What paint to use? Latex or oil-based? This is the first question that we are asking ourselves when we are planning to start our new painting project. In this article, you will find useful information about advantages and disadvantages of the different paint types. If you are planning to paint the walls, latex paint is probably the best solution. If there is something wooden involved, may be you will prefer oil-based paint.

If you are a beginner in painting, may be you will like our Interior and Exterior Painting Tips. It is very important for you to be aware about the safety in painting. You must know that all types of paint are containing chemicals. If you are taking large projects, it is better if you are wearing gloves to minimize the direct skin exposure.

Latex is a water-based paint great for interior and exterior walls. May be the greatest advantage of the latex paint is much easier to cleanup if you make a mistake. When you finish painting, you will only need soap and water to clean up. It is also better for the environment than oil-based paints and dries faster. In addition, you can find latex paints in more wide ranges of colors and types. The great disadvantage of latex is that it swells the grain of wood, making sanding between coats a necessity.

Oil-based paints are good for high-traffic areas and wooded surfaces. You can see our article How to Paint Wooden Bookshelves. Oil-based paints are also smoother and you can cover more in one coat. It also takes longer to dry and you can have more time to work. Unfortunately, there are some disadvantages. Oil-based paint is more likely to crack, fade and yellow over the time. Clean-up solvents are necessary for washing brushes and for paint thinning. You have to be very careful with solvents because they are hazardous chemicals and you need to manage them very carefully. In addition, the paint fumes are overwhelming.