Understanding the distinction between latex and acrylic paint is a difficult procedure. Latex paints , as we have come to know as they are commonly described as “acrylic latex” but the true acrylic paint is referred to as “100 percent acrylic.”
What do these two types of paint differ? Which one is superior? What is the best time to use latex paint and when is it appropriate to make use of acrylic?
Acrylic paint, although more difficult to use than latex paint, offers greater toughness and weather resistance, and is therefore is a great choice for exterior use. The cost of latex paint is lower and it is easier to work with, making it the better option for many interior uses.
Let’s have a look at the differences between these two types of paints distinct and the they have to offer over each other.
Anatomy of Paint
While different paints can differ in composition, they consist of four elements such as pigments, binders, solvents, and other additives. The composition of paint depends on each of them.
Pigments are an essential element of paint because they determine the color. Pigments are usually dry and can be found in the form of powder. In order to convert them into a liquid which allows the painting of an object or wall the pigments need to be combined with a binder and solvent.
A solvent, in the definition of is a substance that dissolves another substance. For example, in the case of paints solvents dissolve pigment, binder and any other ingredients to produce an uniform consistency which can be easily painted on the wall or any other surface.
Solvents are made up of various chemical compounds. Water is the most widely known and the most commonly employed solvent in paints, when oil-based paints usually make use of a petroleum-based chemical solvent. Whenever you open the paint container, you will see a clear liquid sitting on top of the paint if you are painting with oil and solvent.
Additives serve a range of functions within the paint. They make the paint fluid for better coverage, and assist in keeping the pigments of the paint evenly distributed. They can also provide additional characteristics to paints like weather resistance.
They can even function as a preservation agent, stopping the growth of mold in the paint, and extending the shelf life of the paint.
The job of a binder is two-fold that is to connect the pigment particles to each in a way that binds the pigment to the wall after it has evaporated. Binders determine paint’s adhesion properties and also its resistance to fade and washability.
After the paint has been applied, solvents are evaporated and the paint as well as the binder and additives to form a film on the surface or object.
Acrylic Paint vs Latex: A Quick Overview
- Primarily used for: Due to its UV and water-resistant properties the 100% acrylic material is usually utilized for outdoor use and latex, due to its low VOCs, superior coverage, and user-friendly characteristics makes it ideal for most internal applications.
- In terms of coverage, Latex typically provides better coverage than acrylic, which requires less paint coats.
- Durability Acrylic paint is more durable. It has higher elasticity, which means it is more able to withstand temperature fluctuations, and prevent cracking and peeling. It is also better at preventing scratches and scuffs.
- Cost Paints made of acrylic are considerably more expensive than latex paints.
- Easy to use: Latex paints release very little VOCs, meaning that less ventilation is required to ensure safe use. They also are less difficult to clean because they’re water-based. Acrylic paints emit more fumes, and require thinner to clean up. Paints made of latex dry faster.
Acrylic Paint A Quick Review
Like latex paint is made of acrylic resins. However, unlike latex paint the acrylic paint is made with an chemical base. These chemicals create acrylic’s weather-proof and long-lasting.
While latex paint permits water to pass through and is water-resistant, acrylic paint turns that way after drying. Additionally, it has stronger elasticity that means it can better adapt to wood that expands and contracts as temperature and humidity change.
Acrylic made of 100% acrylic binder tends to last longer applied to exteriors of houses.
Despite these qualities the acrylic paint isn’t commonly used to paint for this purpose.
Why? This is due to the fact that 100 100% acrylic paint is substantially greater in price than latex paint, and isn’t able to cover the area equally, making it prohibitive to paint the exterior of your home.
Acrylic paint also drys faster (sometimes within minutes) and is typically thick. This makes it hard to cover large areas with ease.
Acrylic paint is also popular in arts and crafts applications because of the vast variety of vibrant colors that are available in acrylic paint and the ability to apply it to various materials in incredible detail.
Latex Paint A Quick Review
Because the word “latex” is what makes the majority people imagine rubber. It’s easy to understand why people think that latex paint has rubber. In reality, latex utilized rubber as a binder. However, it no longer does.
There’s still a reason why latex should be referred to “latex” but. Instead of the sap from the Brazilian Rubber Tree, latex currently uses a man-made polymer to make the similar compound.
Today, latex paint is composed of water as a base that is a major element of why it is so well-known. The paint that is water-based dries quickly it is also easy to clean, and has fewer VOCs compared to other paints.
Since latex is more elastic than oil-based paints it is more resistant to breaking or peel. Also, it is gas permeable, which means that it won’t trap moisture within, say the drywall.
[su_note note_color=”#f5fac1″ radius=”1″]Also Read: What is the Difference Between Acrylic Paint Vs Satin Acrylic Paint[/su_note]
What is the difference between Acrylic as well as Latex Paint?
Once we’ve established the characteristics of latex and acrylic paints are, let’s look at an in-depth review of how their quality differs. Understanding the difference is essential to choosing the right one for your painting needs.
