Washable interior paints - matt, satin, all EN 13300 classes
Paint peeling off the bathroom wall after six months? Probably the primer. But if the kitchen wall turned dark two months after painting, that's a different problem - wrong washability class.
EN 13300 splits washable paints into 5 classes. Class 1 survives heavy scrubbing with detergent - kitchen, bathroom, busy hallway. Classes 2-3 - damp wiping with a sponge, enough for living rooms and bedrooms. Classes 4-5 - almost decorative, dry cleaning only.
Matt or satin? Matt hides wall imperfections but stains faster. Satin has a subtle sheen, wipes clean without marks, holds up better under regular rubbing. In Chisinau flat corridors - highest traffic zone - painters recommend satin from the start.
Matt paints class 2-3 - classic choice for bedrooms and living rooms. Warm atmosphere, no glare from windows.
Satin paints class 1-2 - kitchen, bathroom, stairwell. Slight gloss that takes regular cleaning.
Low-odour / low-VOC paints - for renovating occupied flats or children's rooms. Fast drying, you're back in the room within hours.
How to calculate. Room perimeter times height, minus windows and doors. Divide by 10 m²/L per coat, multiply by 2 for two coats. A 20 m² room with walls and ceiling totalling around 60 m² needs roughly 12 litres.
Colour is mixed on a white base with pigments. If the shade matters, order the full amount in one batch - different batches show on the wall.
In stock: Caparol (Germany), Sniezka (Poland), Tikkurila (Finland). Sizes from 2.5 L to 15 L.
All modern interior paints are water-based (acrylic or latex). Washable means you can wipe the wall - check the EN 13300 wash class (1 is best, 5 is lowest). For living rooms and bedrooms class 3 is fine, for kitchens and hallways pick class 1 or 2.
On properly prepped walls, quality washable paint lasts 5-8 years. On ceilings even longer - up to 10 years if there are no leaks or condensation. Cheap matt paints stain and need redoing within 2-3 years.
Matt hides wall imperfections but is harder to clean - good for bedrooms. Satin has slight sheen, wipes easily, recommended for kitchens, bathrooms and busy hallways. Gloss is rarely used on walls, more often on doors, trim and carpentry.
Measure wall area (perimeter x height minus windows and doors) and divide by 10 m²/L. For two coats multiply by 2. For a 20 m² room (walls + ceiling ~60 m²) you need 12 L - two 5L tins or one 10L.
Thin paper wallpaper can be painted after priming if it sticks tightly without stains or creases. Vinyl or heavily textured wallpaper must come off - paint will not bond to it. Test a corner: if the paper peels, strip it all.