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There are several different kinds of paint, and all paints serve different purposes. Depending upon your specific needs, you have to pick accordingly. We shared a detailed guide on all the common paint types with various paint finishes that should be considered for indoor remodeling.
Whether you are remodeling your kitchen, renovating your bathroom, or doing a full home overhaul, the use of paint can’t be denied. Painting is the essential décor utility of a home. An easy clean finish with just a few coats of paint at affordable prices can refresh the look of your hallway, bedroom, and kitchen.
Paint Types for Indoor Remodeling
The comparison between oil-based paints and water-based paints never meets an end. Different types of paint are recommended for indoor remodeling. Below is a guide to common paint types for indoor remodeling. All with their purpose of use in addition to the pros and cons of each paint. If you are looking for choosing a paint type for your upcoming remodeling project, you will find this guide helpful.
Whitewash
Whitewash is the easiest surface to cover with sealant paint. The whitewash paint is made by mixing the powder with chalk and slaked lime with water in equal proportions. Not as good as the colored dies, but whitewash can brighten up the walls. Whitewash can decorate, sanitize, and protect the walls.
Acting as an insect-repellent whitewash, it provides a non-toxic and safe coating at affordable prices. Mixing whitewash with Fevicol makes the adhesiveness better and the coats last longer.
Paint Distemper
Distemper paint is made by mixing water as a base with lime and a coloring pigment. You can choose any of the colored pigments depending on your interests. Distemper paints last up to three to five years, while whitewash only lasts for a few months.
Distemper paint has moderate prices. Distemper provides a modern look to your interior and is a great indoor paint to choose which is readily available in different colors.
Emulsion Paint
Emulsion paint is a type of paint that consists of synthetic resin bounded with a pigment. The paint is called emulsion because the pigments are dispersed in the emulsifying agent, increasing the durability of these paints. Emulsion paint does not require any pre-surface treatment of the walls just a simple wipe-out for removing dirt and debris is enough. You can apply emulsion paint by spraying and brushing.
Emulsion paints are easy to use and have a moderate cost. Emulsion paints can give gloss and matte finishes to your indoors with low odor and higher levels of shine.
Cement Based Paint
Initially, cement-based paints were used to hide out cracks in the concrete. Over time cement-based paints started to be used in both interior and exterior of homes. They are the most durable long-lasting water-resistant paints. Cement-based paints are available in a wide variety of colors.
For resisting grime accumulation and stopping water penetration inside the interior walls cement-based paints are widely used.
Anti-Condensation Paint
Anti-condensation paints prevent water condensation over the windows and walls giving them a satin finish. These paints contain tiny beads that reflect and repel warm air back into the room helping in maintaining the temperature of the room. Anti-condensation paint coat prevents the building from moisture accumulation. These paints act as water repellents by providing an effective amount of thermal insulation.
Anti-condensation paints are very effective and convenient in stopping harmful fungi from growing. Their moisture-repellent ability makes them the ideal choice for use in kitchens, bathrooms, and other utilities.
Lead Paints
Paints containing more than 5% lead oxide concentration are referred to as lead paints. Lead in paint speeds up the drying time and increases the durability of the paint. Lead-based paints leave a fresher appearance on the surfaces than non-lead paints. Despite their numerous features, lead paints are banned in some parts of the world because of their adverse environmental effects.
Lead paints are more corrosion resistant. Different compositions of lead produce different colors in lead-based paints. That’s why lead paints are available in a variety of colors.
Water Based Paints
- Major Solvent: Pigment is suspended in water for water-based paints.
- Sheen: Water-based paints have a comparatively lower sheen than oil-based paints. Water-based paints maintain their sheen for longer periods.
- Durability: Water-based paints are more flexible with contraction and expansion and are best for surviving different weather conditions. Hence, it lasts longer than oil-based paints.
- Surface Tolerance: Water-based paints can absorb moisture and aren’t affected by moisture content over the surface.
- Drying Time: Water-based paints dry faster as compared to oil-based paints. Water-based paints usually take around 30 minutes to a few hours to dry.
- Paint Cleaning: Water-based paints can be easily cleaned with the use of soap and water.
Latex Paint
Latex paints refer to water-based paints that are widely used for interior walls to get a high gloss finish. These paints dry quickly, are easy to clean, and are also inexpensive. Their simple use and availability in a variety of color grades made them the most widely used interior paints.
Acrylic Paint
Latex paint with a higher solid polymer count and an acrylic binder is referred to as acrylic paint. They are mainly used by artists for sketching and painting because they are quick to dry paint. Using acrylic paint for the interior can provide you with exceptional results. Acrylic paints used on the walls can create a superior and elegant color look with great color retention.
