28/06/2020
It can be hard enough for a homeowner to pick a paint color for a room, let alone the right type of paint for a home renovation project. As a professional painter, I know it's not easy to keep up with all the different kinds of paint options out there on the market. Here's a quick primer on the various paint types and finishes, as well as the best applications for each one.
Paint types
There are two main types of paints used today for most home renovation projects:
Alkyd or oil-based paints and stains
Oil-based paints, as the name implies, contain either an organic or synthetic oil as their base. They're more durable, making them ideally suited for things that get a lot of wear and tear like trim, doors, and flooring as well as raw wood surfaces. However, oil-based paints have several drawbacks, including that they take longer to dry, give off a strong odor when applied, and require mineral spirits for cleanup.
Latex or water-based paints and stains
Latex paints, meanwhile, contain a combination of resins and water. Because they're not as durable as oil-based paint, they're best suited for surfaces like walls and ceilings, though they're fine for trim and doors, too. Water-based paint also offers easy cleanup with soap and water.
Paint finishes
Paints and stains come in five different finishes or sheens:
Flat or matte
Flat or matte paint doesn't reflect light. Because of that, it hides surface defects like nail pops, patches, and seams. That makes it an ideal finish for a ceiling, closet, finished basement, or garage. Some drawbacks, however, are that flat finishes scuff easily and can damage if cleaned with a cleanser.
Eggshell
Eggshell, as the name implies, has a similar sheen to an egg. It's one of the most popular finishes for main living areas such as a hallway, living room, entryway, or family room. Eggshell paints are more washable than flat/matte finishes and also more resistant to stains and scuff marks.
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