applied on a flat surface or else it may provide a horrible appearance to the walls.
• Flat or Matte finishes are very forgiving if your walls are not in perfect condition. They are “true” to colour because they don’t reflect a lot of light.
• Silk paint is a water paint, which offers smoothness when applied.
• Eggshell finish paints have a little sheen to them. They show imperfections in the walls so you need to prepare your walls more carefully. They are very good for the kitchen and bathroom where the walls may need to be cleaned often.

Where to buy paint

• Regal Paints, Uganda- 0312261966
• Lilly Paints, Uganda- 0414287432
• Sadolin Paints (U) Ltd- 0414342070
• Peacock Paints- 0414231721
• East African Paints Manufacturers Ltd- 0414345416