Latex and alkyd paint are popular types of house paint. These paints vary in their base components. Alkyd house paint is oil based while latex or acrylic paint is water based.
As a general rule these two types of paints requires specific order of application when combined. The rule is to never place water based paint over oil based paint and should never be interchanged as compatibility issues may arise. If you should decide to place latex or water based paint over oil based paint you must use a primer first prior to the water based paint application.
Types of house paints
Latex Paint Latex paint is the most popular type of house paint available in the market. Its water-based component provides a quick dry feature and is nearly odorless.
People with issues on VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) components in most paints prefer to use water based paints. As water based paints have minimal amount of VOC and even offers VOC-free paint products.
Latex paints are ideally applied in a high temperature surrounding because of its inability to provide a quality finish on low temperature surroundings. Latex paints usually freeze before or during application with cold weather resulting to a damaged paint film or finish.
100 % Acrylic House Paint is the best type of water-based paint and is more expensive compared to regular latex paints. This paint is easy to apply, resistant to splatter, highly durable and can preserve its fine finish for a long time.
Alkyd Paint Alkyd paint is commonly used by experienced or professional house painters. This type of house paint creates a finer finish with minimal brush marks. It is highly durable, stain proof and is available for spray paint application with a very satisfying finish.
Unlike water based paints alkyd paint takes time to dry. It contains large amount of VOC, which cause sharp solvent smell during and after application. This type of paint is ideally applied on well-ventilated houses as the scent can still stick even after the paint has dried.
Alkyd house paint is most compatible with your house’s cabinets, doors and interior wood trim. Remember to avoid thick application of this paint as its slow drying characteristic can cause it to sag and ruin your house paint’s finish.
Specialty house paint
Elastomeric paint Elastomeric paint is an exterior product designed for fractured masonry. It is highly concentrated with thick rubber like application feature, which allows it to reconstruct small cracks and spread evenly over the surface. It is highly recommended for wooden houses.
Direct to Metal paint Direct to metal paint is commonly used for industrial finish. Though there are other types of this paint that is readily available for general consumers and is used to paint steel areas of houses.
Epoxy paint Epoxy paints are made of strong epoxy like materials combined with a paint finish. It is a very strong type of paint and are resistant to chemicals and scratch proof. It is commonly used on garage and porch floors or any part of the house that needs some tough paint finish.
Choosing the right type of paint for your house requires many considerations such as the type of materials, weather condition and paint application.
Getting the right type of house paint is the same as getting the right weapon to defend one’s self. Your paint serves as your house’s primary layer of defense as it should protect the material it is covering. Woods for example can be water resistant with a water resistant paint or UV protected with UV protectant paint. It is just a matter of choosing which paint would best beautify and defend your house.
As a professional house painter I know the time saving value of getting to know your products. When you find which house paints work best for you and how they perform you will be able to turn your jobs all that much faster with less headaches.
Below are some tips to help you do a professional job at home or on the job site.
Interior House Paint:
1.) Which Brand to Use - Play it safe. Always use the best quality paints and primers. Don't show up at someone's doorstep with humdrum brands. Instead pretend you are going to be painting a multimillion dollar home. Now what name brand would you choose?
Not everyone may agree on the same brands of house paint of course. Don't skimp on your own home either. After all, a man's home is his castle! They only exception is if you are doing properties or commercial work where quality may not matter as much.
2.) What to Use on Interior Walls - I like using a "Matt" finish on interior walls. Matt finish is a lower sheen than eggshell, yet very washable, very architectural looking. Benjamin Moore has a nice Matt finish in their "Regal" line that is super washable and won't burnish when scrubbed.
3.) What to Use on Ceilings - the best interior house paint I ever used on ceilings is actually a primer made by Porter Paints called "Blanket" (PP 1129). It is basically a high hiding solid white block out primer.
While nobody would even think of using a primer as a ceiling paint, this stuff works! It leaves a soft, pure white, flat even finish with no streaks or lap lines. You can tint it to whatever color you want. It also makes a great block out primer.
The benefits to using this solid white primer on ceilings are being that it is a primer, it grabs to any surface. It dries and can be re-coated in just one hour and coverage is about 150 square feet more per gallon than regular paint. And spreads way better than regular ceiling paint. One last point is that you can tell where you have to roll on the second coat because the first coat over looks like a primer coat.
4.) Woodwork Paint - in the old days up till the early 90's, alkyd or oil base enamels in the "satin finish" were the norm for woodwork. Benjamin Moore "Satin Impervo®" in the alkyd formula is still a market leader. Since the 90's the government has cracked down on V.O.C.'s in house paint (volatile organic compounds) and some alkyd formulas may not be as fun to paint with as they used to be (some of the good stuff has been taken out of the paint).
Fortunately Satin Impervo now comes in a latex formula that is so awesome I don't want to paint woodwork with anything else. It feels and levels like alkyd enamel should. I also use their Fresh Start® All Purpose 100% Acrylic Primer 023 as my enamel under coater.
Sherwin Williams also has a good alkyd enamel called ProClassic® Alkyd and their PrepRite® Classic Primer which is also alkyd base and is an enamel under coater (holds gloss) is also a good choice. Both are also available in a latex formula as well.
Exterior House Paint:
5.) What to Use on Exterior Siding, Windows and Doors: for exterior again, use the very best quality paints and primers. For exterior siding I like to use MoorGard® 100% Acrylic Low Lustre Latex House Paint N103 or their MoorGlo® 100% Acrylic House & Trim Paint N096.
For garage doors, windows, entry ways, etc. I like to use the MoorGlo® which is equivalent to a satin sheen or finish. In most cases I would use the MoorGard® on siding. It's low-lustre is equivalent to an eggshell finish or sheen level.
6.) Exterior Primers - I use Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start® All Purpose 100% Acrylic Primer 023 as my enamel under coater. They also have an exterior oil base primer for bare wood that is stain blocking.
These are my personal favorites. You may want to use the Sherwin Williams line of house paint. They also have high quality products. Every painter has different preferences. Location may be another factor.
Both Alex Gwen Thomson & Lee Cusano are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alex Gwen Thomson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Income Tax Return and Wrinkles. Mark Hyndon is a freelance writer who is the author of articles such as ,. Alex Gwen Thomson's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
Lee Cusano has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Painting and SEO Search Engine Optimization. Lee Cusano has owned and operated his own successful since 1991. He has also helped many others to start their own painting business with his "Pai. Lee Cusano's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.