How to Apply Dark Paints Evenly

  • By Admin
  • 28 Aug, 2018
If you've ever tried to apply a very dark paint to your walls, you know that these colors can be very hard to apply evenly. Dark paints can look streaky if they're not applied properly. This can be frustrating, and for many people, this can even seem counter-intuitive. After all, shouldn't a dark paint make a dark, bold mark from the very first application?

Understanding the why behind this problem can help you apply paint to your walls more effectively. These tips will help.

Why Are Dark Paints Hard to Apply Evenly?

Interior and exterior wall paint consist of a base and a pigment. The pigment is added to the base and the two are mixed together to create the product that is applied to the walls.

For light paints and pastels, the base is white. The white base contains a lot of titanium dioxide, a chemical that helps to coat the walls and cover what is underneath. For the best coverage with the first application of paint, a white base is preferred.

However, for medium and medium-dark paints, a dark base is used. The darker the base, the less titanium dioxide it contains. For very dark paints, a clear base is used. This base contains no titanium dioxide at all.

To understand why a clear base is necessary, imagine that you want to paint a wall in pure, tomato-red color. If the red pigment is added to a white base, the paint will turn pink. The only way to ensure that the paint will stay a pure red is by adding the pigment to the clear base. The dark red paint will streaky because the wall is visible through the clear base.

How Can You Apply Dark Paints to Your Walls Evenly?

Sometimes, a homeowner can request that their dark paint can be created with a dark base. For some paints, this can be done without lightening the color too much.

For example, imagine you want to paint your walls with a dark blue that is normally made with a clear base. You may be able to achieve a similar dark blue color by asking the paint company to switch the clear base for a dark base. The dark base will contain a small amount of titanium dioxide, which will lighten the shade of blue slightly, but the final product will still be a fairly dark shade of blue.

However, if you must work with a paint that has a clear base, then the best way to get even coverage is to prime the surface with a tinted coat.
After the primer dries, apply a few coats of paint. Allow the paint to dry fully before applying additional coats. You'll be able to tell if the paint is fully dry by the way it feels. Wet paint is tacky to the touch - dry paint is not. However, if you're not sure, read the manufacturer's instructions regarding drying time.

Using top quality paint products and paint tools when applying dark colors is important. Good quality paint is easy to apply more evenly than poor quality paint, and good paint tools can help apply the paint as evenly as possible.

Of course, the easiest way to ensure that your dark paint will be applied evenly is to hire a professional painter to get the work done. A reputable, skilled professional painter will have the tools and knowledge needed to apply paint properly.

Have More Questions? Call Us!

At CoverWalls Inc., we're happy to answer all of your paint-related questions. Whether you're trying to get an even finish with dark paints or you have questions about another painting problem, we're happy to help.