How to paint a room when colour drenching. Your guide to paint and process.

The advancement in paint over the last 10 years sees the range of applications for each type of paint grow wider and wider, especially when we are talking about trade paints which tends to move quicker than what we'll call domestic or customer paints. In this article we will look at the best paints and process to achieve colour drenching which lasts.

With the introduction of wood panelling, along with painting your skirting boards the same colour as the wall, manufacturers are pushing the limits of paint application, and as a trades person, or customer, this opens up more and more possibilities.

One of these possibilities, as mentioned above is painting your skirting boards the same colour and with the same paint as your walls. Something which up until recently would have left you with flaking and peeling paint in no time! You should however proceed with caution as using the wrong type of emulsion paint will see your skirting boards looking tired in no time.

Which type of emulsion paint can you use to paint your skirting boards?

The type of paint we would recommend is a durable matt paint. Certain manufacturers call them by slightly differently names but, in essence you are looking for Durable Matt Emulsion Paint. The reason for this is the durable paint adheres better and resists scratches and scuff marks, which in turn, keeps your skirting boards looking better for longer. A durable matt emulsion is only the start however, to achieve a perfect finish which lasts.

Things to know before painting your skirting boards with emulsion

Before you go dusting off the paint brushes and start painting your skirting boards there are a few things to be careful of. You first of all need to check you skirting boards are not already painted in oil based paint. If they are, then you will need to use a primer first. This is the most important step however. If in doubt always use a primer. For details on this you can read an article here.

If your skirting boards are painted with a water based paint then we would recommend you to "key" the surface first, lightly sanding with a 120 grit sandpaper to ensure good adhesion. Then ensure you have 2 light coats of paint in a similar way to as if you were using "gloss" paint.

The advantage of using emulsion for you skirting boards or wood panelling as well is the colour and finish will be the same as the walls, giving a seamless transition, and that premium look to your room. It will also reduce the types of paint you need to use and reduce the time you take to paint the room.

So which types of emulsion paint to use?

There has been an explosion of durable emulsion paints in the last few years. For us there is one stand out paint. We'll cover the most popular types and explain why we use the ones we do.

Farrow and Ball Dead Flat - This paint is one of the most commonly thought after paints when people think of colour drenching. The paint itself is very durable and leaves a good finish. There is however one major drawback which we regularly see discussed in the forums and have experience ourselves. The paint is so matt that it almost feels like sandpaper. When you touch it you leave dusty marks on the walls which can be annoying. Especially in high traffic areas.

Johnstones Trade Acrylic Durable Matt - This is a good cost effective product which is easily available from a Johnstones trade store. Our only complaint with this is there is a slight sheen. It less "Matt" than other products and can be harder to get a perfect finish than our go to durable matt paint.

Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt - Dulux Velvet Matt for us is the best durable paint on the market when taking into account finish, application and price. The price is very respectable for such a high performing product. Less than half the price of equivalent Farrow and Ball. It's the easiest paint for anyone to apply. It's also durable and leaves the best finish of any paint we have used. If you are using on skirting boards or wood work work, we would recommend using a primer first, however if you are colour drenching, or painting wood panelling then you can't beat Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt.

So now you're armed with the information give it a go and let us know what you think. The latest paint technology is opening up more and more possibilities. Go out there and use it to you advantage! Happy decorating.