Oil Based Paints
- Major Solvent: Pigment particles are suspended in oil or oil varnish in oil-based paint.
- Sheen: Oil-based paints have a higher sheen, but that sheen doesn’t last long. It gets dull with the passage of time as they attract dirt and debris.
- Durability: Oil-based paints give a hard finish which is good for providing resistance to wear and tear. But this brittle nature can initiate crack formation within the paint coat over a larger period.
- Surface Tolerance: Oil-based paints are water repellents and hence don’t adhere firmly to the surface if it has any appreciable amounts of moisture.
- Drying Time: Oil-based paints require more time to dry. Oil-based paints can take anywhere from 6 hours to 48 hours to dry, depending on the composition of the paint and the surrounding environment.
- Paint Cleaning: Oil-based paints are hard to clean they usually require chemicals or mineral spirits to be cleaned.
Enamel Paint
Enamel Paints are very well at giving a uniform finish with holding the color sustainably. Enamel paints give a hard-shell coating suitable for effective wall protection against wear and tear. They are difficult to clean up and have a pungent odor. They are very costly, and that’s the major reason people usually avoid them and go for budget-friendly paint options.
Long lasting and durable nature of enamel paints has made them be used for adding a protective layer to door casing, barbecue grills, and kitchen walls.
Alkyd Paint
Made from alcohol and mineral spirits alkyd paints because of their thick coat are suitable for floors, doors, and furniture. The strong risen binder makes the alkyd paints moisture resistant, so they are also good to be used inside the bathrooms and kitchens. Alkyd paints being a category of oil-based paint are more toxic to the environment than water-based paints.
If you are opting for applying paint without doing much surface treatment and old paint removal, then alkyd paints are the best choice for you. Alkyd paints can be applied easily over latex paint, but the reverse is not possible.
Paint Finishes
The next step after paint selection in home remodeling is to decide which type of finish you need. There are various types of paint finishes, like eggshell, satin, and gloss, each of which has its own different benefits. The benefits and perks of each finish can only be obtained if you know where and under which conditions the finish is recommended.
To help you understand the appearance and qualities of different paint finishes, we have compiled them below.
Flat or Matte
Nonreflecting smooth paint texture is referred to as a flat or matte finish. The flat has no shine at all which is perfect to hide small wall imperfections like nail holes. A single or two coats of paint can produce a flat or matte finish. A few coats of the paint are applied to form a flat or matte finish therefore, the finish has also low pigment and is less expensive as compared to the other paint finishes.
Flat or Matte paint finishes are recommended for low-traffic areas like adult rooms and powder rooms.
Eggshell
Little levels of shine and a little amount of luster are said to be an eggshell finish. Eggshell has more number coats of paint then than the matte finish therefore the finish is washable. This type of finish is better with areas having medium levels of traffic like dining rooms and hallways.
Satin
The high durability and soft velvet-like texture of the paint are called a satin finish. The satin finish is highly versatile and is recommended for all sorts of indoor paints. The finish is easier to clean and more resistant to fading. When dried properly, the satin finish can also reflect certain amounts of light and is glossier than the eggshell finish.
Satin finish can easily handle dings and scuffs in children’s playrooms, walls, and ceilings.
Semi-Gloss
The semi-gloss paint finish has a shiny appearance and reflects a greater amount of light as compared to a satin finish. Semi-gloss has high resistance to moisture, so it can also be used for kitchens and laundry rooms. Also, semi-gloss gives a brighter finish, so they can also be used in areas with blemishes like the ceilings and walls of a sunroom and guest room.
Gloss
The highest levels of shine and sheen gloss finish are the top-of-the-line finishes. The gloss finish is the easiest to clean and maintain. The gloss finish requires a larger number of paint coats and therefore is difficult to apply. Coat application can cause errors, so better results are obtained when coats are applied by spraying the paint.
The gloss finish paints are excellent for being used at the edges of door frames, cabinets, and trims of rooms.
Final Words
An appropriate type of paint selection can save you a lot of hassle. Paints are very essential for indoor decorative as well as protective utility. There are various types of paint with different types of finishes available, and we have tried to cover them all above.
Distemper and whitewash paints are low-budget alternatives that are neither washable nor long-lasting. Water-based latex acrylic paints are recommended for interiors to get elegant colors, quick dry ability, and easy cleaning. A flat finish is good for areas like powder rooms, and an eggshell finish is effective for dining and hallways. Semi-gloss and gloss finishes are for high decorative areas.
If you are looking for new home construction or home remodeling and need a paint job done, then GMJ Construction Inc. would be a perfect fit for you.
