Which paint is perfect for your bathroom?

A bathroom, being the smallest, is the easiest room in the house to update with paint. You can paint it whenever you want but with what type of paint? Read on to know.

Keep moisture in mind

As the moisture is present in a bathroom, it can be a problem for painted walls. The humidity from steam from the shower or bathtub gets to your walls anyways, so you have to go with flexible paint that lets moisture out without breaking down.

Easy to wipe off

Go with easy to wipe paint finish as the walls tend to get stained due to moisture.

Avoid flat finishes as they absorb moisture making the walls challenging to wipe. Eggshells finishes could have been one of the choices being easy to wipe, but it is not so good for moisture-prone areas. Satin finishes are suitable for a low-moisture bathroom. So, go with either semi-gloss or high-gloss finishes that repel moisture as well being easy to wipe stains off. However, high-gloss does not look so good on the large wall surface like semi-gloss does. Reserve it for trim or bathroom cabinets instead.

Paint manufacturers are continually working on creating paints compatible for any room, including bathrooms by adding additives which makes paint more durable and moisture resistant. So, while buying paints, you do not have to depend on the finish entirely.

Right primer

To avoid peeling paint, apply moisture-resistant primer before painting on your walls and ceiling. This step is small but essential to prevent time-to-time touch ups.

Which paint color?

As the color of bathroom walls affects your mirror reflection, you need to go with the one that does not change the appearance of your complexion, which makes it difficult for you to get ready. It would be best if you go with neutral shades – whites, grays, pastels – to dodge the problem painting walls can create. In Nepal, people do not see its use from various aspects, but it does play a crucial role in things other than just beautifying a room.

Why to get rid of old boring wall paints

If you are tired after looking at the same old monotonous wall colors for years, it is time to change it into interesting shades which not just soothes eyes but refreshes mind as well. Bonus point: it adds extra beauty to your walls in an inexpensive way but that is not it. Other reasons why to paint useful for homes in Nepal are mentioned below.

1. To increase the value of the property

 Beautified fresh walls no doubt enhance the real estate value of your home making it look attractive to buyers.

2. To protect walls from the extreme weather

Wallpaints protect the exteriors from all types of weather, be it rain, sun, or wind. A coat of high quality paints is also effective to save walls from the atmospheric pollution which is getting extreme in Nepal.

3. To improve the functional characteristics of the home

The right use of paint can change the environment of home as well as the temperature of it. Simply apply white paint which contains IR reflective pigment to cool your roof. Pigments and additives in it also work on improving the aesthetic and functional properties of it.

4. To prevent before it needs cure

Protecting walls from weeds is essential as it can cost too much money if it manages to deepen its roots on the surface. Refreshing the paint prevents molds and mildews as well as dirt from settling on the surface.

5. To protect from the environment

Using environment-friendly paint protects your abode from the adverse effect of global warming and climate change.

6. To make it waterproof

A coat of waterproof paint can ensure you that your home is now resistant to wear and tear. The latex paint available in the market assures extension of not just the life of the paint but of your walls as well.

3 steps to prevent rust with paints

When metals are exposed to the natural elements, rusting occurs so you need to take preventive measures to protect them and it is essential to take measure not just for its look but to maintain the quality of metal as well which is possible by painting them with high quality paints. Rust can occur as soon as the surface gets in touch with rain, snow, dew, and even just humidity. So, be it to get rid of it or to prevent it from happening in Nepal, a thorough, rigorous and systematic surface preparation is a must.

Get started with these steps.

1. Clean up all the loose rust and peeling paint using a chisel-style scraper and then wire brush to dust off the residue. If the surface is big, use disk sanders or electric drill and attach wire brush on it for effective results. Make sure to take safety measures using heavy gloves, goggles, and a dust mask while working.
2. After cleaning up the surface, dust it off with a soft bristle brush and scrub it with detergent and water and rinse with clean water.
3. Prime it off immediately after finishing cleaning up to prevent rust from forming again. If you leave it for more than a day or two, you might end up having to do it all over again. Apply two coats of it and then two coats of paint for better results. If the painting area is large, apply both paint and primers with a brush.

While painting iron, go with Asian metal primer red oxide with corrosion inhibiting pigments by Asian paints Nepal based on synthetic resins for a better corrosion resistance as it is better to go with best paints which lasts longer without cracking and fading rather than cheaper paints available in Nepal and regretting it later.

