Choosing Between Latex and Oil Based Exterior Paints

New homeowners often struggle with the decision about what kind of paint to use for the exterior of their house. The factors that influence what kind of painting job is done on the outside of your residence. Do you choose paint that looks great but may not withstand harsher weather conditions? Do you opt for a paint that safeguards your abode from external factors, even if it’s not as comely as other paints?

Prior to coming to a conclusion, you should bear in mind that there are primarily two types of exterior paint. The two types of paint are Acrylic Latex, which is water-based, and Alkyd, which is oil-based.

In this section, we will go over the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of both types of paint.

Acrylic Latex For The Best Finish

Acrylic Latex has become the preferred product choice among both professionals and amateur home crafters. There are a number of types of water-borne paints, with an extensive selection of color options and three renowned finish types: flat finish, satin finish, and semi-gloss or glossy finish.

Flat paint is mostly utilized inside of buildings and provides the least level of defense against exterior conditions. Satin paint is distinguished by its glossy finish, and is generally the paint of choice for wood siding. Semi-gloss and gloss finish paints offer the most protection and have the extra advantage of being able to be used even in areas that receive a lot of wear and tear, such as windows and door frames.

The advantages of using Latex paints include their ease of use and their convenience in terms of their ability to be cleaned up with water. Even after drying, the paint films remain flexible. The paint coating adapts itself to changing temperatures or settings in a home environment over time without forming cracks.

This paint is suitable for use on not only wooden surfaces, but also vinyl, aluminium, stucco, brick, metal and fiber cement siding.

Now for the downsides to water-based paint. Unless your goal is to solely utilize eco-friendly products, you must endure strong paint odors right from the second you open the lid of the paint can until the paint has completely dried. These fumes are produced via volatile organic compounds. In large amounts, these substances are dangerous and exacerbate air contamination.

Another disadvantage is that latex paint normally does not adhere well to previous layers of oil-based paint. To create a strong bond between the surfaces, advance preparation is necessary; that includes laboriously removing all the old paint. It is not possible to achieve a satisfactory outcome by attempting to mix water-based paint with oil paint. If your layer of oil paint has been applied, it is preferable to apply more oil on top of it.

The term “latex” is given to describe a type of water-based paint; however, this paint does not contain the synthetic rubber latex. The name of the paint is due to its ability to stretch and bend, hence the title “latex”.

Acrylic latex shows extraordinary strength even in the most tough and extreme circumstances. Rain, snow, and even the sun can all bring moisture. Acrylic latex has a reputation for being durable when subjected to high moisture levels and precipitation. No matter the conditions, these substances will not form blisters, split apart, or come off in pieces. Only proper surface preparation and priming will allow walls and siding to be properly painted.

Oil Paints For Durability

Oil paints used to be thought of as the best option for outdoor painting projects. The durability of this material makes it great for areas of the home that get a lot of traffic, such as handrails, floors, and doors. Nowadays, oil paints usually take a back seat to the newer and varied water paints, such as latex.

One of the main advantages of using oil paints is that the paint hardens over time and eventually becomes even more solid. They are ideal for surfaces that are frequently used such as staircases, metal guard rails, porch flooring, and the entrance of your home.

Oil paints may not last very long in the long run since they may start to break down, leading to the development of cracks. The result is the painted area having a resemblance to the skin of an alligator. The style of the alligator look is widely desired by homeowners and has been a major factor in their preference for oil paints. It is not possible to cover up old latex paint with oil paint because the chemistry of the two materials makes them incompatible.

Oil paints can be a hazard due to the utilization of hazardous solvents needed to clean brushes and any paraphernalia that has been handled with the paint. A typical can of oil-based paint contains higher levels of hazardous VOCs than a can of latex paint. Yet on the positive side, there are Oil paints that now have low emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds in circulation today.

Stain Coating For Wood Siding

Staining is a great way to bring out the natural beauty of wood while still protecting it from the elements of the outdoors. Certain types of wood, such as cedar and redwood, appear most attractive when they have a coating of stain. Remember that a stain coating will not offer the same level of protection as either a water or oil-based paint. Furthermore, sunshine and other atmospheric conditions can pass through the stained finish, resulting in the wood oxidizing and changing color.

Stains, just like paints, come in either latex or oil based varieties. Using latex paint does not help to hide an oil stain, and the same is true of trying to hide an oil stain with latex paint. An exception to this principle is when the original coat of stain has become so worn with age that another layer will be able to adhere effectively to the timber.

Solar Paints – The Future Of Eco-Paints

We promised to give you a Bonus and as promised, a brand-new development has come out of RMIT in Australia. The world’s first ever solar paint! The first-of-its-kind paint that can be used as a natural energy source. This new solar paint is similar to traditional paint, containing pigments with titanium oxide. The newly developed man-made molybdenum-sulfide, when mixed in the paint, makes it act as a semiconductor allowing for the separate production of hydrogen and oxygen to form electricity.

Even though there is a considerable distance to travel before solar paints can be fully established, this breakthrough is a means of providing clean energy to isolated places that are not supplied with any water. The new synthetic mixture of molybdenum and sulfur functions similarly to silica gel, a material that absorbs moisture and keeps food parcels fresh.

Advantages of Latex Acrylic Paint Vs. Oil-Based Paint

1. Do you work fast or slow?

Acrylic paint Pros: You can paint on anything.

This is a key factor contributing to why acrylics are so suitable for those new to painting. The great thing about it is that it is possible to get everything ready quickly and begin using it to paint any type of surface. No matter what material you have available, you can use it to paint with this.

