A beautiful wooden door needs a beautiful coat of paint to make it last.
A fresh coat of paint is just the thing to complete a new wooden door and can freshen up an old one. But a trip to the local hardware store can quickly become an overwhelming experience thanks to all the paint options available. While color is something you will need to decide for yourself, you can get help in deciding between oil and latex-based paint.
Latex Paint
Paints are made up of pigment dissolved in thinner. Latex paints are water based, meaning water is used as the thinner. Today, real latex is no longer used, as it was replaced by synthetic latexes such as acrylic or polyvinyl acetate. Latex paints offer the advantages of good gloss and color retention, being breathable, drying quickly, not having a strong odor, and being nonflammable. Any spills can also be quickly and easily cleaned using just soap and water.
Oil Based Paint
Oil based paints use organic solvents derived from petro-chemicals as a thinner. Despite the name, the pigment is not oil, but rather is made up of polyester resins called alkyds. Oil based paints are known for being able to penetrate deeper into the surface of the material, wearing better, offering better flow and levelling during the application, and drying to a smoother finish. Spills are harder to clean up, requiring the use of mineral spirits.
General Recommendation: Latex Paint
For most situations, latex paint should be used on an exterior door. Wood is naturally porous, and will often contain a small amount of moisture. Because latex paint is more breathable, it does not bulge and crack as much from moisture build-up as oil based paints do. This factor, combined with the greater ease of use, and with the fact that latex paints are less harmful to human health and to the environment, makes latex paint the better choice.
Special Situations
However, there are certain situations where oil based paint might work better. If the wood of the door is old and weathered, with the top layer turning soft, latex paint might have trouble adhering properly, resulting in peeling. Oil-based paints tend to penetrate more, resulting in better adhesion. Oil-based paint can also be used at lower temperatures than latex paint, which has a recommended minimum temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit for application. So, depending on the time of year or where you live, oil based paint might be your only viable option.
Related posts
Check both the day and night time temperatures when painting something outside.Acrylic latex paints come in a wide range of colors and different finishes - gloss, semi-gloss, and flat - making the...
Latex paint is water-based.If you plan to paint the exterior of your home, the type of paint you choose is vital to determining the durability of the finish. Certain surfaces require a latex paint...
Avoid peeling window paint by using a high-quality paint.It's frustrating to see paint peeling on the exterior of your home and know you have to fix it. Painting is an inexpensive way to brighten...
Latex paint has has become the most commonly used house paint on the market due to its numerous advantages over oil-based paints. It has versatile interior and exterior uses and is more environmen...
Water-based (latex) paint technology has vastly improved in recent years, and latex paint adheres beautifully to a wide range of exterior surfaces---in many cases it's better than oil-based paints...