Royale range of Asian Paints Nepal

Exotic shades of hues enhance the style of home better than any other decorative items. If you put up furniture or artistic painting after freshening up the wall color, it even doubles the beauty of it. That is the power of paint: making people fall in love with the walls and giving a feel of the home creating an ambient space. You have to make a right choice, however, to get the most of the color you choose for your home and Asian Paints Nepal makes it easier for you, providing wide ranges of product to choose from.

Narrowing down to one range of product out of many to make it easier for you to choose, you can find out about Asian Paints Royale here. It is one of the popular and desired ranges of products by the people for creating outstanding texture on walls in which you can pick one to make your wish of dreamy walls come true. In this range, Royal Aspira is determined to make your aspiration of dreamy home come true while Royal Play can give a gorgeous look inducing playful environment at your home.

That is not it; there is Royale Enamel to give your house a feeling of royal elegance and leave a classy touch. Also, you can choose Royale Glitter for giving glittery metallic finishes to your abode and add brightness to the environment. And, Royale Base is for making the base stain proof as well as easy to clean.

We all, as an individual, have our own preferences. So to enable its customer to choose the exact shades we want, Asian Paints has a catalog with all types of shades – from lighter to darker as well as metallic shades to add spices to your taste from where you choose the exact hue.

If you are wondering if it is going to be out of your painting budget, do not worry. It has got you covered with its cheap yet high quality paints to make your dream of a beautiful home come true in Nepal.

Fix your simple paint problems yourself

While painting the walls without the help of a professional painter, you may face a lot of paint problems like drips, brush marks, and stains here and there but it should not discourage you from doing it yourself. Here are the ways to fix the most common painting mistakes in Nepal.

                                                                                                                  

1. Paint drips

First of all, if possible, prevent drips by not overloading your paintbrush and if you end up with it anyway:

• Scrape it with a scraper
• Sand the area until smooth
• Repaint the surface

2. Brush marks

Brush marks are mostly caused by either overloaded paintbrush or lack of right painting skill on wooden finishes. To get rid of them,

• Sand the surface
• Repaint it.

3. Stained wall

If there are stains on the walls mostly caused by improper priming job, take an immediate action.

• Clean the area properly first with trisodium phosphate (TSP) and leave it to dry.
• Apply an oil-based undercoat over the affected areas
• Let it dry before you repaint.

4. Flaking paint

When the walls come in contact with moisture and start seeping in it, flaking paint happens. It is also possible when you paint on the damp surface. To fix it,

• Scrape away the flaking paint using a paint scraper or wire brush
• Sand the area with coarse sandpaper first and fine sandpaper later
• Focus especially on smoothening the edges between painted and sanding areas as the new paint layer can highlight that area.
• Finally, prime and repaint.

5. Mold and mildews

Mold and mildews often appear in the room with high moisture levels such as bathroom and kitchen. Before you start working on it, make sure to take safety precautions such as wearing eye-wear, proper clothing and gloves as both the mildew and the chemicals you are using can cause an adverse effect on human body. Now,

• Wash the surface with TSP, bleach, water and firm brush from bottom to top to avoid staining the surface. Read the label of chemicals for safety precautions and do not use it on finished wood and metal as it can damage it.
• Let it dry for two days, then apply primer with mildew protection.
• Repaint with double coats of best paints as top quality paints found in Nepal prevent the mildew from regrowing.

When to start thinking about painting?

We take care of the house we own and live in but despite all the care, we cannot stop the wear and tear from happening. That is why time to time maintenance of its exterior and interior is essential as it not only helps to keep it beautiful but keeps its value up as well. As we all love to keep our home well maintained, we can work on keeping bathroom and kitchen updated and freshen up the paints time to time. Freshening up the wall paints not only is a cheap way to make a home look new but is also a smart investment. But, how do you know it is the time to give your painter a call in Nepal?

Here are 6 signs that appear to notify you that it is the right time to do it. Look out for them.

1. Wear and tear of paint

If the paint starts peeling, cracking, and shows bubbles, it shows that paint was not applied properly or the quality of it was not good. This may also mean that mold and mildew are taking over and weakening the hold of paint. Do not ignore it. Reach to the root of the problems as it can lead to a bigger one.

2. Fading Paint

When the color of walls starts losing the vibrancy it had earlier, you know it is time to repaint. Darker paints are likely to fade out faster than lighter ones in Nepal.

3. Gaps or shrinking boards

If the boards on the exterior of your home look shrunk or if there are gaps between them, have a look at it. It must be the sign of dry rot due to the moisture. Get a professional’s help and solve it.

