Today, painting is a very common method for both indoor renovation and outdoor surface finishing. Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of paints, among which latex is in great demand. It can be used for decoration of building facades, as well as for painting various surfaces in apartments and houses.
Features of the
Latex is the sap of rubber plants. It acts as a dispersion of natural rubber polymer particles. But the use of natural raw materials is expensive, so this option is quite expensive. Today, synthetic polymers are used to create latex, which has a positive effect on its cost.
Latex paint is presented in the form of an aqueous liquid dispersion of any polymer of artificial origin. This means that polymer particles do not dissolve in water, but its presence prevents them from sticking together. After painting the surface, the water evaporates, and the polymer particles gradually stick together, forming a continuous film. Strong adhesion of the paint to the surface is carried out.
The characteristics of latex paint depend entirely on the properties of the polymer used to make it.
The choice of polymer depends on how the paint will behave under the influence of sunlight, with temperature changes, as well as with mechanical or chemical influences.
The color of the latex paint depends on the color scheme, which is presented in the form of a paste. A substance of the desired shade is added to the composition of the product.
An interesting fact is that latex was widely used even in the days of Ancient Egypt. Later, this material was used in painting, including in the creation of icons. Latex began to be used in construction work only at the beginning of the 19th century.
Advantages of latex paint:
- It is an environmentally friendly product. It can be used to decorate bedrooms, living rooms and even children's rooms.
- Durable coating. The paint creates a reliable layer on the painted surface, but you should be careful when leaving it. Wet cleaning of painted surfaces should not be used frequently.
- Easy to use and low consumption. Latex paint is characterized by excellent hiding power, so there are practically no drips during staining. One square meter of surface will require an average of 100 to 500 ml of paint.
- Lack of characteristic odor. Latex is a compound of polymers and particles, so it does not emit a specific odor.
- Fast polymerization. After staining, it dries very quickly. This process usually takes up to five hours. Drying speed depends on the air temperature.
Types and application
Latex paint has a wide range of uses. Depending on the variety, it can be used for exterior decoration or for indoor work. Facade paint products have a special compound that protects the surface from the formation of mold and mildew. For painting surfaces indoors, the following paints are suitable:
- acrylic - a good solution for painting wood;
- vinyl - ideal for painting ceilings and walls;
- dense - designed exclusively for ceilings;
- textural - an excellent solution for creating a relief print, embodying the most daring design ideas;
- drip-free - allows you to hide various kinds of irregularities and cracks.
Depending on the appearance, acrylic paint is divided into several types:
Matt - ideal to hide some imperfections on the surface. It perfectly masks small irregularities. Such a tile is not afraid of exposure to sunlight, since it practically does not heat up. Its disadvantage is that it gets dirty quickly enough. It requires careful and frequent maintenance, but it has excellent resistance to contact with water and abrasion
- Glossy - a good solution for decorating a room inside or outside. It allows you to visually increase the area of the room. This paint practically does not get dirty. Its disadvantage is that it can be used exclusively for painting a flat surface.
- Semi-matt - acts as the golden mean between matte and glossy paint. It combines the advantages of the above types.
There is another classification of latex products, which depends on the additives introduced into them.
Polyvinyl acetate
This paint is made on the basis of PVA (vinyl acetate polymer). It is also often called water-based or water-dispersion.
Advantages of polyvinyl acetate paint:
- does not contain solvents;
- there is practically no smell;
- has good adhesion to the surface;
- easily washed off hands if not completely dry;
- affordable price.
But water-based paint can be washed off even after complete drying, therefore it is not recommended to use it for external work. It has a chalky effect and can stain your clothes if you touch it.
This paint is ideal for painting ceilings as it is ideal for hard-to-reach areas in dry rooms.
It should be borne in mind that it is suitable exclusively for exploited housing, since it is frost-resistant.
Styrene-butadiene
This type is considered by many to be water-based latex paints. The difference is that styrene-butadiene paint is characterized by excellent moisture resistance and increased wear resistance. It is inexpensive, so it is in demand.
Its disadvantage is low lightfastness. When exposed to sunlight, it changes color very quickly. It can be safely used for interior work. It is ideal for a hallway, corridor or storage room.
Acrylosilicone
This option is ideal for painting facades. It is resistant to moisture and light, and is also characterized by increased vapor permeability. This paint is an excellent substitute for silicate and silicone. It has similar properties as silicate, but it is cheaper, so the demand for it is always great.
Acrylic
This option is expensive, but it has excellent performance. It can be used to decorate building facades or as interior enamel. It retains its attractive appearance under all circumstances.
Many buyers agree that it is better to buy an expensive acrylic paint and paint the room once for a long time than to buy a cheap analogue every year and paint again.
Latex paints are versatile because they are suitable for painting a variety of surfaces. They fit well on drywall, foam concrete, plaster, even on plastic window sills.
Color palette
Initially, latex paints are presented in white. The manufacturer independently uses the color scheme to create the desired color. Sometimes even in the store they carry out tinting "to order". The peculiarity of latex-based products is that they are not presented in bright colors. With the help of the color scheme, only pastel colors can be obtained.
