The different types of Painter Painting

Oil painting or water? What is an acrylic painting? How to navigate among the different types of paintings? What painting for the kitchen or the bathroom? Washable or washable paint? Whatever the question, there is in response a suitable painting.

The choice between the different types of paint is already in itself very broad since there are three families (acrylic, glycerophtalic and specific) which are available in three finishes (matte, satin and gloss). It is the perspective of these two characteristics (chemical composition and finish) that will determine the choice and the final aspect, a choice that must be explained to you by the painter.

Especially since this final aspect is also a function of the state of the surface and the material to be covered. Thus an apparently simple and 'traditional' act is actually an equation with several unknowns. " Painting, what cuisine !" Exclaims, laughing Christian Dauxais, dealer distributor in Ile-de-France for a manufacturer. It only expresses the great diversity that surrounds the simple word 'painting' since each of the three families has its own characteristics and methods of application (s).

How to use Building Paints

Finally, it should be noted that some manufacturers sometimes use another name for families that speak of "building" paintings, that is to say, paintings mainly intended for walls, ceilings and underlays, of "finishing" paints. ie acrylic or lacquer paints and 'specific' paints for wood and metal.

Glycerophtalic paints

These are the famous oil paintings (usually linen), which is actually the binder that holds together the pigments and / or salts that make the painting. Although the oil itself tends to disappear since it is nowadays commonly replaced by a synthetic resin resulting from a chemical reaction called alkyd resin.

This type of painting is preferred for its traditional decorative appearance, its solidity (if you tap on it, the paint resists without breaking up for example) and its resistance to moisture since the water trickles on without impregnating it. In fact, they are leachable and also resist the attacks of household products.

Even if they are much less employed than before, Frédéric Martin, manager of the company Martin Peinture, based in the Alpes de Haute Provence, believes that glycerophtalic paints are still useful, it would be, he says, that for their 'historical achievement', when professionals prepared their own products. " Even if the qualities are similar, many people find that oil painting is more aesthetic than water paint ," jokes Michel Sénéchal, president of the Group of Professionals Painting - Removing - Finishing (GPPF) ). Professionals can also use it for "anti-rust work on metalwork", explains Frédéric Martin.

However, the modern version of the oil painting services still has the flaws of containing large amounts of solvents and emitting strong odors. It is finally longer to dry.

Acrylic paints called in aqueous phase

Acrylic paints are of a more recent use but have quickly conquered professionals and individuals since they are now the most used paintings inside. The reason is simple: they are made from acrylic resin that dilutes in water and apply to almost all materials. In addition, they are odorless, dry quickly, allow tools to be cleaned under running water and, lastly, contain little or even some of the solvents at all, which makes them 'ecologically correct'.

For reasons of hygiene, standards and also ecology, these are the paints you will find most easily and abundantly in the trade. Note that they can be cleaned with water but in no case leached, their resistance to household products being much less than oil painting. 

The specific paints

If the material of the support can influence the choice of the chemical composition and the painting family, and even if this one is conceived to be applied on the plaster, concrete, cement or others, there are nevertheless restive materials like wood, which require specific paints.

Indeed, the wood will be treated with primers (product intended to protect the wood against the parasitic aggressions) and stains, to embellish them. The same goes for metal painting.