There’s more to consider than color when it comes to picking paint. You’ll have to decide whether you want to use oil-based or latex paint. There are a lot of distinctions between the two, and you’ll want to be sure you have all of the information before making a selection. When a painter suggests latex paint but you’ve heard oil-based paint is better, these are the differences to consider.
Acrylic paint is another name for latex paint. The carrier in latex paint is usually water, with glycols or ethers as the solvent. It’s important to note that latex paint does not come from the rubber plant. In the field of paint, the term ‘latex’ refers to the resin.
THE BENEFITS OF LATEX PAINT:
- Doesn’t turn yellow with age
- Environmentally friendly
- Time to dry quickly
- It’s simple to clean up with only soap and water.
- Durable
- Flexible
- Adheres to exterior surfaces quite effectively.
- Flaking, blistering, and peeling are all common paint failures.
CONTRARY TO OPINION, LATEX PAINT HAS THE FOLLOWING FEATURES
It’s possible that it will swell the wood grains, necessitating sanding between layers.
Today, oil-based paint (also known as alkyd) is becoming less popular. The carrier in oil-based paints is a mixture of mineral spirits and petrochemical solvents.
THE BENEFITS OF OIL PAINT:
- The finish is tough and long-lasting.
- Because of its high viscosity, fewer coats are required to cover flaws.
- Shrinkage is reduced.
PROS AND CONS OF OIL PAINT:
- Cleaning up is a pain: you’ll need paint thinner, which you’ll have to dispose of properly (you can’t just rinse it down the drain!)
- It’s thicker, stickier, and more difficult to manipulate (much less forgiving than latex)
- It’s revolting! The stench of oil-based paints is quite strong.
- Over time, it’s more prone to crack and fade.