Going to a hardware store’s paint department can be overwhelming, especially with the number of colors, textures, finishes, and types it has. If you are unsure of what paint to use for your project, do your research. You must choose the right paint to give you not only the color you are after but the texture too. A proper combination of these features can provide the room with its character and the vibe you are after.
We made the job easy for you. Read on our guide to the different kinds of paint and when to use them to avoid costly mistakes.
Water-Based Paints
The majority of paints used in walls today are water-based because it is easy to use. It is commonly labeled as latex paints and is slightly less durable and more expensive than its oil-based counterpart. However, you will gain more benefits from using water-based paints. It dries faster, easy to clean up after the work is done, and has less unpleasant odor than its counterpart. You can cover an entire wall with this paint in just one day, making it a preferred choice for interior paint works.
Oil-Based Paints
Most people call these paints, solvent-based paints. Its primary feature is its durability and affordability. If you want a paint that can save you money from repainting for years, then you better choose oil-based paints. Because of its resilience, this paint is used for trims, since doorways and baseboards are prone to frequent contacts than walls. It can withstand this considerable amount of battery without wearing.
Oil-based paints take longer to dry than the water-based alternatives, but those extra hours of waiting are worth it because of its long lifespan.
This type of paint is further divided into subtypes based on their bases: organic (linseed oil) and Synthetic (Alkyd) oil. The synthetics are cheaper and more durable than its organic counterpart, but of course, it comes with a price, high amounts of volatile compounds. That means it has a noxious smell.
The Primer
Even DIY projects need a primer, which is a special coat used as a base to seal off the surfaces. It protects the wall from inconsistencies and discoloration. A primer is usually grey or white, but it is meant to fill in the pores before painting the wall with the final color. Aside from leveling the surface, it also provides better adhesion for a refined finish, and it brings out the top coat’s true color.
Defining the Level of Sheen
Aside from the choice between oil-based and water-based, there is already further differentiation among paints based on the amount of its “shininess” or gloss.
You have the glossy on one side and the sheens that are not shiny on the other. These sheens come as “Flat,” “Eggshell,” “Matte,” and “Satin.” Matte is more durable than flat and is suitable for ceilings to hide the imperfections.
Among the four selections, Satin and Eggshell paints have a hint of shine but muted in some angles. They are good options if you are going for a glossy finish but durable.
The gloss and semi-gloss paints are the strongest among the sheens, and they are durable even when rubbed off like the walls in the kitchen and bathrooms. These paints are also called enamel and the hardest wearing among the paints.
Conclusion
In the end, the paint you choose will only be useful if you use the right tools to paint it with. Always use high-quality tools, and if you don’t know how to paint, have a professional to do them to achieve the best look.