4. Cracking caulk

If the caulk on your wall is getting brittle or cracking, it means it has lost its elasticity and is time to repaint.

5. It is time to paint

It is not always necessary to wait for signs of paint failures to show up to plan to refurbish a house. You can do it before huge problems start showing up and save yourself from the headache of big issues keeping your house in a perfect shape. If you haven’t painted in a long while, maybe now is the time to do it.

If you are seeing any of the above signs at your home, start taking actions.

Happy painting!

6 tips for storing and using leftover water-based paints

Most of the homes have at least few cans of leftover paints lying in the corner of the storeroom or garage from the previous painting project in Nepal. Whether they have been used or unopened, it is essential to store the paint cans properly to keep it ready to use whenever needed. Here are some tips on how to store it properly:

1. Do not expose the paint to extreme heat or cold

Store it at a neutral temperature. Most of the wall colors can handle the freeze-thaw cycle but at times, extreme conditions can damage the paint and solidify it or change the colour of it. So, if you live in a place with cold climate, do not leave the paint outdoors or in the garage. If you live in places of Nepal with a hot climate, make sure that the paint is not exposed to temperature more than 35 degree Celsius for a long time.

2. Open another container of paint after you finish the last one

Finish one can before moving on to another one so you do not have to reseal it if it does not come into use.

3. Use clean paint stirrers

Like a professional painter, always use clean stirrers to stir the paint in order to avoid bacterial contamination as excess bacteria can make the paint thin, runny, and unusable. Stirring paint only with clean wood or plastic stirrer than a stick or dirty screwdriver avoids the problem. Also, close the paint can when you are not using it. The benefit of using water-based paint in Nepal is it contains extra preservatives to keep the bacteria away.

4. Stir the paint thoroughly

When left unused, the paint often separates into two layers that is why stirring thoroughly is essential.  Stir the paint and test the color before you start applying it on the walls to see if the paint gives same shades as before.

5. Get rid of rust on the edges

If it has been a while since you stored the paint, check if the rust has formed on the surface of the lid or inside the can. If rust is there, pour the paint into another container before you start painting to avoid it from ruining the paint.

6. Seal the paint cans tightly

Before you usher the paint cans back to the storage room, wipe the excess paint on the rim so that lid can fit better and tighter. To preserve the paint better, place a layer of wax paper in between the can and the lid before sealing the paint can.

Follow these tips to store your paint better and find it in the perfect shape when you need it for your next painting project.

12 ways to make your flawed wall look better (Part – 2)

We shared with you the six tips to improvise your flawed walls in the previous article and here are six more.

1. Play with brick options

Brick walls with a lovely texture are a far better option than plain drywall. For some, it may be a big no and can find it ugly, but there are various techniques to showcase it in an impressive way.

Over its typical red or brown, a coat of white shades can give a subtle textural effect but not necessarily complete white. The gentle whitewashing technique can do the job while still retaining the character of the brick. Use a type of wall colors specially made for brick walls or paints thinned with water to apply the paint until you get the shades you want. Or, you can go with a color representing nature or even get inspired by the outdoor surroundings in Nepal.

2. Covering wall vents

If there are vents on the walls for heating or cooling the room that does not look attractive, you can cover it up with a slotted screen that not only covers the vent but give the walls a dash of the pattern as well as textural interest.

3. Place the bookshelf

If you have a heater, air conditioner or wall vent, instead of covering it up, you can place a bookshelf of the same color just below it. It would look far less awkward and noticeable than it used to when it looks like a part of a big furniture.

4. Manage the cables

Even if the television is a device that enhances the beauty of a room, we cannot say same about the cable lines. That’s why it is better to hide the wires that connect the cable box and not letting the wire hang around the walls. Install wall molding to camouflage such wires where needed, which not only manages the wires, but beautifies the walls as well.

5. Using single paint color

If the walls of your home are uneven and have minor flaws, paint it with a single wall paints along with the ceiling and trim in Nepal. This draws the attention from flaws to the highlighted areas without any imperfections.

6. Creative positives with negatives

The equipment such as a light switch on the walls is essential, even if they do not look so good on the walls. So, rather than hiding them add a cover plate to it or replace with the fancy one so it can add beauty to the room.

With these 12 tips, you can modify and hide the flaws on the walls in several ways. Tell us your experience if you tried these tips in the comments.

12 ways to make your flawed wall look better (Part – 1)

If there are flaws on the walls, it does not mean you should get rid of the wall, right? However, you can definitely conceal it with your designing skills. Here, we have listed 12 ways you can turn the flaws and awkward position of windows, light bulbs, and other things into beauty with little work, techniques and paints and hide those pesky flaws gracefully in Nepal.

