True or false? Debunking the top 10 house painting myths

10 August 2023 – 7 Minute Read

professional painting a wall

There are several ways to mess up your paintwork – but which warnings should you pay attention to? Let’s debunk the most common painting myths.

If you’re embarking on a painting and decorating project, you need to prepare well. Many people pick up a paintbrush without taking the right steps, and this leads to low-quality results.

By taking advice from professional painters, you can raise the odds of a happy outcome. Of course, not everything you hear is true, but how can you know what’s accurate and false?

Here, we’ll wade through the most common house painting myths and see if there’s any truth to them.

What do you really need to bear in mind? Let’s examine some of the most popular house painting advice.

1. You don’t need to use primer

When you want to paint a room, you’ll be tempted to pick up a brush and get started. But if you want high standards in your home, this is a mistake. Primer plays an important role in creating high-quality paint finishes.

Primer is an undercoat that is applied to walls before any painting takes place. It makes sure the paint clings to the wall, can help the paint last longer, and even gives some protection to the surface being painted.

For painters and decorators, priming the wall is just one aspect of the preparation needed to deliver a great outcome.

Verdict: FALSE

2. Paint never goes off

Many people keep spare paint in their attics or garages in case they need to touch-up a wall in the future. Unfortunately, this might not be the wisest idea.

The truth is that all types of paint go off sooner or later. That’s the case even if you take steps to store your paint in the proper manner (which is something that many people don’t bother with).

The time paint takes to go bad varies by mix and brand. If you’re not sure about your leftover paint, pay attention to the smell and texture. Applying any paint past its best will lead to a mess on your walls, so avoid it at all costs.

Verdict: FALSE

3. You can’t paint in cold weather

In the UK, not being able to paint during cold weather is pretty restrictive – but is it really something you should steer clear of?

Yes and no. The ambient temperature inside a property is almost always high enough that you can paint. But there are times when temperatures drop low enough that painting becomes a bad idea.

These temperatures change depending on the paint you’re using. Masonry paint and emulsion paint, for example, will have different minimum temperatures. You can still use most paints if it’s warmer than 5°C – a temperature most would consider cold.

Verdict: FALSE

4. You can paint over mould

If you’ve discovered mould on your walls, you’ll want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. You might feel an urge to slap several coats of paint on top of it, but that would be a mistake.

Yes, paint will hide mould, but only for a short while. Sooner or later, the mould will grow through the paint, ruining your hard work.

You’ll need to remove the mould and treat the root cause to be sure it won’t come back.

Just make sure you're treating it properly. Different types of mould require different types of remedial work. Check out our guide on rising mould for examples of restorative action.

Verdict: FALSE

5. You don’t need to prepare your walls

Wall painting is simple enough. You have surfaces that need painting, all you need is the paint and some rollers and brushes. Right?

Wrong. If you want a stylish interior, you’ll have to prepare your walls properly. The exact method you follow will depend on the current state of your walls, but many people have to wash, sand, and fill in their surfaces.

There are also different methods to use and rules to follow for different types of surfaces. For example, you'll need to be careful when painting new plaster.

If you’re dealing with a large space, this can be a lot of work. This is one of several reasons why some people prefer to hire professional painters and decorators.

Want to get your walls ready yourself? Read our simple guide on how to prep walls for painting now.

Verdict: FALSE

6. Painting your home is good for selling

It’s very common for homeowners who are selling their property to give it a lick of paint before it’s up for grabs. Is that really necessary, though?

The common consensus is that, yes, a fresh coat of paint will increase home value by as much as 5%. If that doesn’t sound like much, keep in mind that for a £300,000 house, that’s a whopping £15,000.

Since the cost of painting a house – both inside and out – is quite low, this seems like a smart course of action.

Verdict: TRUE

7. You can choose a colour using only paint swatches

Picking a colour for your walls can be tough. It’s not always easy to imagine how it’ll look with all the surfaces finished. Paint swatches can help you picture the paint, but they aren’t a complete solution.

The paint might look quite different from the swatch once it’s on your walls. The surface it’s applied to and the lighting in the space can both have a big impact on how it looks.

It’s best to bring a sample of the paint home to test it out. Once you feel sure about the colour, commit to buying the right amount of paint for the whole space.

Verdict: FALSE

8. Paint colour affects home value

We already know that both interior and exterior painting can boost home value, but does the colour you choose matter?

It might come as a surprise, but paint colour does affect home value – sometimes significantly. While darker colours are popular right now, that trend might not last.

Think carefully before painting your home a colour that might go out-of-fashion more quickly than you’d expect.

Paint on your home's exterior could also have an effect, and might be worth removing.

Need help with this task? Read our guide on how to remove paint from bricks.

Verdict: TRUE

9. You can use any paint on any surface

Some people believe that any type of paint can be used on any surface. While it might seem like you’re only adding a splash of colour, the truth is that there’s a reason there are different varieties of paint.

High gloss paint is durable, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for exterior walls. Masonry paint might be a more suitable option. 

For the best results, start by identifying paints that are produced for specific spaces. This means a better finish, reapplying paint less often, and lower decorating costs.

If you're planning to render a wall or plasterboard a ceiling, for example, you'll need to make sure you have the most suitable paint to finish the job.

Verdict: FALSE

10. Hiring a professional painter is expensive

Many people choose to handle home painting themselves. This is usually to save on costs, but that doesn’t always ring true.

If it’s your first project, you’ll need to buy the right tools and equipment. DIY finishes often look inadequate, meaning further coats and touch-ups are required – pushing up the cost of materials once again.

Local painters and decorators bring their own equipment, make full use of your paint, and deliver a professional-grade finish to each surface. When you hire an expert, the project runs more smoothly, and without a big bump in costs.

If you’re not sure about the painter and decorator costs in your area, you can always request a quote from local professionals.

Verdict: FALSE