Do you know your latex from your alkyd from your enamels? If not, don't feel bad.
I didn't for a long time and it was a bit confusing.
In this article I will explain the differences and how to choose the right paint for the job.
It's a good idea to check too with the pros at the paint stores, but with a little information you won't have to go in totally uninformed.
Latex paints of various types - flat, eggshell, semi and high gloss finishes - are typically used to paint walls and ceilings.
It is easy to apply with a brush or roller and cleans up easily with water (since the paint is water based).
The painted surface is easy to clean as well.
The word easy pretty much sums up this paint.
While I use this paint myself for painting around the house, I've never used it on steel.
It will cause steel to rust, so you would need to use a rust inhibiter primer before painting any steel surface with a latex paint.
One thing I have been confused over in the past is whether a primer had to be used when a painting a new surface for the first time.
The answer I've found is yes for best results.
So you can use a latex primer, however your regular latex paint can also be used as the primer coat.
So really you applying two coats of the same paint.
If it is good paint, I've found that the primer coat and the paint is enough.
If you get cheap paint, you may find that you have to apply the primer coat and two more paint coats! Now to a second kind of paint, alkyd.
Got an area where you will likely be frequently cleaning the walls.
These are typically kitchens, bathrooms and the kids rooms.
Alkyd paint is an oil based paint and withstands cleanings better than latex paint.
If you have ever been someplace freshly painted and the smell is strong and doesn't go away for a day or two, then you are experiencing alkyd paint.
Again being a stronger paint with an oil base, cleaning up alkyd paint require more than water.
You will need something like mineral spirits or turpentine.
Finally there are enamel paints which can come in either latex (clean with water) or alkyd (clean with solvents) bases.
Enamels produce a smooth look and a gloss between low and high.
They create a tough surface and you use these paints, along with an alkyd base enamel undercoat, for areas that are used a lot and / or will need to be cleaned often.
I didn't for a long time and it was a bit confusing.
In this article I will explain the differences and how to choose the right paint for the job.
It's a good idea to check too with the pros at the paint stores, but with a little information you won't have to go in totally uninformed.
Latex paints of various types - flat, eggshell, semi and high gloss finishes - are typically used to paint walls and ceilings.
It is easy to apply with a brush or roller and cleans up easily with water (since the paint is water based).
The painted surface is easy to clean as well.
The word easy pretty much sums up this paint.
While I use this paint myself for painting around the house, I've never used it on steel.
It will cause steel to rust, so you would need to use a rust inhibiter primer before painting any steel surface with a latex paint.
One thing I have been confused over in the past is whether a primer had to be used when a painting a new surface for the first time.
The answer I've found is yes for best results.
So you can use a latex primer, however your regular latex paint can also be used as the primer coat.
So really you applying two coats of the same paint.
If it is good paint, I've found that the primer coat and the paint is enough.
If you get cheap paint, you may find that you have to apply the primer coat and two more paint coats! Now to a second kind of paint, alkyd.
Got an area where you will likely be frequently cleaning the walls.
These are typically kitchens, bathrooms and the kids rooms.
Alkyd paint is an oil based paint and withstands cleanings better than latex paint.
If you have ever been someplace freshly painted and the smell is strong and doesn't go away for a day or two, then you are experiencing alkyd paint.
Again being a stronger paint with an oil base, cleaning up alkyd paint require more than water.
You will need something like mineral spirits or turpentine.
Finally there are enamel paints which can come in either latex (clean with water) or alkyd (clean with solvents) bases.
Enamels produce a smooth look and a gloss between low and high.
They create a tough surface and you use these paints, along with an alkyd base enamel undercoat, for areas that are used a lot and / or will need to be cleaned often.
Source...