Water evaporates right? But does oil evaporate? Yes, it does, but it’s a process of oxidation where the oil turns in the polymer chain. So, the durability of oil-based paint is automatically more when compared to water. It can get through with anything and even with the degenerative effects of water and air. Even though oil paints have the perks of durability, it has its fair share of disadvantages too. For starters it takes a lot of time to dry off, it even has a strong smell which stays even after it has been applied, also has compounds like VOCs.
The pigments of the paint for any oil-based paints are stuck in suspension within the solvent. Compounds like VOCs are usually found in the solvent part while it gets released when the paint is undergoing the process of getting dry. VOCs are harmful to the inmates of the house and causes serious health injuries. It is three times more harmful than outdoor air pollution. This release of VOCs has made oil based paints even more obscure as well as the rigid government rules which have affected its overall popularity.
The water-based paints, on the other hand, have no primary solvent because it is mostly water-based. Latex based paints are now dominating the market, and it came from being considered a cheap replacement for oil paints, but fortunately, they are about to rule the current scenes of the market. Using of latex paints has its perks, the primary one being its drying time. It dries up faster than any oil based paint because the primary pigment here is water, unlike any other water-based paint. It also releases fewer amounts of VOCs and smells significantly less than the oil paints.
VOCs are mostly negligible when it comes to latex paints, and thus this makes it significantly less harmful than any oil based paints. Plus it is easier to apply latex paints where the paint can be thinned with water, unlike the oil based ones which take special thinners.
Picking The Right Paint Is Important
Beyond the use of either water or oil based paint, there are many where the functions of paint determine their category. Furthermore, they can also be determined with the type pigments used like for example zinc, titanium, and lead. But the primary classification happens with the indoor associated with the type of finish all paint has. With the traditional use of painting, the finish of the painting determines the amount of reflection it has. The finish often depends primarily on the type of paint one uses. For certain instances, many paints only applicable depending on the type of room one has because each finish has its perks which set it apart from other kinds of paints. There are many finish options of which matte, eggshell, satin; gloss and semi-gloss are worth mentioning about.
Preparing The Surface
Painting simply doesn’t mean the use of brushes against the wall, it is much more than that, or rather one uses an intricate set of procedures to paint. A good paint job requires a great deal of preparation. This applies to every building there is. The top layer of paints holds a specific role where it provides the color where it doesn’t hold any apparent adhesive or protection perks. To make it more adhesive, the primer is applied to the top coat painting. And it is programmed to stick everything and anything. Once the process of primer application is over, the top layer is eventually applied to it except that this time the paint will hold.
Having a good primer essential but it only a part of a much larger process. The surfaces must also be prepped before it can receive anything. This process of prep also depends on the type of surface you are using. For example, Woods need to be sandpapered which again depends on the type of wood you are using because it’s either softwood or hardwood.
Again if the paint is being used on a metal surface, it is imperative that you remove the grease which can be taken care of with the help of a liquid de-glosser. Rust should also be removed by special rust removers which contain oxalic acids that help in removing the rust. If the pipers that are getting painted get flow of hot water way too often, then special preparations must be taken to help the paint withstand the heat.
How To Apply The Paint
The paint is done with a consecutive painting of the surface with as many as coats possible. The primary reason to follow this method is to get the proper color that you been waiting for. But with just a single layer of coat, it just will give the taste of what the real color could be but add two more layers to that, not only it will be more durable but also will give off the original accent. Plus, the second coat compensates for the parts that have been missed with the first coat, thus making it an obvious thumb rule where the second layer is considered to be a pivotal point for the durability of any paint job in general.
As mentioned before, the drying process different with the kind of paint you use. For latex-based paints, it just takes about 48 hours to dry while the oil-based ones don’t usually dry in conventional methods. The paints take days before it gets dry, even the first coat takes a lot of time to dry off. This means that a significant amount of time will be lost before the application of the second coat. So the paint job will get delayed or hastened, depending on the type of paint used for the job.
Painting different surfaces require various techniques. While painting a block or a masonry surface is difficult, painting a drywall is pretty much simple. Drywall is a wall of gypsum that is lined with paper. They are good with any water-based paints; any finish of the paint will suit its needs. Coming back to the block surface, you’ll need a good amount of preparation like using block filler to straighten out the uneven surface. This block filler is also used on concrete surfaces. Block filler is certainly not durable, yet recommended. Usually, a semi-gloss or eggshell finish is applied after block filler to make it durable.
As for metal surfaces, try using latex paints. Water-based paint is way ahead of its game, thanks to the advancements in the paint industry. It is environment-friendly and less harmful than any oil based paints. Before a metal surface gets painted, prep is required where the surface is de-glossed, and a later bonding primer is used to make it more durable. A glossy surface like metal uses a satin finish, in the end, to add that extra layer of edge to the overall paint job. Another great option for metal surfaces is an epoxy coating.
Conclusion
These are the basic methods which are to be implemented to apply paint, of course depending on the type of surface or the kind of paint one wants to use. Always use gas masks and take proper precautions before starting out. Oil-based paints are to be handled with precautions because they are harmful to humans.