There are many different paints, stains, and varnishes that are available today and this can make choosing paint a headache for anybody that has no idea what they are looking for. There are two major categories in which paint falls in and that is oil based and water based. Stains and also varnishes also fall in these same categories.
Oil based paints have a gloss, semi gloss, or matte finish. It wears well and it provides an easy clean surface. It is good to use oil based paint on doors, windows, or jsut about anywhere that needs to have a finish that provides a protection. If you need a good washable surface you can also use oil based paint on ceilings and also on walls, like painted surfaces usually. It is never a good idea to paint over top of wallpaper because it makes it harder to remove from the wall.
When painting with a water based paint it is so much easier to work with and the tools used can be washed with water, which is similar to painted surfaces to most people. When painting your ceilings or walls water based paint is a good choice and also good for textured surfaced outside.
When painting any new surface it is best to use a primer. This will help because it will prevent the paint from being absorbed. Also by doing this it gives the paint something to stick to. The primer or the under coat that you use should be from the same manufacture. Also you can use a water based primer for an oil based top coat but it is not a great idea to use a oil based primer for a water based paint. The number of coats the you will need depends on how porous the surface is, and the thickness of the paint you are applying, like oil paints usually. The quality of paint also has a factor to the amount of paint you will need also.
