What Is Latex Paint Used for, and Why Every DIYer Needs It

When embarking on a painting project, the type of paint you choose can significantly impact the overall result. For guaranteed success, you’d want to choose paint that delivers not just in appearance but also in longevity. While there are many options available that offer these, latex paints remain a popular choice due to their ease of use.

Continue reading to learn more about what latex paint is, what it is typically used for, and how to use it properly, especially if you love doing DIY projects!

What Is Latex Paint Made Of?

Latex paint is a water-based product that contains pigments and often uses acrylic polymers and polyvinyl acetate as “binders.” This is why, in some instances, latex paint can also be referred to as water-based paint. Typical latex paint finishes include flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, all of which can suit various projects.

Ultimately, this water-based formulation helps provide benefits. Here are some pros linked to latex paint:

• Quicker drying time:

  Latex paint is water-based, so it is able to evaporate and dry faster.

• Adaptability to weather changes:

  In a country like the Philippines where weather conditions can change swiftly, you would want paint that does not easily yield to these changes. Water-based paint like latex paint is known to tolerate even small changes to weather conditions, unlike solvent-based paints that are heavily dependent on the current weather for solvent evaporation.

• Environmentally friendly option:

  In general, latex paint contains very little amounts of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) because it uses water as a base. VOCs are often released as vapor and gas while paints dry, but some contain chemicals that can harm you or someone else’s health in the long run. By switching to water-based latex paint, you reduce the risk of health issues connected to increased exposure to VOCs.

• Lesser chance of yellowing:

  This mainly applies if you are using white latex paint. It is said that oil-based paints are made with chemical compounds that can cause the color to change over time. You would not need to worry about this if you use latex paint since it does not contain the chemical compounds in question.

• Lesser chance of peeling and cracking:

  These two problems can result in a paint job that is very unappealing. However, using latex paint can prevent this since it can withstand various temperature changes. The paint expands and contracts depending on the current temperature.

• Easier to clean:

  You will only need soap and water to clean surfaces painted with latex paint, ensuring the paint job lasts for a longer period of time.

• User-friendly option:

  If you are a beginner to the world of painting or a DIYer running on a tight schedule or budget, latex paint can be a good choice since it is user-friendly. Moreover, latex paint jobs often need less coats compared to oil-based paints. This results in a smooth finish that you can be proud of.

What Is Latex Paint Used For?

Another reason why some industry experts use latex paint for their projects is their versatility. It can be used on the following surfaces:

• Interior ceilings, walls, and surfaces made of drywall, plaster, and wood
• Exterior surfaces made of concrete, stucco, and siding
• Concrete surfaces, including autoclaved aerated concrete and cement fiberboards

Because of these surface options, latex paint can be used in different rooms of homes such as kitchens, hallways, living rooms, and even bedrooms.

Choose Island Paints Latex Solutions for Your Next Project!

Are you ready to give latex paint a try? You’ve come to the right place! Island Premium Paints has various latex paint types to choose from, so you can find the best fit for your project’s requirements.

Island Premium Paints’ latex paints come at an affordable price, all of which contain a good amount of volume solids that contribute to increased quality and hiding power. Here are some choices from Island Premium Paints you can consider:

1. Island Prima: These paints, which can come in flat, satin, semi gloss, and gloss finishes, are recommended for general interior and exterior surfaces. Not only do these paints help provide an excellent and durable finish, but they also deliver high gloss, superior gloss retention, and good alkali resistance.
2. Island Life: This is highly recommended as a finish coat for interior walls and ceilings of hospital rooms, bedrooms, classrooms, nursery rooms, elder care facilities, and more. Island Life paints are a water-based option made from a premium acrylic dispersion that emits low odors and VOCs. It also contains an additive compound that helps reduce the growth of disease-causing bacteria in the room.
3. Star Elastomer: This latex product can be used as a finish coat for interior and exterior vertical or sloping surfaces such as concrete walls, roof tiles, bricks, concrete casting, canopies, ledges, and more. It may also be applied to adequately primed wood and metal surfaces. Due to the higher resin to pigment ratio in the dried film, Star Elastomer is recommended for surfaces that require some form of waterproofing.

Apply Latex Paint Like a Pro: Here’s How to Do It

To ensure a smooth finish for your latex paint, make sure your surface has been thoroughly prepared. The outcome of the paint job highly depends on how well your surface was prepared.

The rule of thumb when it comes to latex paint application is to inspect weather conditions and determine if it is good for you or not. If it is good for you, then it is most likely good for the paint. If it is too hot, cold, or rainy, then that will not be good for your paint job. When working with latex paint, try to follow this step-by-step method:

1. Wear protective equipment like goggles, face masks, and gloves. These products help keep your body safe during the paint job and mitigate the risk of accidents.
   
2. Inspect the area that you will paint for structural stability and soundness.
   
3. Eliminate dust, oil, rust, and other “barriers” so that products can adhere to the surface you are working with better. Use a wet rag (for small areas) or compressed air (for bigger structure) for this step.
   
4. Sprinkle the surface lightly with water before applying skim coat for better adhesion. This helps prevent the migration or transfer of water from the skim coat mixture to the substrate, lowering the chances of dehydration of the mixture and preventing the formation of cracks on the skim coat surface.
   
5. Use a trowel to apply at least two layers of Island Paints Super Kinis Skim Coat, both of which must be approximately 1 mm thick, at a 1-hour interval until the surface appearance is uniform and levelled. If you are working with a rougher or uneven surface, apply one to two layers of a skimcoat gray coarse that are approximately 3 to 5 mm thick before applying another layer of the Super Kinis Skim Coat.
   
6. Let the Skim Coat fully cure for around 24 hours before sanding it using #120 sandpaper.
   
7. Use a high-quality primer like Prima Primer 301 White to help the latex paint stick better to the surface. A primer fills the pores of the surface, providing space for the topcoat to adhere to.
   
8. Apply two or more topcoats over the primer, depending on the color of the latex paint. Use a thin brush for edges and crevices and a paint roller for wider areas. Apply paint using the N-pattern to ensure the paint is more uniform and even.

Once you are done using latex paint and other products, tightly seal the containers and keep in an area that is not above 35⁰ degrees Celsius and away from children. If you are ready to dispose the paint, follow government guidelines and avoid throwing it into sewage systems.

Whether you’re sprucing up your home or embarking on a large-scale project, latex paint not only offers a vibrant array of colors and finishes but also contributes to a surface’s longevity without the added environmental and health risks.

With latex paint solutions from Island Premium Paints, you can give your space a much-needed makeover that can last for years to come!

References:

https://www.perthpremier.com.au/what-is-latex-paint

https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/paint-glossary-all-about-paint-color-and-tools

https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/home-diy/painting/latex-paint.htm

https://boisehomepainting.com/blog/acrylic-vs-latex-paint-guide/

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs