The kind of paint to use will mostly depend on the substrate and the environment. There are other factors to consider, but those are the primary determinants of the type of paint to be applied.
Before starting your painting project, it is important to know the different types of paints to choose the ideal one for your support! From water-based paint to oil-based paint, here we offer you a quick summary to guide you in your choice.
By identifying the main characteristics: drying time, hold, aspect, etc., you should be able to quickly choose the one that corresponds to your expectations. Don’t look for the elbow grease, it is up to you to provide it, however, choosing the right paint will make your task easier!
4 Questions To Guide Your Choice Of Paint
- To get started and to guide your choice, ask yourself the following 4 questions.
- What is the support: Palisade? Portal ? Ceiling ? Slab?
- What is the nature of the support: Wood? Iron? Gypsum? Concrete?
- Where is the support located: Interior? Indoor but damp? Outside ?
- If interior painting, in which room of the house: Kitchen? Bathroom ? Bedroom?
Other Subsidiary but No Less Important Questions Will Guide You in Choosing the Best Paint
- Single coat, double coat or standard application?
- Odorless?
- High covering power?
Kinds of Paint to Use for Different Work Surfaces
Acrylic Paint or Water-Based Paint
Aqueous phase paints, vinyl paints, resin-based paints, whatever their composition, these are the paints to be preferred! Indoor wall paints are mainly grouped in this category, even though water-based paints are increasingly found in all types of paintings.
They have proudly dethroned the glycerol paints these last few years and it’s not over! They have many advantages: odor-free, quick drying, covering, and cleaning of tools with water!
You’d better go for these paints unless your substrate has a complicated diagnosis. But don’t be defeated, there are suitable undercoats that will allow you to apply your acrylic paint!
Glycerol Paints or Oil Paints
In loss of speed because of their composition, glycerol paints still defend themselves, they have an excellent power of adhesion! Their VOC (volatile organic compounds) content remains very high, which is why we advise you to use them only outdoors or to opt for water-based paints.
It can be diluted with white spirit and the cleaning of the painting tools is done with the same thinner. Resistant in time and strong in odor, glycerol is a paint that does not let the support breathe.
Mural Paints
The mural paint is very often acrylic paint, or waterborne paint, if 15 years ago these paints were practical but not very qualitative, today’s formulation ensures an optimal result! Odorless, good covering power and cleaning with water are its main characteristics.
They can be two-coat or single-coat. Depending on the range chosen, it will be much more pigmented and therefore more covering.
Decorative Paints
In this category, several types of paints are identified, also known as “effect paints”. These paints have two advantages: covering and thick. Effect paints mask damaged and uneven walls, this avoids a lot of smoothing work and moreover they decorate.
Sanded Paints, The Wax Coatings
The range of effects includes concrete effects, pearlescent, glittery or metallic effects. In this category, the list is long. You can also decorate with magnetic paints or chalkboard or whiteboard paints, ideal for children’s rooms or to accessorize the kitchen. Ingenious and practical effect guaranteed!
Floor Paints
This type of paint, very often polyurethane-based, offers resistance to all kinds of tests!
To repaint the floor of a garage or workshop, with good preparation, they are resistant to hot vehicle tires and are highly resistant to leaching, grease and hydrocarbons.
On A Concrete Pavement
If the paint is not too “fresh”, you will have to wait a few months before applying the paint for a better grip.
They have an excellent power of adhesion, which makes it possible to paint without an undercoat! Perfect for a low-cost and time-saving renovation!
Wood Paints
You can’t stop working with these paintings! Most of them can be applied without an undercoat on all old paints. They are fun to work with, and do not cost a fortune.
