Test Your Paint IQ To Help You Get Going (NAPSA)—Funny how the thought of painting a room can put the brightest folks into a dull funk; how choosing the right color can immobilize do-it-yourself enthusiasts who are otherwise raring to get going. This quiz can help get you on the road to a more knowledgeable and colorful journey. 1. A higher-priced interior paint delivers a higher-quality performance. a. True b. False 2. Paint quality is determined by a. The colorant added. b. Theprice. c. The resins, pigments, solvents and additives. d. The person whose house it’s in. 3. The best way to find your coloris a. Take a sample color chip into natural daylight. b. Take a sample color chip into the room to be painted. c. Get a paint tester bottle and apply the color to your room. 4, The way paint flows off a brush or roller is a quality indicator. a. True b. False Answers: 1. b. False. Price does not equal a paint brand’s level of quality. Every brand of paint uses a similar manufacturing process. The differentiator is the blend of ingredients used. Glidden paint, for example, which achieved an excellent rating on key quality marketers for its new formula, has kept its price steady— between $16 and $24 a gallon. When choosing paint for your next room makeover project, remember that price does not necessarily equal quality. 2. c. According to Maria French, quality paint chemist for AkzoNobel, the premium brands of paint include quality ingredients such as resins, pigments, solvents and additives in the base so the paint goes on smoothly and evenly. 3. a, b and c, with an emphasis on c. Color chips can help narrow down your color choice, but paint testers allow you to actually put the color on the wall, so you can try it before you buy it. Look for ready-to-go testers with a brush attached to the lid to make color selection even easier. 4. a. True. Quality interior paint is not too thick or too thin. It flows smoothly and easily off the brush or roller, making application quick and simple. Less paint spatter equates to better-quality paint, says French. Your Paint IQ 4 correct: High gloss and ready to get going. 2-3 correct: Semigloss. You need a bit more gas. 0-1 correct: Matte. You seem to have a flat tire and need a bit more pumpingup.
