Water-Based Paints

Water-based paints are the most versatile paint products you can use for your projects. Although they lack the toughness of some oil-based paints, they’re easier to use both inside and outside your home.

It’s no surprise that water-based paints are the go-to for professional painters. They offer the best value for money in large quantities, and have all the colours and shades they need to get the job done.

But this amount of choice can be a problem. If you’re keen to start painting, but aren’t sure what paint is right for the job, you could spend a fortune on something that isn’t ideal.

So let’s break down the different water-based paints, and why they’re so popular.

What are Water-Based Paints?

Every paint is made from a compound, a combination of different ingredients that give it the right consistency, colour, sheen level, and a few other features like UV resistance or extra durability.

Water-based paint, as the name suggests, uses a water-based compound. Although that may make it sound like it creates thin or streaky finish, these paints are still thickened with other ingredients.

The most common water-based paint is emulsion paint. This is the go-to for walls and other interior surfaces, and offers great value.

But that’s far from the only option. We supply all of the following:

• Acrylic Paint
• Latex Paint
• Masonry Paint
• Wood Paint
• Satinwood Paint
• Decking Paint
• Shed and Fence Paint
• Furniture Paint
• And more!

Simply put, there are few interior and exterior surfaces that can’t benefit from a few coats of water-based paint. But what makes them better than their oil-based alternatives?

The Advantages of Water-Based Paint

As we mentioned, water-based paints are very versatile. They can be used on a wide range of surfaces, meaning you can cover every inch of your home with some form of water-based paint if you so wish. But that’s just the start of the versatility these products offer.

Naturally one of the most important factors when picking your paint is the colour. You want to match your existing theme, or just ensure that surfaces look as good as you imagined. Thanks to acrylic and emulsion paints, you have infinite colour choices, and we really mean infinite!

Most water-based paints we have in stock are part of our Colour System. Simply type in an RAL or British Standard colour code and we’ll mix the perfect paint. If you don’t want to do that, we also have plenty of standard colours available, from white to black with plenty of bold choices in between.

The way your paint looks will be determined by the sheen almost as much as the colour. Thankfully water-based paint gives you plenty of options there too, although if you prefer a very glossy finish you may need to consider oil-based paint.

How Durable is Water-Based Paint?

The paint’s toughness is one of the main reasons why people are hesitant to choose water-based paint. But this is unfounded, as a high-quality water-based paint, especially something with a tough compound like latex or exterior emulsion, will be almost as durable as oil-based paints.

You can improve the durability of water-based paints by using a layer of primer as an undercoat. If you have prepared the surface correctly, this will help your paint to cling to it, as primer is designed to enhance paint and add longevity.

A quality water-based paint plus primer will last a long time, up to a decade for some interior surfaces, and around half that for surfaces that are exposed to the elements.

There are also a couple of ways to extend the lifespan of your paint, with the main one being cleaning the surface on a regular basis.

How to Clean Water-Based Paint

Another big advantage of water-based paint is how easy it is to clean. Interior walls, floors, and doors often get marked or stained. If you used a water-based paint, they can be cleaned with soap and water – you won’t have to worry about the paint flaking or losing its lustre.

Oil-based paints, on the other hand, are harder to clean with regular cleaning products. And this is the same for before the paint has dried too; it’s not easy to remove paint from clothing or carpets, but water-based paints are a little friendlier in that regard.

Another disadvantage of oil-based paints are because of the chemicals in the compound. These VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) can be harmful to people and pets, and have a strong odour that is hard to work around. For your safety and comfort, you need to ventilate the area you are painting well if you’re inside.

This is not an issue with water-based paints, as they tend to have very low levels of VOCs.

The Best Paint for your Project

With so many options available, it’s not easy to know which paint is best. But if you can at least decide whether water-based or oil-based paint is right for you, you’re halfway there.

You cannot go wrong with water-based paint. They’re tough, versatile, and give you great value for money even if you splash out on top-of-the-range paint.

Last but certainly not least, they’re the easiest for beginners. So if you’re keen to get into decorating or just want to keep things simple, look no further than Paintmaster for your water-based paint and painting accessories.