How to choose latex paint?

Painting walls, floors and ceilings is an important stage of repair. Before you start it, you need to pre-select the paint and its color. It will not be superfluous to learn the features and nuances of its application. Now, latex paint is gaining more and more popularity. What is she like?

Content:

• Operating principle
• Advantages
• Classification
• By appointment
• In composition
• Polyvinyl acetate
• Styrene butadiene
• Acrylic silicone
• Acrylic based
• Eco joker
• In appearance
• Selection rules
• The working process
• Color scheme

The first latex-based paint was made in ancient Egypt. This happened long before plaster was used in construction. Most often, latex paint was used to paint paintings and icons.

In the construction industry, latex paints began to be used in the 19th century. It was a dispersion of oil products with a soap solution or lime. Such as now, the dye became only in the second half of the twentieth century.

Operating principle

To understand how dyes of this type work, you need to know what latex is. This is the juice of rubber plants that produce rubber. The composition of the paints uses synthetic latex - an emulsion of polymer particles.

The principle of action of this type of dyes is quite simple. As long as there is liquid (water) in their composition, the particles do not come closer to each other. After application to any surface, water evaporates. The coloring particles come together, connecting at the same time into a strong film.

Advantages

Like any other materials, latex-based paints have their advantages:

1. With their help, you can make a matte and glossy surface. They have a fairly long life, they are almost impossible to wash off. These properties allow the use of paints where there are special requirements regarding the reliability and durability of the coating.
2. The gloss level sometimes reaches 60%.
3. In latex paints there are practically no pigments and additional additives. Due to this, the surface is not smeared and does not stick.
4. The dye dries very quickly. The second layer is applied a few hours after applying the first.
5. The advantages include the fact that no bubbles form on the working surface, because the paint layer perfectly passes air through it.
6. If a drop of dye gets on your clothing, you can get rid of it with a damp cloth or cloth.

Classification

There are several varieties of latex paints. They differ in purpose, composition and appearance.

By appointment

According to this parameter, paints are divided into materials for finishing surfaces inside and outside the room. The first contains special additives that protect, prevent mold. Dyes for internal work are divided into several subspecies:

1. Dense. Suitable for ceiling decoration.
2. Vinyl. You can paint both the ceiling and walls.
3. Textural. They give the opportunity to create embossed drawings.
4. Acrylic Can be used to decorate wood products, such as floors.
5. Droplet free. Recommended for those surfaces where there are cracks. This type of dye does not leave streaks at all.

In composition

Depending on the composition, latex paints are divided into five more varieties.

Polyvinyl acetate

It has other names: water emulsion or water dispersion. The basis for the manufacture of such a dye is PVA glue. The material has a lot of advantages:

• lack of smell;
• good adhesion to the painted surface;
• low price.

In addition, water-dispersion paint, or water-based emulsion, is easily washed off from dirty hands and work tools.

But this paint has one drawback: over time, it can be washed off. That is why it can only be used for internal work. And if you lean against the painted surface, a white mark will remain on the clothes.

The main scope of water emulsion dyes is the painting of ceilings and other hard-to-reach spots. The main thing is that the room is dry and warm. It is not recommended to use the tool in the country. In winter, no one lives there and, accordingly, does not heat it. And the dye is not frost resistant.

Styrene butadiene

Unlike the previous view, it copes well with moisture and practically does not wash off. However, it has a low lightfastness threshold - when exposed to direct sunlight, such paint quickly fades. For this reason, it is better to use it where there is no access to the sun, for example, in pantries or hallways.

Acrylic silicone

Most often used for facade decoration. She is not afraid of light and moisture. In addition, the product has excellent vapor permeability. Many acrylic silicone dyes have the properties of silicone paints.

Acrylic based

Previously, acrylic paint was rarely found in the design of interiors. This is due to its high price. However, now due to its properties, it has become very popular. The use of acrylic dye, despite the high cost, is considered beneficial.

A good example. To paint about 40 m2 of the surface in 2 layers, you need about 5 liters of good acrylic paint. Cheaper paints will need 3 times more, because they will have to be applied in 5 or even 7 layers. And this is all the same 40 m2. The consumption of acrylic paint is much lower, it does not need to be refreshed every 2-3 years, it can be used for facades and indoor surfaces.

Eco joker

This substance is based on acrylate binders. This is washable latex paint. It has several advantages:

1. Solvent free.
2. It creates a silky effect on the surface.
3. It is environmentally friendly. It is harmless even for those who suffer from allergies or respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

Washable paint has a fairly extensive scope. It can be used for plaster, putty, concrete, cardboard, brick, gypsum, wood and wallpaper. Suitable for any room. Washable dye will be especially useful in children's rooms and kitchens.

