Choosing the right type of paint is an essential step to ensuring a paint job that will last for years.
When painting your house, color is only one important decision to consider. In addition to the color palette, it is necessary for homeowners to weigh the differences between latex and oil paints. With education about these paints, homeowners can ensure that they make the right choice to guarantee a beautiful outdoor paint job on their abode.
Oil-Based Paints
In comparison to prior decades, oil-based, or alkyd, paint has seen a considerable decrease in popularity. While the reason behind this is linked to advances made in latex paint, the characteristics of oil-based paints have stayed the same. In this type of paint, the carriers, or liquids that evaporate, are a formula made up of mineral spirits and petrochemical solvents. The binding materials, which is what is left behind after the carriers evaporate, include petroleum-based alkyds, polyurethanes and silicones.
Latex Paints
With the improvements made to this type of paint in recent years, latex, or acrylic, paints have seen a surge in popularity. The carriers in latex paint include water with glycols or glycol ethers. The binder of latex paint is a formula of acrylic resins, polyvinyl acetate and styrene butadiene. These new components of latex paint make this type far easier to use, clean up and dispose of as compared to oil-based paint.
Ease of Use
The primary difference between oil-based and latex paints is the ease of use. Latex paint is the clear winner in this category, as this type of paint can be cleaned up with water, spreads easily and has a low odor threshold. On the other hand, oil-based paints require the use of paint thinners to clean hands and any spills as well as the tools and brushes used to complete the paint job. Any paint thinner used must then be disposed of properly. Oil-based paints also have a very strong odor which, on the extreme end, can last for weeks after painting. The thick and sticky consistency of this paint makes it difficult to spread and requires more effort for proper application.
Durability
While oil-based paints are not as easy to use as latex paints, they are more durable. Oil-based paints dry to a hard and smooth finish. This type of paint also has the ability to withstand abrasion well. Despite these positives, it is important to note that oil-based paints continue to dry over their lifetime and will crack if repeatedly recoated. Latex paint is flexible and can expand or contract with the surface it is covering. In addition to being flexible, latex paint is very porous and allows moisture to escape from the painted surface, which is a positive aspect.
Related posts
Before painting, check which type of paint is already on the surface.Before painting the inside or outside of your home, determine whether the original paint was oil-based or latex paint, because...
Oil Vs. Latex PaintsThere's a lot to learn before you select paint for your next home improvement project. Learn the difference between latex and oil-based paints, along with the pros and cons of...
Cracks and bumps in a wall will impact the painting.Painting the interior or exterior walls of your home requires careful considerations. One consideration is the type of paint used for the wall....
What people often call latex paint is in fact an acrylic. Acrylic-based gesso is a common ground or primer for fine art paintings done in oil. Therefore, there is no need for a special preparation...
You can mix latex paints.It's possible to combine paints with common bases such as latex, which is a water base. You can mix leftover amounts or smaller cans of latex paint for a uniform color in...