Black latex paint deserves special attention, since it is not often used, but it can add new notes to the interior if it is used correctly. Bright colors look very beautiful and impressive on a black background. Black paint will eliminate excessive variegation.
When choosing a color scheme, you should also pay attention to what kind of surface will turn out after painting - matte or glossy. To hide minor defects and inaccuracies, it is worth using matte paint.
The glossy option will visually make the room more spacious, but the surface for application should be flat.
Manufacturers
Today, latex-based paints are very popular and in demand. Many well-known manufacturers offer quality, durable and reliable options. There are many positive reviews about the products of many companies, such as Tikkurila, Parade, Dulux, Dufa, Din Profilux, Pufas. Among the Russian manufacturers, it is worth highlighting the company Lacra and Tex.
Finnish Tikkurila paints have an excellent reputation. They can be used to paint previously painted, putty, concrete and plastered surfaces. The company offers a wide selection of them, so you can easily find the best option depending on the application.
Paint Eco Joker based on acrylic without the addition of organic solvents. The matt washable surface attracts attention with a silky effect. Eco Joker paint is a good choice for painting various surfaces. It looks beautiful on wood, wallpaper and concrete. Perfect for painting brick, cardboard, plaster, plastered surfaces.
Eco Joker interior paint can be applied to both new and painted surfaces. It is ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and children's rooms. Another advantage is that it dries very quickly and a new coat of paint can be applied after just two hours.
"Euro 2" - a good solution for painting ceilings, since it is based on a copolymer dispersion. The paint is matte, environmentally friendly. It can even be used for bedrooms and children's rooms. "Euro 3" perfect for painting wooden surfaces or fiberboard. "Euro 20" suitable for damp rooms, as well as for painting heating radiators.
English company Dulux offers products with good hiding power. Tinted paints can be used to create stylish interior designs. They are characterized by fast drying and excellent viscosity. For painting wallpaper, a good solution is Dulux Easy, and for painting coatings that require frequent washing, it is worth purchasing "Dulux V Sheen".
German manufacturer Dufa, which belonged to the Meffert AG Farbwerke concern, is one of the largest manufacturers in Europe. It offers products for interior and exterior use, regardless of the type of surface.
Products of a German company Pufas is well-known in the Russian market. The brand offers a wide range of colors, ease of use, versatility and affordable price.
Latex paint "Matt-Latex" is safe for health, since there are no solvents in its composition. It is characterized by elasticity, economy, excellent moisture resistance, durability, gives a glossy shine to the surface and its complete drying takes place in a day.
Swedish company products Parade has been in demand in many countries of the world for many years. The brand offers high quality products at an affordable price, offering a wide range of both interior decoration and facade work.
Paint "Parade Diy" is water resistant, therefore ideal for bathrooms and kitchens. It fits perfectly on the surface, while it is notable for its low consumption. The affordable price will appeal to every customer.
Paints and varnishes from a Russian manufacturer have a good price-quality ratio. "Lacra". It offers facade and interior options, a wide selection of colors, excellent quality, strength and elasticity. Many consumers leave extremely positive reviews about the brand's products.
Russian company "Tex" offers quality acrylic based paints. The advantage of the product is that it does not drip or run off. The painted surface is breathable and not prone to mold and mildew formation. If we talk about the shortcomings, then before using the product, you must first apply a primer to the surface to be painted.
If wood is to be coated, then several layers of product are required to completely hide the wood pattern.
How to choose?
There are three main characteristics to consider when choosing a latex paint:
- wear resistance;
- moisture resistance;
- gloss degree.
The above indicators are closely related to each other. For example, glossy paint is always characterized by increased wear resistance. But it should be understood that the gloss shines brightly under the sun's rays, emphasizing all the irregularities and cracks in the surface. Better to give preference to the option with a lower degree of gloss. Semi-matt paint is the best option.
It is important how many abrasion cycles the paint is designed for, while taking into account both dry and wet.
It is necessary to understand that on the can of moisture-resistant paint it will be indicated the wet abrasion cycles, while on the non-moisture-resistant paint - dry. One cycle is equal to one wash of the painted surface without harming its color performance.
For dry rooms, you can use paint with a number of cycles from 1000 to 2000, while products with 1000 cycles are suitable for ceilings, and at least 2000 for walls. This option is perfect for decorating a bedroom, living room or children's room.
If you need to choose paint for wet rooms (kitchen or bathroom), it is worth purchasing an option that has from 2000 to 3000 cycles. For external work, including for painting the facades, as well as for painting the oven, it must have at least 10,000 cycles.
Another indicator is the paint class. It is he who indicates the level of abrasion, namely:
- class 1 - the most resistant to wet abrasion;
- class 2 - do not rub off when wet cleaning;
- class 3 - low level of resistance, but normally react to contact with water;
- class 4 - suitable only for dry cleaning, it is forbidden to wash such surfaces;
- class 5 - low resistance to both dry and wet abrasion.
You will learn how to paint walls with latex paint in the following video.