Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint dries fast because of pigments contained, suspended in an acrylic solution. You can dilute the acrylic paint with water, although the coat becomes water resistant when it has dried.

The end result has a character of its own, which will contribute to the appeal of an interior or exterior wall. Exterior coats can be a blend of polymer and acrylic although you will find that some of the best exterior coats are up to 100% water based.

You can use an acrylic paint to attain a gloss or matte finish. It should be noted that as with oil based coatings, the pigment level and particles contained will influence the sheen. To improve the matte effect, agents are added. As an alternative a varnish or top coating can be added to increase the sheen.

It should be noted that it is not easily removable once it has dried since water and light solvents cannot dissolve it. If you want to remove the coating, you need an alcohol based solution. Any solvent will remove all of the paint since it dissolves it.

Where to use acrylic paint

For the exterior of the house a 100% water based coat will work well, for the doors and windows, you should opt for a polymer acrylic paint.

To get a matte finish in your kitchen you can use an acrylic paint and coat the required area where after you can cover it with two coats of a water based varnish.

Kitchens, formal areas and children’s rooms can be painted with an acrylic paint since it is strong and can sustain the traffic in these areas. You can make use of a semi-gloss or for a softer look, go with a satin finish. Formal areas such as the dining room can be coated with low sheen coat.

Since it is a type of polymer which gives excellent binding power for water based coatings and sealants, some of the brands can be used to coat appliances as well. A multi-surface coat can be used in high traffic areas because of its suitable characteristics:

• Low odour level
• Dries fast
• Cleans easily
• Can obtain a silk or satin finish
• Wipes off easily
• Applies evenly.

It is especially a wise choice when it comes to the children’s room where crayons are used and little hand marks tend to cover the walls. Because you can easily wipe of marks without damaging the coating, it is ideally suited for any area where children play. Nursery schools also prefer using it on their interior walls because it is hardy and can withstand the daily bumps and scratches.

It is also well suited for decorative painting on walls, furniture and wood. You normally need to apply a glaze to the basecoat and then work with the glaze to get the desired effect. You need a coat that can dry quickly and will not run. Acrylic paint varnish ensures adequate protection and should be applied over the decorative paintwork.

From the above, it is obvious that there is much more to painting a surface than meets the eye. Correct colour selection is just one consideration. The type of coating and even varnish is just as important. Making the right choice from the start will not only save you money, but will also enhance the appeal of the painted surface and its durability.

The friendly and well trained sales consultants at the King’s Paint & Hardware outlets across South Africa are there to assist you in finding the most suitable, high quality product for your specific purpose. If you already know exactly what you want, you will find the well-planned lay-outs of the stores to be a benefit.

Not only can you expect service excellence, but will also be amazed by the wide range of quality brands stocked including Dulux, Plascon, Prominent Paints and the house brand Meridian Paints, offering over a thousand colours for every type of surface imaginable.

Get to your nearest King’s Paint & Hardware store today or visit the products page for more information on types of coating and specifically durable acrylic paint.