Question 1

What is the best paint to paint over wallpaper?

Accepted Answer

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While you could conceivably select any paint finish, paintable wallpaper tends to look its best with a flat or eggshell finish. A higher gloss paint might make the texture pop more, but it can look a bit dated once the paint has dried. And don’t worry about whether a water-based latex paint will loosen the wallpaper. Paintable wallpaper has a coating that prevents this from happening, so using latex paints without applying an oil-based primer to seal things first is fine.

Question 2

What is the benefit of hiring a professional painter?

Accepted Answer

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One of the most significant benefits of hiring a professional painter is that they complete the task faster and better. Generally, it takes about a day to paint a room, depending on dry time. If you're painting your entire house or the exterior of your home, that's a lot of time spent with a paintbrush in hand. Outsourcing this project to a painting pro will save you countless hours.

Other benefits of hiring a professional painter include:

Quality experience with painting
Assistance with choosing colors
Using the right tools for the job
Extensive product knowledge

Other benefits of hiring a professional painter include:

Quality experience with painting
Assistance with choosing colors
Using the right tools for the job
Extensive product knowledge

Question 3

Is it cheaper to hire a painter or do it yourself?

Accepted Answer

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In all cases, it’s more affordable to DIY paint than hire a professional painter, as you’ll save on labor costs, which makes up the large majority of your total when you hire a pro. However, you get what you pay for. Professionals have the equipment and years of experience to tackle a job much more efficiently than most homeowners, and they typically provide better results. It’s often worth the expense to save time and secure a more professional appearance for your paint job.

Question 4

What should I do if I used exterior paint inside?

Accepted Answer

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The biggest issue with painting your interior walls with exterior paint isn’t the way the paint looks or performs—it’s the lack of ventilation. The higher quantities of VOCs in exterior paint will have a harder time dispersing in an enclosed space, so do everything you can to direct them out—like turning on a fan and opening your windows and doors. Afterward, you can simply prime and redo your walls with interior paint, and no one will know the difference.

Question 5

Can lacquer be used over any paint?

Accepted Answer

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No. Lacquer cannot be used over oil-based paints, as it will not adhere properly to the paint. If you are using water-based paints, sometimes called latex paints, you can use lacquer over the paint. If you want to use lacquer on something covered in an oil-based paint, you must first strip the paint or prime the surface and paint over it with a latex-based paint.