Which Paint for Which Surface

Find the surface, take the paint next to it. Everything here comes from the manufacturer's data sheets. Not sure? Call (718) 594-9337 and tell us what's on the wall.

Inside

Painted walls in good shape

Use PRO in any sheen, NEO or EKO. First wash off grease, sand glossy spots dull.

New drywall and fresh patches

Use PRO, two coats, no separate primer. Or PRIME first, then NEO or EKO.

Ceilings

Use EKO or NEO in flat. Flat hides roller marks and patches overhead.

Bathrooms and kitchens

Use PRO in Satin or Semi-Gloss. First kill mildew with 1 part bleach to 3 parts water and rinse.

Doors, trim and baseboards

Use PRO in Semi-Gloss. First sand old gloss dull. Oil paint underneath takes a bonding primer.

Cabinets and millwork

Use EON, an acrylic urethane enamel that levels out and dries to a hard satin.

Rentals between tenants

Use EKO. Zero VOC, so the next tenant can move in without a solvent smell. More in zero VOC paint.

Outside

Wood siding, trim and fences

Use PRO. First scrape, sand, and put PRIME on bare wood. Step by step in fence and exterior wood paint.

Stucco, brick and masonry

Use PRO or NEO. First new work cures 30 days, then wash off chalk and dirt.

Vinyl siding

Use PRO in a color the same or lighter than the original. A darker color can warp the panels. More in siding paint.

Galvanized steel and aluminum

Use PRIME, then PRO. First scrub off oil films with detergent and rinse.

Painting the whole house? Exterior paint by the bucket counts the gallons.

Rusted railings, fire escapes and gates

Use Rust Converter, then an anticorrosive primer, then PRO Semi-Gloss as the topcoat. First knock off the loose rust.

Floors

Garage floors, driveways, patios and walkways

Use STRONG. It primes bare concrete itself and resists hot tire pickup. First new concrete cures 30 days.

Concrete you want to keep bare

Use STRONG Clear Sealer. Tell us the slab and we'll walk you through the coats.

How much

PRO, NEO, EKO and PRIME cover 300 to 400 square feet per gallon per coat. Plan two coats. Our guide to how much paint you need turns a room into gallons.