Apply washable paint with a brush or roller. You can use tools to spray it. When working, you can dilute it with water - no more than 10% of the total volume.

If all the operating requirements are met, the surface will dry in half an hour. A second coat of washable paint can be applied after 2 hours. Non-aggressive cleaning agents are recommended to clean the painted surface.

In appearance

In its appearance, latex paint is divided into three subspecies:

1. Matt It makes it possible to hide minor irregularities and roughness. Long does not lose its properties. But there are also disadvantages: surfaces painted with a matte dye are more difficult to wash. In addition, matte paint visually reduces the room.
2. Glossy. Makes the room more at least visually. It is easily cleared of pollution. Unlike matte and semi-matte, it is not so smeared.
3. Semi-matt.Combines the properties of the first and second type.

Selection rules

What is the right choice? This is not just a definition of color. This is the choice of a quality product. You need to pay attention to this:

1. The degree of gloss. And water-dispersion, and acrylic, and washable paints come in the following types: completely glossy, glossy, semi-gloss, semi-gloss, matte and completely matte. Absolutely glossy paint is used extremely rarely. Surfaces having high reflective properties are very tiring. Most often, matte dyes are used for interior decoration.
2. Wear and moisture resistance. Wear resistance is usually indicated on the packaging. If the substance is resistant to moisture, the number of wet abrasion cycles should be written. For non-moisture resistant products - dry abrasion cycles. For a quality product, this parameter is 3000. Sometimes, instead of numbers, a class is written - it is better to choose the first one.
3. Hiding power and thixotropy. What it is? The first parameter indicates the dye consumption per 1 m2. He shows, how much paint do you needso that no bald spots remain on the working surface. The second parameter reports whether streaks and stains will form. Simply put, it tells how quickly the paint will thicken.

The working process

Before starting work, it is necessary to make an aqueous solution of paint. When applying the first coat of 6–9 m2, approximately 1 liter of water will be required. With each subsequent layer, the amount of water on the same 6-9 m2 decreases according to the instructions.

The surface will dry after 5-6 hours. However, it will take approximately 3 days for the final drying. The second coat should be applied after the first is completely dry.

The workflow is pretty simple. For painting, you can use a roller, brush or spray gun. To make it easier to work with a roller and brush, it is recommended to pour a little linseed or any other vegetable oil into the composition.

Now about the expense. How to correctly determine how much paint is required for a particular room? Almost always, the consumption per 1 m2 is indicated on the package. But this applies to applying the composition to an absolutely flat and smooth surface.

In order not to be mistaken in the calculations, you need to take into account the type of tools used, the type of surface and the type of dye:

1. If a spray gun is used in the application process, the paint consumption per 1 m2 depends on its model and working pressure. When staining with a roller, the flow rate is determined by the length of its pile. When using a spray gun, the consumption is less than when using a roller. The roller, in turn, is much more economical than an ordinary brush. Roller dyeing reduces material consumption by 15%.
2. Paint consumption per 1 m2 depends on what surface you need to paint. For example, when coating plastered surfaces, consumption increases significantly. This is because cement has good absorbent properties.
3. An important role is played by the type of paint. For example, 1 liter of acrylic paint is enough for 6-7 m2. 1 liter of water emulsion can be painted about 11 m2 of the surface. In some cases, this indicator increases to 16 m2, and sometimes up to 18 m2.

Color scheme

On sale, you can rarely find latex paints of one or another shade. Usually they are white. To create the desired color, they must be tinted. How to do it:

1. First you need to determine the amount of working material.
2. Prepare tools and containers in order to tint the paint.
3. Decide on a solvent for the dye. It is worth remembering that color is for water-soluble products, for organ-soluble and universal.
4. Choose a color. You can use a special card that shows the proportions of the tint to obtain a particular shade.
5. Make a check.To do this, mix a little paint with color. Put the resulting mixture on paper. Using a roller or brush, apply a little to the surface. Evaluate the result in daylight.
6. If you need to tint a large amount of material, it is best to mix the tint and paint in a small container first. After pouring into a larger container and add the rest of the dye there.
7. Do not pour all the color at once. You need to add it gradually, one drop at a time, until the desired shade is obtained.

Latex paint is an ideal option for finishing surfaces indoors and outdoors. It is easy to use. The main thing is to choose the right color and determine the consumption of material per 1 m2. Latex paint is applied by roller. Depending on the purpose of the room, you can choose the type of latex paint, for example, for children or kitchen, you can use washable.