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Some caulk shrinks during the drying process, leading to cracked paint and a less-than-ideal appearance. Not all caulk cracks when painting, but it’s important that you read the label on your caulk container before painting to ensure that it’s actually paintable. There are four main types of caulk, and acrylic latex caulk is one of the most reliable caulking materials for painting over without fear of cracked paint. Avoid painting over silicone caulking.

While you can paint brick or concrete pavers, you shouldn’t. Even with a matte finishing paint, it still creates a reflective surface where sunlight bounces off. This increases heat during summer months, making the pavers hard to walk on. The reflection can also damage your eyes. Finally, paint seals the pavers in the least desirable way and makes them impermeable, trapping water and moisture inside, which can cause other problems. Paint layers also chip easily.

The best sheen depends on your needs. Satin and eggshell sheens are often recommended for siding since their lightly reflective finish can help hide imperfections while being relatively easy to clean. Semi-gloss sheen is a great fit for trim since it’s incredibly easy to clean and more durable and moisture-resistant than satin and eggshell, but if you use it for the entire surface, its more reflective properties can highlight imperfections. This is also why high-glass sheen isn’t a great fit for the entire surface.

If you’ve already installed your carpet and your baseboards need a fresh coat, painter’s tape can help ensure the paint stays on the wall and off the flooring. Be sure to add a margin of 2 to 3 inches of tape along the carpet to give yourself extra space for any unexpected spills or drips. You should also lay down a plastic tarp and secure it as close to the wall as possible with painter’s tape.