Best Option Painting Eggshell Light Colored Walls

chipster_2007

14 years ago

My apt has not been painted for MANY years. The walls have dove white (BM) paint, eggshell finish. The walls have been washed and sanding the walls in 5 rooms is so time consuming and time is of the essence in this situation. Would it be alright to just paint over the walls with a flat paint (BM) light color and expect it to last or is priming absolutely necessary?

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Comments (4)

PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
14 years ago
If they're clean, I wouldn't sand. The MANY years part gives me pause about priming, but that could be remedied by using a really good quality paint. If you're going with Ben Moore, consider Aura in matte. It is more expensive when you look at the price per gallon only. At the end of the day price per square of priming + paint isn't going to be less than the cost for using two coats of Aura.

You didn't mention color. The new color could be reason to use a primer not necessarily the old eggshell finish. It depends.
paintguy22
14 years ago
It takes me under 5 minutes to sand the walls in an average size bedroom. I realize DIY'ers move slower than me, but how much longer can it take? Use a pole sander, not sandpaper in your hand or sanding blocks. You can buy sanding heads that screw right into your extension poles.
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chipster_2007
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks funcolors--the color I am going to put on will be the same color that is already up there, bm dove white, but I will be using BM Regal Matte finish. Do you think that will be ok? Why did you recommend BM Aura, does that self prime as well as paint at the same time?
Thanks Paintguy--I am sure it would take me longer..I wasn't thinking about the pole sander. Good idea but I would really like not to have to do it.
PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
14 years ago
Aura does self prime. Should say in most normal priming cases it's a self primer -- it can depend on the situation -- can't make the statement that it's self primeing across every painting circumstance.

I am an Aura matte fan, however. Regal matte is a good one too, tho. I think a lot of people can paint with Regal matte and end up with successful results. It's like SW's Super Paint in that specific instance -- it's a nice fit for a wide variety of painting skills and abilities.

Aura takes a little getting used to but if you get the swing of it, it is lovely. Have to be honest that Aura is not a good fit for everyone in every case.

I worked with a painter who, it seemed to me, sanded everything. He was as quick as cleaning up as he was at sanding -- craftspeople, when they're good, they are amazing.

I'm not so much in the sanding camp, 'cuz like you, I wouldn't wanna unless I had to. ;)

Best Option Painting Eggshell Light Colored Walls

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Lori A. Sawaya

paintguy22

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Best Option Painting Eggshell Light Colored Walls

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Lori A. Sawaya

paintguy22

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chipster_2007Original Author

Lori A. Sawaya

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chipster_2007
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