Paint qualities and differences
This post is one in a series on remodeling small bathrooms as well as one within the sub-series on your options for bathroom remodeling materials. To access either of the lead posts, please select either of the links in the prior sentence.
There is a lot more to know about paint than most home owners realize. We all know paint comes in different colors. Some of us know that “oil vs latex” means something. Some understand the different sheen’s.
The Solera Group provides expert bathroom remodeling services in the greater San Jose metro area.
This series of blog posts describes in a fair amount of detail what’s important to know about paint. Not all paints are created equal.
Believe it or not most paints consist of 15 to 20 ingredients. However, they all fall into four broad categories: pigments, resins, solvents, and additives.
Low on the pigment, high on the resin. Very shiny. Appropriate for trim work. Very shiny.
Also appropriate for trim work around doors and windows. Less shiny than high gloss.
Still less shiny than semi gloss. Appropriate for wet rooms such as bathroom and kitchens as it’s easy to clean.
Eggshell paint is less shiny than satin, but has some shine. Good for rooms where ease of cleaning helps (small kids leave marks in the hallway or in their rooms?).
High on the pigment, low on the resin. Has no shine. Common for most living areas.
Oil paints are more durable, have greater sheen, smell worse when applying, must be cleaned with solvent (not water) and take longer to dry. However, the finish tends to come out much better. The longer drying time allows more time for the brush strokes to disappear. Latex is however much more common as it’s MUCH easier to work with and clean up.
All paint starts out colorless and pigments are added. Whether those pigments are wet or dry (power) actually matters! I know a professional painter who NEVER uses paints made with dry pigment.
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