On online painting forums, many people ask “what kind of paint for walls?” Should you choose washable or non-washable colors? What type of paint is most suitable for painting the walls? If you decide to paint your home, we will highlight some starting points in this article.
What Kind of Paint for Walls
Painting with Interior Colors
As soon as you decide to paint a flat or other interiors, you will encounter different wall surfaces and their finishes. If your house is build with bricks, the surfaces of the wall are finished with coarse or fine plaster. For a new wall, most colors are suitable for interior walls.
In case of renovation and painting of old walls, you should use a variety of coatings. These can be lime paint, silicate paint, silicone paint, or oil paint. Therefore, the choice of color and the appropriate surface preparation of the wall before painting are important.
Moreover, the paint should cover the walls, which means a protective and decorative effect. That means it may not be good to choose a cheap paint for walls during renovation.
In general, we distinguish between two main groups of paints, namely washable and non-washable paints, whose properties we will present here.
Non-Washable Wall Paints Are Permeable To Moisture
Non-washable wall paints, as the name suggests, are completely unsuitable for intensive washing. They do not contain a binder that would make them stick permanently to the surface.
That means you cannot clean non-washable paints with water. You can only clean non-washable paints can with a dry cloth, as they are not resistant to moisture.
Their advantage is the resistance of the paint surface. It means that by using the non-washable paint, moisture can get through the wall. That is why no condensation water collects on the wall, as the plaster immediately absorbs the moisture.
Vapor permeability is more desirable if the house is to achieve the effect of the walls breathing. Non-washable paints are also the most favorable choice for painting the house.
These paints are best for use with smaller loads on the walls. For example, you can easily paint the ceiling and bedroom with them.
Which Kind of Paint is Best for Walls – Washable Paints
Washable paints are usually made of water-based emulsion paint, so they are also called washable emulsion paints. They are suitable for load-bearing walls.
Washable wall paints are more resistant to leaching. The pigment paste contains more binder so that the washable paint will bond securely to the surface layer. The application of the paint is resistant to abrasion and water, but you can still use still some types of cleaning agents.
Since washable wall paints contain a binder, the application is more solid and therefore also impact resistant. When applying the washable paint, you can easily pour the paint and is therefore also smooth. This property reduces the risk of soiling.
Washable paints are normally completely closed by diffusion so that such a wall breathes less. On such walls, condensation forms in the form of water droplets at lower temperatures, but this is not harmful.
You can use washable paints in areas that are more exposed to mechanical effects and dirt. Painting with washable paints is good in corridors where there is a lot of movement.
The application of washable paints is best in the kitchen, dining room, or children’s rooms. That is because you can easily clean the walls.
What Kind of Paint for Walls – The Types of Interior Paints Based On Binding Agents
Gluten Paints
Gluten paints are not washable, and because they contain gluten, they are completely natural. They are suitable for places where you want to achieve a low level of allergens, and usually a perfect and natural climate.
Dispersion Paints
The binders of dispersion paints are resins, which can be natural or artificial. Their properties are water vapor permeability, and resistance to cleaning with water.
Silicate Paints
Silicate paints have a binder of potassium or sodium. On the surface, the paint therefore creates a layer of hard silicate crystals. It is therefore, suitable for the outer surface. You should use gloves when working with silicate paints, as the paint is corrosive.
