more difficult to apply than the latex . Buy quality in paints. Sometimes Interior Wall Guide: you can purchase "bargain" that Paneling, Masonry is not worth the effort of putting it on And Sheet Rock the wall. Basically, you need to read the label on the paint can and this will tell you the quality of the ingredients. For better quality latex paint, at least i F YOU ARE BUILDING a ncw home 50 percent of the pigment binder or remodeling the home you now live should be latex solids. The main in- in, sooner or later you will have to gredient in the pigment should be select the interior wall covering. titanium dioxide, the ingredient that Basically you have a choice among provides covering up or hiding ability, three types of walls: 1) sheet rock, 2) with the ingredients specified by weight paneling, or 3) masonry. I will discuss and not by volume. each of these different types of walls Here are some tips for painting either and the options available to you so that an old wall or one newly constructed. your interior walls can have a distinc- Latex paints can be applied over tive and attractive appearance and still sheet rock or plaster walls once the stay within a specific budget. walls are dry. But keep in mind that Sheet rock is currently the leading taped joints of sheet rock are basically material being applied to interior walls. a wet material and like a plastered wall There are several reasons for this. First, should "cure" for about 2 weeks before it is relatively inexpensive, as a 4- by the surface coating is applied. 8-foot sheet will cost approximately $2. Another precaution comes from the The total installed cost would be paint can label, and this gives the num- slightly higher since you have to tape ber of feet one gallon will cover. and apply sheet rock compound to the If the label indicates that the gallon edges (joints). will cover 450 square feet, then do not Then, too, sheet rock is not difficult exceed this. If you do, the result will be to apply. The average handyman can unsatisfactory. In fact, you might see hang sheet rock because it can be cut weak spots in the paint film even though with a handsaw, razor blade knife, or the guarantee states the paint will cover pocket knife. Finally, sheet rock can be in one coat. For truly satisfactory re- easily repaired with little if any signs sults, apply two coats of latex paint. of the repair showing. For painting, you need two brushes-. There is one additional cost factor to a 3-inch brush for trimming around sheet rock. Another surface coating must doors and windows, and a 1-inch brush be applied as sheet rock is not a finished (tapered) for trimming around the material. baseboard. The options for surface coatings in- A roller and roller cover are helpful. clude paint, paneling, and wallpaper. The roller should be the type to which In regard to paint, you can use either a longer handle can be attached for use a water-thinned (commonly called on either the ceiling or top portions of latex) or a solvent-thinned (commonly the wall. The roller cover selected called oil-based) paint. You have the should have a medium nap and be choice of either a flat, semi-gloss, or recommended for the paint used. high gloss, and wide selection of color. Some additional items you need to You can apply a sand-textured finish. You can also wallpaper or plaster over AUTHOR LELLAND L. GALLUP is an Exten- the paint at a later date if you so desire. sion Specialist in Housing, Department of Even though the solvent-thinned Design and Environmental Analysis, Cor- paints are much improved, they are still nell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 209 GUIDE FOR SELECTING PAINT

1 B cyQ CO c •B 3 c Ü E C •♦-' 1 to m c o <ö c +-« a c ■»-» a; c 1 c w Q. (U o I» o 'E "to o Q.

Floors: Asphalt tile X» Concrete X* X« Linoleum X X X X Vinyl and rubber X X X X X- X» X

Masonry: Old X X X X x« X* X X New X X X* X» X X X* Metal: Heating ducts X X« X« X X X« Radiators X X» X* X X X* Stairs: Treads X X X X Risers X» X« X X X* X X Walls and ceilings: Kitchen and bathroom X X* X X X» Plaster X X X» X X X* Wallboard X X X* X X X* Wood paneling X» X» X Wood trim x^ X« X« X X X X« X X X X Windows: Aluminum X X» X* X X X* Steel X X« X* X X X* Wood sill X» X X X

Black dot (X*) indicates that a primer or sealer may be necessary before the finishing coat (unless the surface has been previously finished). have on hand when working with latex Next, let's turn to wall paneUng and paints are a bucket and water for spot the options you have in both selection cleaning and final cleanup, a sponge or and application. heavy cloth for cleaning the walls be- You can apply paneling directly to fore painting, and several small cloths framing materials of the house or you for spot cleaning. may apply it over the sheet rock.

