The can matters, but not the way ads suggest
Proposals often name a brand and stop there. The more useful question is which product, from which line, goes on which surface, and whether a primer goes under it. Paint makers sell several grades of the same color, and the difference between them shows up years later. This page explains the main product choices so you can read that line of a proposal with confidence.
Damp hours at the Springfield/Capital station
In an average year at Springfield/Capital, NOAA counts about 629 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 1,640 hours above 67°F. Those are NOAA's engineering weather data for the Springfield/Capital station, quoted as given.
Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and moisture, so those counts are warm, damp hours. They bear on two product choices in particular: how fast a coating dries and cures, and how well it resists mildew on surfaces that stay damp.
Primers: the coat nobody sees
Primer does jobs that finish paint can't do well:
- Bonding primers grip glossy or slick surfaces, such as old enamel trim, tile or laminate, so the finish doesn't peel.
- Stain-blocking primers stop water stains, smoke, knots in wood and marker from bleeding through. Some are shellac- or oil-based for the worst stains.
- Drywall primers seal new or patched drywall so the finish dries evenly without dull patches.
- Exterior wood primers seal bare wood and help the topcoat hold on.
A proposal that says "spot-prime as needed" is less clear than one that names the primer and where it goes.
Water-based or oil-based finishes
Most walls, ceilings and siding today get water-based acrylic paint. It stays flexible, resists fading, cleans up with water and has a milder smell. Oil-based and alkyd enamels still turn up on trim, doors and cabinets for their hard, smooth finish, though water-based enamels now do much the same job with less odor and less yellowing. One rule matters: water-based paint over old oil-based gloss needs sanding and a bonding primer first, or it can peel off in sheets. A quick rub test with rubbing alcohol tells a painter which is on the wall.
Mildew resistance
Bathrooms, laundry rooms, shaded north walls and the undersides of porch ceilings stay damp longer than other surfaces. For those, ask about coatings sold as mildew-resistant, and about cleaning any existing mildew off before painting. Paint over live mildew and the spots come back through the new coat. Good ventilation, like a working bath fan, helps more than any product.
Drying versus curing
Labels give two kinds of time: dry to the touch and ready to recoat, and full cure. In damp weather both stretch out. A coat may feel dry and still mark easily for days. Ask the painter to follow the label's recoat time and to tell you when the room can be used normally, the furniture pushed back and the doors closed.
Reading the label
Product data sheets list the surfaces a product suits, the temperature range for application, coverage per gallon, recoat time and the sheen. A careful painter reads them, especially for unusual surfaces. Our paint sheens guide explains how finish affects durability and cleaning.
Older paint in older houses
Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, even sole proprietorships, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices. If your house was built before 1978, you can ask whether the firm holds RRP certification before any scraping or sanding begins.
What Illinois says about contractors
The Illinois Attorney General says general contractors do not need a state license or certification, but may need a permit from the municipality where they work; roofers and plumbers are the trades it lists as needing a state license. That is the Attorney General's guidance, quoted as it reads.
Questions about products
- Which primer goes where, by name?
- Which finish line, not just which brand?
- Water-based or oil-based on the trim, and why?
- What's the recoat time, and when can rooms be used again?