Paint ???

[rynd2it]

Hi,

Wandering around the local Castorama (complete with dictionary) I found it very confusing as to the different paint finishes.

In the USA, I had flat, egg-shell, semi-gloss and gloss, and very similar in the UK (but its a while back). Anyone care to enlighten me on the French equivalents, I'm also going to need wallpaper paste remover which I could not find at all.

Merci

[Bevdeforges]

Painting is a subject/project with which I am intimately concerned these days! Evidently the paint is a bit different here, due to the stone/cement walls (i.e. no plasterboard). There are also various paints for the specific surface you're painting: walls, wood, metal.

Wall paint comes in three finishes: mat, satin and brillant - basically equivalent to mat, semi-gloss and gloss. If you're painting on bare walls, or if you're covering one kind of paint with another, it's a good idea (I learned this the hard way!) to start with a coat of "sous-couche" - basically sealer. It's the only way that "mono-couche" (i.e. one coat) paint will live up to the promise.

For removing wall paper, get a cheap (and they are cheap) steamer. But if you insist, what you're looking for is called Les décolleurs de papier peint.

Leroy Merlin has a nice set of "how to" files and videos on painting: Peinture | Leroy Merlin And I've found that working my way through those is a great way to pick up the vocabulary you need for hitting the shops.

You'll also find a whole range of "textured paints" and there is a process with wax (cire) that gives you a texture on your walls when painting. Plus they have a white wallpaper of sorts that some people put on their walls before painting, again to give some texture to the painted walls. I've never messed with this, but all the hardware stores seem to have lots of information available on how to do this kind of thing.
Cheers,
Bev

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Painting is a subject/project with which I am intimately concerned these days! Evidently the paint is a bit different here, due to the stone/cement walls (i.e. no plasterboard). There are also various paints for the specific surface you're painting: walls, wood, metal.

Wall paint comes in three finishes: mat, satin and brillant - basically equivalent to mat, semi-gloss and gloss. If you're painting on bare walls, or if you're covering one kind of paint with another, it's a good idea (I learned this the hard way!) to start with a coat of "sous-couche" - basically sealer. It's the only way that "mono-couche" (i.e. one coat) paint will live up to the promise.

For removing wall paper, get a cheap (and they are cheap) steamer. But if you insist, what you're looking for is called Les décolleurs de papier peint.

Leroy Merlin has a nice set of "how to" files and videos on painting: Peinture | Leroy Merlin And I've found that working my way through those is a great way to pick up the vocabulary you need for hitting the shops.

You'll also find a whole range of "textured paints" and there is a process with wax (cire) that gives you a texture on your walls when painting. Plus they have a white wallpaper of sorts that some people put on their walls before painting, again to give some texture to the painted walls. I've never messed with this, but all the hardware stores seem to have lots of information available on how to do this kind of thing.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks Bev, very useful indeed.

So, no equivalent of egg-shell (sort of matt satin) which I really like to use on ceilings.

Any recommendations as to paint manufacturer - I exclusively used Dulux in the UK and Behr in the US?

A bientot

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by rynd2it

Thanks Bev, very useful indeed.

So, no equivalent of egg-shell (sort of matt satin) which I really like to use on ceilings.

Any recommendations as to paint manufacturer - I exclusively used Dulux in the UK and Behr in the US?

A bientot

There is paint specifically for ceilings. I think it's mat finish, but I don't know. (One brand has a ceiling paint that is said to be "luminant" or some such term. Sounds like "glow in the dark" to me - but it might be that egg-shell you mention.)

I've been using Dulux Valentine as it seems to be the brand of paint most commonly available at a variety of brico stores. There are a couple other brand names of paint here - but mostly it seems the large brico stores are pushing their house brand, with only a limited selection of colors for any other brands.
Cheers,
Bev

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Sounds like "glow in the dark"

Bev

I'll try and avoid that effect

Thanks

[RayRay]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

There is paint specifically for ceilings. I think it's mat finish, but I don't know. (One brand has a ceiling paint that is said to be "luminant" or some such term. Sounds like "glow in the dark" to me - but it might be that egg-shell you mention.)

I've been using Dulux Valentine as it seems to be the brand of paint most commonly available at a variety of brico stores. There are a couple other brand names of paint here - but mostly it seems the large brico stores are pushing their house brand, with only a limited selection of colors for any other brands.
Cheers,
Bev

We used Dulux, as well, and had very good luck with it. Our walls have a sort of stippled effect, with little points of plaster/cement, and the Dulux covered it beautifully.

Best of luck.

Ray

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by RayRay

We used Dulux, as well, and had very good luck with it. Our walls have a sort of stippled effect, with little points of plaster/cement, and the Dulux covered it beautifully.

Best of luck.

Ray

After some additional research the "luminescence" paint is designed to reflect more light, in the UK it is sold as "Light & Colour". The UK Dulux range includes the eggshell finish but Dulux Valentine does not. Really didn't want to have to make a trip to England to buy paint Anyone got any other suggestions?

Cheers

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by rynd2it

After some additional research the "luminescence" paint is designed to reflect more light, in the UK it is sold as "Light & Colour". The UK Dulux range includes the eggshell finish but Dulux Valentine does not. Really didn't want to have to make a trip to England to buy paint Anyone got any other suggestions?

Cheers

I actually wouldn't make the run to England for interior paint. The construction styles between the UK and France are different enough that I'm not sure the UK paint would be the best for French ceilings.

Take a look at the "satin" finish paints. It's a far less glossy finish than the "semi-gloss" you get in the US and it might serve your needs if you're looking for the eggshell stuff. At one point it was recommended for walls where you want to cover surface imperfections. Now, they seem to recommend the mat for that - and I think the mat finish does a better job. (Our walls have hairline cracks and some dings that aren't bad enough to try and spackle.)
Cheers,
Bev

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I actually wouldn't make the run to England for interior paint. The construction styles between the UK and France are different enough that I'm not sure the UK paint would be the best for French ceilings.

Take a look at the "satin" finish paints. It's a far less glossy finish than the "semi-gloss" you get in the US and it might serve your needs if you're looking for the eggshell stuff. At one point it was recommended for walls where you want to cover surface imperfections. Now, they seem to recommend the mat for that - and I think the mat finish does a better job. (Our walls have hairline cracks and some dings that aren't bad enough to try and spackle.)
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,

Plaster finishes are pretty much the same so I don't think that's a problem. The satin is too shiny for my tastes, we found the eggshell finishes worked really well on ceilings in particular. The flat white is too flat again for our tastes.

May have found a decorator supply compnay that will ship to France, now need to figure the costs!!

Cheers

[Bevdeforges]

You have plaster walls and ceilings??????
Cheers,
Bev