Acrylic Cons: They dry quickly.

Now acrylic paint dry very quickly. Before you even begin painting, the phone suddenly rings and you have some paint already squeezed out. When you return, you will notice that the paint has already dried. When you get ready to start painting, there’s a knock at your door so you go to answer it. When you come back, you notice that the paint has already dried. The issue with this sort of paint is that it dries rapidly.

Oil Pros: Longer working time.

Because oil paints remain wet for much longer than acrylics, you are given the ability to start a painting, take a break from it, and come back to it later on and continue from the same spot you left off. The paint on the palette will remain moist and able to be manipulated, and the hues on your painting can still be mixed. So you get a huge advantage.

Oil Cons: Preparation is key.

You need to place art supplies on a pre-treated canvas or board since oil paints are damaging to materials. If you’re doing the groundwork on the canvas yourself, it may take a considerable amount of time. You could always purchase a canvas that is ready to go and start painting immediately.

2. Blend or gard lines?

Acrylic Pros: A Crisp edge.

Acrylics can give you the option of creating images with very sharp edges that would be perfect for a more artistic piece. It is simple and straightforward to hide particular parts and modify them quickly with a thicker layer of paint. Mixing clean, bright colors very easily.

Acrylics Cons: Achieve a smooth blend.

Mixing with acrylic paint can be really annoying because it dries so quickly. If you are tackling a major project, it may be virtually impossible to treat the whole canvas in the same manner to harmonize the overall finish.

This is referring to a size measuring 6ft x 4ft. If you are doing a lesser amount than this, you can make some delightful combinations.

You can achieve even transitions with acrylics if you work more quickly. Mix in a medium to the paint that will extend the amount of time you can work with it. Try using a soft gel gloss, a product that can slow down the drying time such as retarder, or a glazing liquid gloss.

Oil Pros: smooth blending.

Oil paints are number one when blending colors together. Because of the characteristic of oil paints to dry slowly, they can be excellent for making faint transitions.

Painting by blending wet paint directly into other wet paint will guarantee a seamless blend. Portrait painting especially necessitates constant adjustments for the delicate gradations of color on the face. Incorporating oils that dry more gradually into your paints can make your artwork stay damp for a number of weeks.

It is an arduous undertaking to make an exact line with oils without smearing the colors underneath it. To ensure that does not happen, you have to wait for the paint to dry overnight, or until it touches dry, otherwise the brush strokes will be pulled and blend with the color beneath it. It is very simple to create a murky hue when beginning with oil paints because the colors remain wet and meld on the canvas.

3. Shifting colors

Acrylic Pros: They are superfast.

Acrylic paint will not diminish in hue with passing time; the colors will remain undisturbed in the next 200 years. The binder in oil paint will eventually turn yellow with age, resulting in the faint yellowish hue seen in classic masterpieces. However, acrylics do not undergo this transformation and thus retain their color over time. The acrylic polymer used as a binder will remain the same color throughout its lifetime and will not discolor.

Acrylic Cons: They change color when they dry.

Typically, the binder used in acrylic paint is white but it turns transparent once it has dried. Acrylics appear to be transparent, but there is a subtle change in hue. The initial color when you apply it to the canvas appears to be lighter than the eventual shade once it dries and the white binder becomes transparent.

This becomes really clear when painting portraits. When you are confident you have identified the exact hue, you look back and the shade has already shifted. With some practice, you can get better at determining when to switch gears, but it can be unsettling when you first start trying it out.

If you put an increased amount of acrylic polymer in the paint, in the form of mediums, the color alteration will be a lot more noticeable.

If you employ student-grade paints with the addition of extraneous fillers, generally a white color, the hue will differ significantly.

Oil Pros: color doesn’t shift immediately.

At first, oils maintain their hue when applied to a canvas. Once the paint dries, the color can seem to come out differently if the oil from the paint is assimilated into the canvas.

This outcome can result in certain areas ending up with a glossy finish (due to the remaining oil on the surface) while other regions remain matt (as the oil has been absorbed by the underlying layer) to give a subdued hue. Smooth out the area of the painting you are working on to resolve this issue. The paint on a surface may seem uninteresting and this is often a result of not enough oil in the paint because of the way it has been taken up by the underlying coat (or because too much turpentine was used).

Oil Cons: Yellowing.

Oil paints may have a faint yellow hue because of the shade of the oil, such as olive oil. As the oil dries by way of oxidation, the yellow coloring gets more prominent. The amount this changes is contingent on the type of adhesive included in the paint.

4. Do you like working with thick paint or thin layers?

Acrylic Pros: Very flexible.

If you are intrigued by the idea of painting with a palette knife and making thick, textured pieces, then acrylics may work best for you. You can apply paint liberally, adding layer upon layer, and it will eventually dry. If you use oil paints, the outside will become dry to the touch, but the inside will still remain damp.

You can apply acrylic paint very lightly with translucent glazes or layer it on thickly, but it will still stay pliable, meaning your artwork won’t become fractured with age. You can give a watercolor aesthetic to a painting by using light layers of acrylic paint.

Oil Pros: Longer drying times.

If you have ample time to dedicate to your artwork, oil paints can be marvelous. You can use a heavy layer of paint and let it sit for a few days, then apply thin layers of color to give your artwork more radiance.

Oil Cons

If you are using paint that is of a heavier consistency, it is important to consider how long oil-based paint will take to dry. Every color requires a different proportion of oil blended with it, which will then cause a dissimilar drying time.