1. Art Collage

Instead of trying to hide the flaws on the walls, you can distract eyes from it by blending it with art pieces to create an artistic looking wall, like a magician. To blend, hang a collection of framed pieces next to the odd light switches and watch how it loses its awkward look.

2. Hang frames on a swing arm

You can hide the not so frequently used wall gadgets behind the art pieces, hanging it on a swing arm or a normal hanger putting it convenient enough to reach whatever you are hiding behind whenever needed.

3. Put a clothing rack on display

Be it to cover the ugly wall colors or to enhance the grandeur of a room, you can add in a shop-style clothing rack available in Nepal that also contributes to solving your storage issues. It is more convenient if you are willing to display your favorite attires while concealing the walls as well.

4. Use chalkboard paint

If you are planning to paint eggshell wall paints on the dented or damaged walls, don’t, as the gloss only highlights the flaw more. Use matte chalkboard paint to hide the blemishes instead, to give your walls a non-glossy texture that can be bought from the paint dealer near you in Nepal. You can even write fun messages on it to further camouflage the dents and blemishes.

Chalkboard paint should not necessarily be used only in the place with the kids. It can be used in several places to create unique effects.

5. Put up the long curtains

To hide something big, or an off-center window, hang a long gorgeous ceiling-to-floor drape. It also contributes to beautifying the backdrop of bed or furniture. You do not necessarily need to hide the exact position. Instead, you can divert the attention to drape hanging it in the place where you want to draw it. You can hang it to make the entire wall disappear or fix the asymmetrical window as well.

6. Fix a plain, bland ceiling

The ceiling is also called “fifth wall” as it has its own value as well as issues. To cover up the damage on the ceilings caused by water leakage or other issues and create a masterpiece, consider applying wooden ceiling panels. However, make sure to fix the damaged areas first.

These are the six ways to turn flaws of walls into beauty. Follow our next article to find six more of them. Also, if you try out these tips, share your experience with us.

If You Spill Paint On Your Clothes

While doing the paint job, not everyone wears old clothes and knows how to take precaution to save it from the spattered paints. Sometimes, even after taking the precautions, you may get drips on your new jeans accidentally or even brush up against the just-painted walls and smudge your favorite clothes. Well, mishaps happen and for that, knowing how to get the paint out of the clothes is essential in Nepal. Here’s how to do it right.

1. Act quick

Stains of any kind are easy to remove when they are fresh. Therefore, to remove it, the first step is to take an immediate action which deals with the half of the problem. The longer you take more difficult the stain becomes to remove it.

2. Know the types of paint

The ways of cleaning the paint depends on its type which means you have to identify the type of paint first. Compared to oil-based paint, water based paint is much easier to clean, but on the other hand, oil-based paint stays wet longer, giving you more time to get rid of it.

While buying the paint, it is best to take precautions and buy the things needed to clean up the mess earlier which includes cleaning supplies so that you can clean the stains in time. Also, check the labels of clothing to make sure the chemicals are good to use in it.

1. Water-based paint

To remove the water-based paint stains, Isopropyl alcohol is effective which you are likely to have at home. You can also buy from the paint dealer near you. First, clean the stain with soap and warm water. If you are washing the stained clothes immediately, you can remove most of the wall paints just with it in Nepal. Next, pour alcohol on the stained area and scrub using an old toothbrush. Once the stain gets off the clothes, rinse it again and let it dry. If the alcohol does not work, try doing same with nail polish remover.

1. Oil-based paint

Oil-based paints are trickier to remove from clothes, but not impossible. However, you need to harness yourself with safety precautions like wearing eyeglasses, gloves, and a respirator before you start working on it. Also, make sure that the place you are working is well-ventilated as the oil-based paint removers are flammable.

Next, scan the paint can label and find out which solvent is appropriate for the cleanup. Mineral spirits are normally used for the purpose. Before applying it, soak the excess paint with the paper towel, turn the clothes inside out and work from the underside of the stain. Then, place some paper napkins underneath the stain while carefully pouring the solvent so it can absorb it. Next, dab the opposite side of the stain with a cotton ball or swab to transfer the paint onto the paper napkins. Repeat it after replacing the napkins until there are no more stains and wash it according to its label instructions. Make sure to remove the solvents properly as the solvent is flammable.

Have you tried these paint color stains removing tips in Nepal? What do you think about it? Share your views with us in comments.