Different Paint
There are many different paints, stains, and varnishes that are available today and this can make choosing paint a headache for anybody that has no idea what they are looking for. There are two major categories in which paint falls in and that is oil based and water based. Varnishes and stains also fall under the same categories.
Paints that are oild based come in gloss, semi gloss, or matte. It wears well and it provides an easy clean surface. Oil paint is good to use on doors, windows, or anywhere that needs a protection finish. If you need a good washable surface you can also use oil based paint on ceilings and also on walls, like oil paints usually. It is never a good idea to paint over top of wallpaper because it makes it harder to remove from the wall.
When painting with a water based paint it is so much easier to work with and the tools used can be washed with water, which is similar to painted surfaces to most people. It is the choice paint for walls and also for ceilings and for textured surfaces outside.
When painting any new surface it is best to use a primer. This will help because it will prevent the paint from being absorbed. Also by doing this it gives the paint something to stick to. The primer or the under coat that you use should be from the same manufacture. Also you can use a water based primer for an oil based top coat but it is not a great idea to use a oil based primer for a water based paint. The coats of paint that you will need depend on how porous the surface being painted is and the thickness that the paint is applied, like painted surfaces usually. The overall quality of the paint has a big factor too.