Oil-based Paint vs Latex Paint

You are ready to paint your bedroom, or heck, your whole house. It's a Saturday morning and you decide to visit your local hardware store in search of the perfect paint. But as you stride through the paint aisles, you realize that the task isn't as simple as it seemed at first. There is high gloss, semigloss, satin, flat, latex, alkyd, and many other types of paint. Where is the beginning? Where is the end?

Let's break it down. Paint today is usually divided into two main categories: latex paint and alkyd paint (also known as oil-based paint). 

There was a time in history where the main type of paint used in the United States was oil-based (such as linseed oil) paint. With technology improvements, the oil has been replaced with synthetic resins that work as the binder in the paint. The most popular of this is what is known as alkyd. That is where the alkyd and oil-based paint connection comes from.

Today, however, the main type of paint sold in the United States (some sources say over eighty percent of the all the paint sold) is latex. Latex paint was develop in 1940. At first, it was based on a resin from a rubber tree as a binder. Today, however, binders include synthetic elements, such as acrylic latex.

Now, what are the differences between Oil-based vs Latex paint? One reason why latex paint is so popular is because of its convenience. Latex paint is water-based, which means spills and rips wash up rather easily with a wet sponge. Brushes are also cleaned with a thorough water rinse. On the other side, to clean alkyd paint, mineral spirits will required. 

Another difference is the drying speed. Latex paint dries up relatively fast compared to oil-based paint. But in fact this is a reason why painters like oil-based paint. The longer the drying time, the better the paint will flatten out to hide brush marks. In addition, oil based paint has a durability that is hard to beat.

Painting you home doesn't have to be difficult. With some basic knowledge and a brave spirit, you can do it!

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