Oil Based vs Water Based Paint - Which is Better?
When painting wood or metal you will often use either satinwood, eggshell or gloss, depending on what finish you prefer. However, all of these finishes come in either a water-based or an oil-based option. When it comes to emulsions for interior walls & ceilings, these are always water-based.
Going back 10 years everyone would automatically use oil-based paint on their interior trim, such as doors, skirting boards & furniture. However, leading paint manufacturers are investing their resources in water based paints because this is the future.
One common problem you will notice with an oil-based paint is the fact that it will discolour. This is determined by the amount of natural light that shines on the surface. If you paint a door under the stairs where no natural sunlight shines you might find the door will be yellow within a month or two. However if you painted the same door in a water-based paint it will remain nice and white for years to come.
Benefits Of Using a Water-Based Paint
There are a number of benefits of using a water-based paint, which include:
• Low Odour - water based paint smells much less than oil based.
• Quicker Drying - most water-based paints are dry within a couple of hours where as oil based paints often take a minimum of 16 hours to dry.
• Non Yellowing - oil-based paints can start to yellow over time, which is not the case with water-based paint.
• Cleaner - When you finish painting simply clean your brushes out in water. With an oil based paint you need to use white spirit or turps.
Drawbacks Of Using a Water-Based Paint
The main drawbacks to using a water based system are:
• Finish - decorators who are used to working with oil based paints often find oil based paint easier to work with because you get more flow with an oil based paint, also the initial finish may look more impressive before the yellowing occurs.
• Durability - some would argue that oil-based is harder wearing and in some cases this may be true. However, if you use a trade paint rather than a cheaper retail paint you will find the finish very hardwearing.
What To Go For
Ultimately, it is personal preference whether you opt for a water-based paint or an oil-based paint. Having said this, when it comes to decorating at home, the much easier formulation to use is water-based paints. You will find that traditionally decorators would opt for an oil-based paint, however many decorators are beginning to opt for the water-based alternatives as these improve in quality.
One such advancement in water-based technology is with hybrid formulations. These hybrid formulations have what is called a modified urethane, which offers the best of both worlds. These formulations have all the characteristics of a water-based paint, while offering the quality finish that you can get with oil-based paints. A fantastic example of these hybrid paints is the Fast Flow Quick Drying range from Crown Trade Paint. The range includes an eggshell, satin & gloss finish, which all offer a beautiful, professional finish at a great price.
These are examples of trade paint, which is crucial if you want to achieve the best results. You may be wondering what the difference is between a trade paint & a retail paint. A trade paint is developed to be higher quality, offer a better coverage, have a higher durability & to only require two coats, while a retail paint is generally cheaper and lower quality because of this. This is because paint manufacturers develop better quality trade paint for professional decorators, who need to achieve high-quality results as easily and quickly as possible.
In contrast, a DIY'er is slightly more price-conscious, often looking for a cheap paint to keep costs down. The problem with this is that this is a false economy, as it can end up costing you just as much money overall as you will get a lower coverage with retail paint and it may take three coats to cover. Paying a little bit extra upfront can end up saving you money, plus with the added durability you get from trade paint will mean it will last much longer without marking.
Here at Painters World we stock a wide range of paints from leading brands, all with free next working day delivery on orders over £50.
We hope this has answered any questions you may have had regarding water-based paint & oil-based paint. At Painters World we have a wide range of trade paint, decorating tools & supplies available, so no matter the job, we've got everything you need! Shop our huge range of products today & get FREE next working day delivery on all orders over £50.
