How to paint "Red"

No Faux Finish in this bathroom; just RED painted walls! I do like red, but I always cringe when a client wants it! Pittsburgh color 433-7 Bordeaux was the perfect color for this guest bathroom. It needed color; it had great texture with the concrete sink and counter top. Tiled floor and back splash were all monochromatic.

 

Red is one of the most difficult colors to paint. So if you don't have much experience in the painting field go paint a few other rooms a nice neutral before tackling a red! I'll share a few tips to get you started. All paints have tint or pigment mixed in a base paint. Because the red pigment is translucent a large amount is needed to achieve a deep dark solid color. For those reasons reds are more expensive and not so user friendly!

 

You will want to start with a quality tools, my favorite brush is a Corona Chinex 2 1/2" angled brush. It'll lay the paint down nice and smooth when dipped correctly.

 

Also use a quality roller cover and plan to toss it when done (no cleaning out red roller covers!) Do not buy the cheapest one and make sure you get one that the nap is correct thickness for the surface you will be painting. Before using it, wrap it completely in tape then remove to get rid of loose lint so it won't roll onto your wall leaving pieces in your painted surface.

 

Here's where I remind you that painting is NOT a quick job, it takes time and patience! Before you even put that red in your paint tray plan on first priming the whole room with a good grey tinted primer. I used Zinsser 123 Deep Tint Primer with black pigment shot in to make a black/grey. The primer gives the red pigmented paint a backer to fill in and even out your translucent red. This is major in getting it right!!

 

Now for the red.... When you purchase the red make sure you specify "flat" finish rather than eggshell or semi-gloss. All that pigment it takes to make a red will give you a sheen equal to eggshell. As I mentioned earlier use a quality paint brush, roller cover and paint. My favorite paints are Pittsburgh, Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. Get their good stuff. (it's not cheap...sorry)

 

Always cut in first using your brush then roll. You'll have to figure out your own "groove" for the brushing; just make sure you brush it out well. Dark colors can get away from you and start to sag usually after you've cut in a good amount so always look back to where you've been to catch any developing paint sags. Next is rolling the paint,  remember to get rid of roller lint with tape. Fill your roller evenly, be consistent with the roller and dipping the paint and applying to the walls. DO NOT push the paint hard against the wall and see how much you can get out of one roller. That's way too much work as well as being incorrect. Just fill your roller with an even amount of paint, roll one roller width area, then dip again overlapping an inch or two and then keep moving forward with that process. Make sure you never push paint, just let it glide. Spread the same amount of paint in equal widths to ensure that the paint is applied evenly on all areas of the wall.

 

My project took one coat of grey primer and two coats of red.

 

By the way; I love this sink done by Jerry Sandbothe, Tile and remodel construction by Brian Stahl