Choosing the right type of paint can be stressful and confusing for many homeowners. When planning out your paint project and choosing each type of paint it’s important to take into consideration the nature of the surface you want to paint and it’s condition, the age of the surface, and the type of paint that was previously used if the surface had been formerly painted.

Generally, paint for home use is divided into two categories: water-based latex paint and oil-based paints or “alkyds” which are solvent-based paints. The major differences are that the majority of the liquid in the paint is either water in water-based paints or petroleum distillates and other organic solvents in oil-based paints.

Each type of paint offers different pros and cons and so each is usually chosen depending on the type of paint project.

The pros of Water-Based Latex:

Cleans up easily with soap and water.

Dries quickly.

Has low odor.

Not likely to crack.

The pros of Oil-Based Alkyds:

Very durable.

Stain resistant.

Flows very smoothly.

Dries with fewer brush marks.

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