210 ~wS^ behind the panel. If it is applied direct- ly to the framing member (the stud wall), you have over 14 inches of un- supported space behind the panel and this could cause problems. However, "ilüESLm, solid board paneling, which is gener- ally more expensive, can effectively be ,JB applied directly to the stud wall with- out serious problems. Most paneling used today is or pressed wood. Plywood makes the best paneling for use in the home. Pressed wood paneling should be re- served for commercial use. However, 1 this rule is not followed in many parts Top, roug/i-iau)n, channel pattern western of the country. cedar wall paneling, repeated for cabinet All interior paneling comes in a front and doors. Family room formerly was variety of thicknesses, panel sizes, col- basement storage area with unfinished con- ors, textures, and prices. Generally the crete walls. Above, V- western red true plywood panel, if it is good quality, cedar boards applied diagonally on wall will cost more than pressed wood panel- facing stone fireplace. ing. The price differential will range anywhere from $3 to $20 for a 4- by Personally, I would recommend that 8-foot sheet. most plywood, pressed wood, or hard- It is safe to assume that the higher board paneling be applied over sheet the price you pay the better the quality rock because there is more strength will be. 211 Pressed wood and panel- architectural design, consider these ing can be used effectively in the home. factors: These two types have more variety of • While there are a number of dif- color and texture. In either you can get ferent sizes to choose from in brick, a , vinyl coating, vinyl remember that each brick weighs about clad, smooth finish, textured finish, or 5 pounds and thus a brick wall adds leather finish. greatly to the structural problems of One major caution: what you see is the house. not always what you get. The difiFerence • A concrete block wall will weigh between true wood and wood-grained about 8 pounds per block, and stucco is that a simulated wood grain is pho- will add 6 to 8 pounds of weight per tographically reproduced either directly square foot to the house. Native stone on the panel or printed on or will vary in weight depending upon vinyl film laminated to the panel. Some- the type of stone used, but for a times the panels are embossed to not guideline consider it the same as con- only simulate the appearance of wood crete block. but to actually feel like wood. • For the average person, laying con- Generally the more expensive panel- crete block or brick is no easy task. I ing (either solid wood or true wood would recommend employing a trades- veneer) is used in dining areas, the man to lay brick or concrete block, or study, or the home office. Hardboard to plaster a wall. This could very likely or pressed wood paneling with the be the best money you will spend in guaranteed washable finish would be the building or remodeling process. used in kitchens, baths, or recreation A wall covering you can apply your- rooms. self with little trouble is wallpaper. Tools required to apply most panel- You will have to choose between paper, ing are a handsaw or a portable power vinyls, foils, burlap, felt, grass cloth, with a veneer blade, hammer, nail cotton, linen, and silk. You will also set, calking gun, and several tubes of need to determine how much paper you panel . With these tools almost need, how you apply it, how to match anyone can apply paneling. One good the pattern (if at all), and tools and trick for the hesitant handyman is to equipment required. visit a construction site where a crafts- For the amount of wallpaper re- man is putting up paneling and simply quired simply measure the space you observe, pick up some of his techniques, are going to paper, select the type of and then go home and do it yourself. wallpaper you want, and then have the Most major manufacturers of panel- local supplier assist you in estimating ing have available the matching mold- how much paper you will need. ing necessary to trim the corners and It is a good practice to purchase more panel edges. Be sure to check with the paper than you will require to com- supplier to insure these items are in pensate for any errors in measuring or stock prior to purchasing the paneling. mistakes you might make in applica- Also get from the supplier the installa- tion. Generally the supplier will take tion instructions for the particular back uncut rolls of paper, but it is dif- paneling you have purchased so you ficult to get paper from the same "dye can apply the paneling according to lot" if you have to reorder. the manufacturer's recommendations, Paper hanging tools are inexpensive thereby satisfying the guarantee. and easy to use. Masonry walls are becoming popular The tools required are a gallon buck- again. You see solid brick walls in et to mix the paste in, a smooth 4- by homes, concrete block, and even some 8-foot work surface, pasting brush, concrete walls either painted or cov- smoothing brush, trim knife, seam rol- ered with stucco. While a masonry wall ler, sponge, and a 6- to 8-inch straight can be quite distinctive and add to the edge. The trim knife can be sharp

212 single-edge razor blades, the straight Buy from reputable firms since there edge, a 6-inch-wide putty knife, and will be some guarantee of quality. the sponge anything that would clean the surface of the paper once the job For further reading: is finished. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Interior Before I discuss the types of paper Painting in Homes and Around the Farm, available, I would recommend you Home and Garden Bulletin No. 184, Super- visit a home under construction, one intendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. where a professional paperhanger is 20402—Price 10 cents. working, and observe his technique. You can pick up some helpful hints on things to do and things to avoid, for your own job. Options Available The most popular paper on the mar- ket today is vinyl. This is popular be- In Air Conditioning, cause most people can apply it with Heating a House little difficulty. The edges are butted together and not lapped, it does not stretch, it is durable when handled wet, and extremely tough after it is applied, it is completely washable, and the pat- WE WISH TO control the climate terns are endless. within our living space for our comfort One major concern is whether to and well being. Comfort is attained by purchase prepasted paper or mix your a body heat balance. That is, the com- own paste. This depends largely on the bined energy losses by radiation, con- amount of work you have to do. vection, and evaporation must balance Let's assume you are going to hang the energy generated due to metabolism. paper which requires you to mix your We try to adjust the energy lost by own paste. Depending upon the type the body to agree with the energy gen- of paper, either a wheat germ paste or erated by the body at that particular a vinyl paste will do the job. time. The amount lost depends in gen- Each carton of paste that you pur- eral upon the type and coverage of chase will have mixing instructions on clothing, air temperature, air movement, the carton. and humidity; skin temperature and The advantage of prepasted paper is evaporation; and the temperature of that you omit some intermediate steps the surroundings. in getting the paper on the walls, such For the most part, surrounding tem- as the requirement of mixing the right peratures mean the inside surface tem- consistency of paste and the require- perature of the walls, ceiling and floors. ment of having a large smooth work It is easy to tell that the windows are surface. However, it may be less expen- especially critical areas. When standing sive if you mix your own paste for large close to a window on a cold day, it is areas. not only cold to touch, but unless one If you use lightweight vinyls, either is heavily clothed, you feel a cold sen- the prepasted or mix-your-own type sation as the body is radiating energy would be equally satisfactory. to the much colder window surface. For the heavy vinyls, use a heavy Also a thin film of cold air is usually vinyl paste. sliding down the inside surface of the Part of your decision on weight of window. This phenomenon is especially the paper should be based on the sur- noticeable on the longer floor to ceiling face the paper is being applied to. I windows and glass patio doors. recommend that you talk with your Many variations and options are local supplier and follow his recom- available in designing a home and se- mendations. lecting a heating and cooling system

213 490-100 O - 73 - 15