Water-based or oil-based paints

• Paint - the essential guide
• Choosing the right type of paint
• Floor paint
• Water-based or oil-based paints
• Exterior, masonry and woodwork paint
• Eco-friendly paints
• Paint glossary
• Paint directory

WATER-BASED PAINTS are usually referred to as emulsions and were traditionally used only for interior walls and ceilings. But recently tremendous advances in paint technology mean that water-based formulas, especially the high-performing acrylics, are available for all surfaces, from woodwork to metal, and for interior and exterior use. The advantages of these paints over oil-based ones is that they are cleaner, have less odour and are more environmentally sound. Brushes can be rinsed clean with water.

SOLVENT OR OIL-BASED PAINTS are used where a tough, durable finish is required for interior and exterior timber, masonry and furniture – although, as mentioned above, the new generation of acrylics and multi-surface paints offers viable alternatives. In general, brushes need to be cleaned with turpentine or white spirit.

MAKE-UP AND QUALITY
All paints are made of four key ingredients: pigments, binders, liquids and additives. Generally speaking, the more pigment used to make the paint, the better the quality it will be: a ratio of 30 to 45 per cent binder and pigments by volume indicates a paint that will be durable and provide good coverage and lasting colour.

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