There are two important things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to housecleaning. The first is the preparation. The second is the quality of the house paint. If you want to choose the best paint for your project, then you need to know about the different types of exterior house paint.
Before you get started on your project, it is important to move any and all items out of your house. That way you do not ruin your nice furniture or belongings. If you do not have proper storage at your home or apartment, check out What Storage, they can help you store your belongings before you begin.
Three main components make up exterior house paint. These are medium, pigments, and binders. You also need to understand that manufacturers are going to add ingredients to their paints. These might include mildew and mold resistance, fade resistance, longevity, and pest resistance. Pigment is what makes a color. Binders do as their name implies and bind the paint to whatever surface you applied it to. The medium is what brings the former two together into a liquid form.
Exterior House Paint Types
Exterior house paint comes in two main types. They are classified by the medium that is used. This is water and oil based. Water-based paint will use water to mix the pigments and binders together. These might include latex, acrylic, and synthetics like vinyl and urethane. The oil-based exterior is a bit of a misnomer since it doesn’t really match today’s descriptions. You don’t get oil anymore as much as you get a mineral spirit called alkyd.
Remember that you get what you pay for. The more expensive the paint the more pigment and higher quality binders you will get. They will last longer than lower-priced paints. They will also probably be easier to work with.
Priming Notes
A whole article could be dedicated to priming. The basic gist is that primer should be used on top of raw wood surfaces and if you’re going to try to put a water-based paint on top of an oil-based one. However, you can put an oil-based paint on top of the water one. Just don’t do it the other way around.
Which Is Better: Oil Or Water?
At the end of the day, excellent exterior paint exists whether you get water-based or oil-based. If you want to be more confused, take to heart that either can be used successfully. Yet there are some differences you should keep in mind.
Water-Based Paint Is…
Nearly odorless
Incapable of being applied in cold weather
Faster drying
Easier to clean up
More likely to show brush marks
More flexible, meaning that it can hold up to contraction and expansion better than oil
Resistant to UV fading
Oil-Based Paint Is…
Less likely to show brush marks
Odorous
Slower drying
Harder to clean up
Capable of being applied in cold weather
Less flexible
More likely to fade from UV exposure
Something that you need to keep in mind is that the location of your house is important in real estate and is also important when you’re going to choose an exterior paint. Take a look at the local weather conditions to get a good idea of what you can expect when it comes to painting your house. Not just the actual painting, but the effect on the paint as well. Someone at your local paint store with a lot of knowledge can tell you what is best for your area.
If you need help with your project, we service Happy Valley, Tigard, and the Portland metro area. Call us today!