It's once again that time of year when hordes of do-it-yourselfers converge on paint stores all over America in an effort to improve the appearance of their homes.

If you're like most people, a visit through the paint section of your local hardware store or home improvement center can be a somewhat confusing experience. While the cheerful clerk with the paint-spattered smock is anxious to help, you probably forget at least half of his advice by the time you get home.

Aside from turning a dark, dirty, dingy space into a cheerful and clean environment, a fresh coat of paint will do wonders to protect the surface to which it's applied. In a bathroom or kitchen where there is an abundance of dampness, a thorough coat of paint will protect the wallboard below from damage and at the same time make the wall and ceiling surfaces easier to clean.

The same is true for the exterior. Proper finish to the exterior of the home gives it ample protection from the elements and can significantly improve its appearance or "curb appeal".

Back to the store. Selecting paint can be as difficult as trying to choose a breakfast cereal there are so many choices. We'll try to make your next paint store experience easier and less confusing.

First, we'll discuss the interior. By far, the most popular paint for walls in the home is a latex flat wall. A latex paint is one in which water is used as the solvent in contrast to oil paints where mineral spirits are used. Many of the other ingredients are the same.

Do-it-yourselfers often favor latex paints, partly because cleanup can be accomplished with soap and water rather than mineral spirits. Acrylic latex paints are the best because they offer greater elasticity and a great seal. At the same time, they allow moisture vapors to escape from below rather than being trapped, thereby avoiding blistering and chipping.

Where woodwork is concerned, we like to use an oil-base primer along with a coat or two of a high quality oil-base semi-gloss enamel. We have found that while latex is great for flat walls and ceilings, oil is hard to beat on doors and other woodwork that is exposed to constant abuse and requires frequent cleaning. Nothing will withstand abrasion as well as an oil-base paint. Although oils are more difficult to work with, and cleanup not as easy, the extra effort will provide a result that will last longer and look better for years. We also recommend that oil-base primers and enamel finish coats be used in wet areas of the home to offer the substrate an added bit of protection.

On the exterior, high-quality acrylic latex paints are recommended. You may find that exterior latex paints are slightly more expensive than their interior counterparts. This is due to the improved ingredients necessary to make the paint more resistant to the elements. Again, latex paints will expand and contract with temperature changes and will allow vapors to escape from behind the paint, preventing blistering and peeling.

Raw wood or siding should first be primed with an exterior grade oil-base primer. Gutters, downspouts, flashing and other architectural sheetmetal should be washed with straight white vinegar and also treated with an oil-base primer that contains zinc oxide, a rust inhibiter.

Once metal and wood have been primed, apply a coat or two of the exterior grade acrylic latex paint.

Raw plaster should be treated with a masonry block sealer and finished with a coat or two of high-quality exterior grade acrylic latex paint. Previously painted plaster or color-coat plaster should be power-washed and painted with a coat or two of high quality exterior grade acrylic latex paint.

You'll want to apply the best paint available to avoid having to paint every few years instead of every decade.

One of the best rules of thumb for buying paint is the price. Better paints are more expensive because they contain better ingredients. So, the first step in selecting paint is to look for a major national brand. Beware of new and improved offbeat brands that claim one-coat coverage and sell for $5.99 per gallon. Be prepared to spend $15 to $20 per gallon on a high-quality latex paint. A premium quality oil-base paint will run about $25 to $30.