Are you planning a painting project? Perhaps you’re a property manager who’s in charge of the next building painting project. Maybe your local HOA has decided to repaint areas around the community and has tasked you with overseeing the plan. In any case, it’s important to know what kind of paint you’ll be using for the job.
One of the most common kinds you’ll likely come across is enamel paint. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s a type of paint that is strong, long-lasting, and usually has a glossy or polished look. Enamel paint air dries to a hard, washable, glass-like finish. Once fully dry, most coatings are durable enough to withstand high levels of use, fluctuating temperatures, moisture, and abrasions.
Essentially, enamel paint is defined more by its admirable qualities than what it contains. Because of these qualities, it can be used on a wide array of surfaces, including metal, glass, wood, wall, and plastic.
Enamel paints are available at varying prices, though they usually cost a bit more compared to other formulas. The quality results they offer, especially in the hands of professional painters, make for a fair tradeoff.
There are two main types of enamel paint — oil-based and water-based. Before, only oil-based enamel paints were available. In recent times, however, some manufacturers have begun creating water-based enamel paints.
The main difference between them is the type of solvent present in the paint. Oil-based enamel paints contain alkyd, a durable resin. When used to paint indoor surfaces, it gives off a strong odor, so the painters have to wear masks. The room also needs to be properly ventilated during the drying process, which can take around 8 to 24 hours.
On the other hand, water-based enamel paint contains water, which evaporates as the paint dries. Because of this, it dries much qu
