How to Shop for the Right Paint

Buying the right type of paint is just as important for your project as choosing paint colors. But do you know which type of paint to shop for? Before you pick up a paint brush, read through this paint shopping guide to figure out which type of paint you should buy for the project you're trying to accomplish.

Paint is basically made up of pigment, a binder (or resin) and a carrier (or vehicle). Pigment gives paint its color, a binder holds paint to the surface and the carrier gives paint its liquidity until it is applied to a surface and then evaporates as the paint dries.

Easy cleanup, durability, and fast drying make latex paint the choice for amateurs. Generally, latex paint consists of water with some solvents, such as glycols, which makes the paint easier to spread. Latex paint originally referred to the synthetic rubber it used to utilize, but now the term refers to all water-based paint.

1. Latex paint quickly dries to the touch-takes about 30 minutes for interior use
2. It is less smelly than oil/alkyd paint. You can also buy odorless types-shop for those with no volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
3. Latex paint can retain its color and sheen longer and is less likely to chip or crack
4. Latex paint is more environmentally friendly than oil-based or alkyd paint.
5. Latex paint doesn't trap moisture and can resist blistering and peeling.
6. Can be applied even over damp surfaces and is naturally mildew-proof
7. You can clean paint brushes and roller covers with soap and warm water.
8. May be incompatible with a previous oil-based finish.

Latex Paint Application:

1. You don't need to thin out latex paint
2. Apply with one stroke of a paint brush or roller
3. If you work it out too far, you'll get thin spots

Acrylic Paint Shopping Notes

Acrylic paint utilizes water-based solvents, which actually makes it a type of latex paint.

1. Acrylic paint dries faster than most other types of paint
2. Acrylic paint will cover almost any kind of building material, including properly primed metal and masonry
3. High-performance interior paints are 100% acrylic and have better color retention, better surface bonding capabilities
4. High-performance exterior paints are usually either 100% acrylic or alkyd-modified latex. Both work well, but if the siding is chalking or was previously painted with an alkyd-based paint, consider buying an alkyd-modified latex, which will penetrate and anchor the coating on a chalky surface better than acrylic.

Acrylic Paint Application:

1. Acrylic paint application process is similar to latex paint
2. Don't thin out acrylic paint before applying
3. Use one stroke of a roller or paint brush to apply
4. You'll get thin spots if you work it out too far

Oil/Alkyd Paint Shopping Notes

1. As the first factory-produced paints, oil paints have advantages over latex paint
2. Oil-based paint is exceptionally durable and washable
3. Because they adhere and flow well, oil paint and alkyd paint dry smoother when applied with a paintbrush
4. You can apply oil/alkyd paint outdoors at lower temperatures.
5. More tolerant of poor surface preparation because they have more "bite" onto the surface
6. Some experts still swear by oil-based paint's durability
7. Alkyd paint has the same properties as oil-based paint, but dries more rapidly
8. Alkyd paint works well over old oil/alkyd coats and has excellent hiding power

But oil/alkyds also have some drawbacks over latex paints:

1. Oil paint takes much longer to dry (12 to 48 hours)
2. The mineral spirits in oil-based and alkyd paint solvents evaporate into the air as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), causing pollution and stronger fumes
3. Because they do not allow moisture to pass through, oil-based paints are more likely to blister or peel if there is moisture in the surface
4. Harder to clean

Oil/Alkyd Paint Application:

1. Thicker consistency makes alkyd paint more tiring to apply, but it levels better than latex paint
2. Oil-based paint's lengthy drying time makes bugs and rain real perils