HOW MUCH PAINT DO I REALLY NEED?
When the work is done, we have all experienced ending up with a half-empty container of paint and wondering what to do with it. There is not enough paint to start a new project, we must not pour it down the drain, and if not stored properly, its shelf life is very short. Therefore, next time before you go shopping, remember that firstly, leftover paint can be reduced with good planning, which can help you stay friendly to the environment as well as your wallet.
The first step is to choose the type and quality of paint or coating system. The main criteria for selection include type of surface (wall, wood or metal surfaces, plastic), stress factors (mechanical, weather), the condition of the surfaces to be painted (cracks, peeling, mould, rust etc.) and, last but not least, the finish of the painted surfaces (colour hue, gloss, special effects). Once the appropriate coating system has been selected, you should calculate how much paint you actually need, bearing in mind its properties and the surface area. A helpful tool is the online calculator which will make a system recommendation based on your requirements and work out how much paint is needed for the footage entered. The consumption is calculated for the recommended number of coats.
Professional painters normally include the surface area of windows and doors in the total footage unless the glass surfaces are very large. Do not forget the ceiling. The calculated footage is usually increased by a margin of up to 10 %, which accounts for the paint that will stay on the paintbrush or roller and in the container. The human factor and possible lack of skill are not negligible either.