The Different Different Types of House Paint
Paint, especially on the exterior of your home, is more than just decoration. Without paint, the underlying surface of your home’s exterior (wood, vinyl, or masonry) would be exposed. This primary purpose is what makes the number of paint products available so confusing. House Painter in Naperville
After all, if it was just color, it would be all about taste. Since it is not, some knowledge of what the different types of exterior paint for your home is a must. If you want your paint to last, the most important thing after proper surface preparation is choosing the right paint for your needs.
Exterior paints are made up of 4 basic elements: pigments, solvents, additives and binders. The properties of each exterior paint type and finish is a blend of each of these. Pigments make up the color and the binder is what holds all of the pigments together, acting as a sort of glue to keep them on the surface. The additives and solvents make up the other properties of the paint. Things like paint hardness, mildew resistance, protective qualities, etc. The solvent itself also controls the liquid state of the paint and is what’s responsible for how long it takes to dry. This can also affect how well the paint adheres and how long it lasts as well.
The two major types of house paint for exterior are latex and alkyd (oil and water-based). Latex paints are usually the paint of choice for DIY painters and are more environmentally friendly while alkyds are often used by professionals because they go on thicker and are easier to spread.
Latex paints tend to be faster drying than alkyds and usually come in a wider variety of options for color and surface types. They are not always as long-lasting, however, and usually require more labor to apply to avoid marks from brushes, overspray, or rollers. Naperville Painters
Alkyd paints are thicker, using oil as their base. This means that they take longer to dry, but give better coating and are generally longer-lasting as well. Most high quality exterior paints for wood and other common surfaces are alkyd-based.
Other types of paint that are not as common are also worth considering if you can find them. A growing number of people are using elastomeric paints, which have a rubbery quality when applied. These are becoming popular stucco finishes, though they were once mainly only for semi-flexible structures (like bridges) to keep the paint from chipping. The elastomeric is thick and bonds well with surfaces, covering small gaps and holding its finish even if the surface flexes due to weather.
Urethane is another exterior finish that is becoming popular. This paint is used mainly on flooring such as porches, walkways, etc., made from wood. It’s very durable, tough, and has a beautiful shine that can set off a wood well. Urethane is not the same as epoxy floor paints, which are interior-only.
It’s important to choose the right paint for your home, as you’ll save a lot of money over the long run by both making the job easier and by putting more time between painting.
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