Are you ready to change the color of the inside or outside of your home? Do you know which types of paint work best on the exterior? What about moist areas of your home like the bathrooms or kitchen?

Professional painting companies offer expertise and skill to achieve the look you want. Keep reading to learn what type of paint for your home works best indoors and outdoors.

Different Types Of Paint

Each paint type serves specific purposes. It’s important to understand this in order to choose the right paint and reach your goal.

Paint Primers or Sealers

This isn’t technically a type of paint. Its purpose is to create a clean, solid surface. It keeps smoke, fat, dust, and other impurities from affecting the paint job. All repaired and unfinished walls need priming as the first step.

The primer needs to match the chosen type of paint. For example, latex-based primers for latex paint and oil-based primers for oil-based paints.

Water-Based Paint

If you want a uniform, smooth look that lasts for years, water-based paint offers a good option. It resists mold and mildew and has low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions. This paint dries quickly and is easier to clean up.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic is often added to water-based paint as a binding agent. This creates a good option for walls and wood to increase their durability. It resists steam and condensation and doesn’t yellow with time.

You can use a wet cloth and weak detergent to clean soils. Thus, acrylic paint needs little to no maintenance.

Professionals often use compressors to spray paint on walls. Acrylic paint works well for this application. It creates an almost perfectly flat look.

Oil-Based Paint

While oil-based paint offers durability, it has a longer dry time. It also needs paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine for cleanup. This type contains either natural oils (linseed) or synthetic (alkyd).

Since alkyd paint is often tougher and less expensive, it‘s more common. Oil-based paint offers a good choice for trim since it can withstand long-term abuse.

Latex Paint

The generic name used to describe all non-oil-based paints is latex. This paint is easy to use and dries quickly. While it’s less durable than oil-based paint, it makes a good choice for many projects.

Elastomeric Paint

This type of paint is made for protecting masonry surfaces. It’s applied in liquid form and then hardens to create a watertight, flexible coating. Elastomeric paint stretches and returns to its original shape without causing damage.

Specialty Types of House Paints

Teen bedroom with painted chalkboard wall

Some homeowners have problems with mold, mildew, and condensation. Others may want flame retardant paint.

There are even paints designed to dampen noise. Specialized paints are now created to meet various specific needs.

Many individuals focus on reducing their carbon footprint. Eco-friendly paints support that goal. They contain low VOCs, natural pigments, and low biocides.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates when paint labels may include “low VOC”. Latex paint must have less than 250 grams per liter (gm/l) of VOCs. Oil-based paint VOC levels need to be lower than 380 gm/l.

Check the label on the paint can or talk to your professional painter about the VOC content. Some paints have VOC levels between 0 and 100 gm/l.

Examples of eco-friendly paint include most water-based paints. Other good choices are latex or acrylic or even recycled water-based and latex paints. Also, look for options that are vapor-permeable.

Rationale for Choosing Types of Interior Paint

Begin by making a list of factors that will impact the long-term look of the area you wish to paint. What level of shine do you want? How much touching and traffic will it need to withstand?

Are there specific environmental factors to consider? These may include moisture, VOC concerns, and the chance for mold and mildew growth. Also, decide what visual effects you wish to achieve.

Latex

Latex paint offers a good option for walls and ceilings. It’s also a great choice for high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Water-based latex paint has a tight molecular structure. This makes it moisture resistant and easier to clean than solvent-based paints.

Oil-based

Today, oil-based paints have undergone many quality improvements. They provide a durable, easy-to-clean finish that is great for high-touch surfaces, such as trim, doors and cabinetry.

Water-based

These paints, sometimes called “emulsion paints”, emit low odor, VOCs, and dry quickly. This makes a good choice for interior walls and comes in a variety of finishes.

Textured

If you’re looking for special effects on walls or ceilings, choose textured paint. This can create stucco, popcorn, marble, sand swirl, and other patterns.

Choosing this type of paint is also a good way to hide flaws or repairs. It’s key to know that this paint is hard to work with and often needs a professional for a good outcome.

Enamel

Are you wanting to achieve an opaque, hard, glossy look on metal or wood? Or do you want to protect walls from damaging conditions such as water, stains, or heat? Enamel offers a good choice to achieve the look and durability you want.

Choosing Types of Exterior Paint

First, discuss the painting surface with the professional. Do you plan to paint brick, wood, or siding, for example? Each surface has unique needs to consider when choosing the best paint.

A top-quality latex paint made for masonry works best on brick and fresh stucco. This special elastomeric paint expands as the temperature changes.

For aluminum siding, the optimal choice is exterior acrylic latex paint. It’s often best to use a satin or flat finish is hide any dents or other damage.

When painting wood, it’s important to consider the type of wood making a selection. Talk to your professional about which option is best. Many times, an oil-based paint works well on wood.

Are You Ready to Get Your House Painted?

This article provided an overview of the different types of paint and how to choose. The SurePro Painting team offers interior and exterior painting and repair services. We paint homes, outbuildings, porches, concrete, and railings.

Take advantage of our 15 plus years of experience. We’re fully insured and offer a 2-year warranty without hidden fees. Schedule a free estimate in central Texas today.