Adhesion
Acrylic has a head start over latex in terms of adhesion properties. Acrylic paints, when primed, can be used on many different materials, including metal, wood, masonry and some plastics. Paints made of latex are mainly used for wood and drywall.
That’s why paints like Rustoleum which is utilized for metal, as well as Drylok that is used to build masonry, can be classified as acrylic paints.
Paints made of latex, for instance are prone to peeling or easily scratched of masonry and metal surfaces.
Weather-Resistance
Acrylic is the best in terms of durability to the elements, this is the reason it is sometimes used for an exterior coating over latex. Both acrylic and latex are flexible, which allows they to contract and expand when the temperature changes. In turn, they are far less prone to peeling or cracking as oil-based paints are.
Of both of them, acrylic is more malleable and has better weather resistance over latex.
Acrylic is more resistant to water. The acrylic binders are better at blocking UV rays from the sun more effectively than the binders used in latex paint. This means that they will hold their color for a longer time than latex.
This makes acrylic more suited to be touched up in the future, since the color contained in the container will match that of the walls.
Durability
While both latex and acrylic have a good longevity, acrylic provides greater longevity. Additionally, it is more resistant to weather, acrylic paint is better at resisting tear and wear. Although latex paint may scratch and scratch easily, acrylic paint is able to protect against this type of damage.
This is the reason acrylic paints are utilized to paint high-traffic areas like outdoor or indoor flooring, furniture outside doors, staircases.
Easy to use
Latex paint is quite effortless to use. Latex generally applies easily and is well-covered. The drying time is lengthy enough that you don’t need to worry about the durability for the coating. It is also simple to clean, with only water.
The acrylic paint, however, it is extremely fast drying. This can be a problem for larger projects since fresh paint isn’t able to blend effectively with one that is beginning to dry. Therefore, if you plan on installing a large outdoor project with acrylic, you will need to act quickly.
Acrylic is also not able to appear as smooth as latex. It’s usually dense. This means you’re more likely to notice strokes with acrylic paint as opposed to latex. Because of this, it is essential to use top-quality rollers and brushes for using acrylic paint.
Acrylics are used to require paint thinner for cleaning. This can be quite a hassle because cleaning using paint thinner is an exhausting and messy. Paint thinner is also a source of high VOCs that expose users to harmful emissions.
Luckily, the majority of acrylics these days are water-soluble and need the use of warm water and soap to clean rollers and brushes.
Cost and availability
High-quality latex paint can be easily found for sale at a reasonable price in nearly every home improvement store that sell paint for houses. Paints made of latex are typically available from a wide range of manufacturers to fit a variety of budgets and demands.
Acrylic paint is considerably more expensive. Acrylic paint that is 100% pure typically costs twice the price of latex paint. It’s also difficult to locate, frequently necessitating you to visit paint stores with the specialization that experts frequent. While latex paints are available in a range of quality and colors, the majority of acrylic paints are designed for high-end or contractor-grade usage.
Acrylic Paint vs Latex: Comparative Chart Side-by-Side
| Latex Paint | Acrylic Paint | |
| Base | Water | Acrylic polymer |
| VOC Levels | None to low | Moderate |
| Dry Time | A half-hour or less | A minimum of 30 mins |
| Cost | Low to Moderate | High |
| Clean-up | Simple (water only) | Hard (paint-thinner needed) |
| Coverage | Best | Good |
| Elasticity | Good | Best |
| Durability | Good | Best |
| Resistance to scratching or marking | Good | Best |
| Resistance to Mildew and Mold | Low | High |
| Useful Surfaces | Primed wood, walls and masonry | Metal, wood, masonry and plastic |
| UV Resistance/ Fade Resistance | Low | High |
| Temperature Tolerance | Good | Best |
| Easy to apply | Easy | Very difficult |
| Accessibility | Accessible in a variety of ways | Limited availability |
| Adhesion | Good | Best |
Can you mix Latex with Acrylic Paint?
Since both are water-soluble, it is possible to mix Acrylic paint and latex paint effortlessly. Mix both paints and stir them thoroughly. Mixing is a method to modify the colors of the paint.
Be aware that mixing can influence the above properties for both of the coatings altering those characteristics like durability, adhesion and the resistance to fade.
It is not impossible to blend latex paint and creative acrylics.
Acrylic paints that are artistic come in two forms: liquid acrylic, and tubes. You can use fluid acrylic paints to tint paint for latex like industrial tinting solutions. Simply add small amounts of liquid acrylic into your latex and then mix thoroughly to change the color.
Tube acrylics are an artistic paints that have the consistency of crème or lotion. The paint is thicker in order to highlight brush strokes and allows for more different mixing and mixing.
Mixing tube paint and latex paint is feasible but will require a bit more effort. It is necessary to mix water and the tube acrylic paint in order to create a more diluted consistency, which will allow it to blend well to the latex paint.
Conclusion
Knowing the distinction between latex paint and acrylic paint is crucial to make the right choice for the best job.
Paints made of latex are the most sought-after. There are high-quality latex paints for a variety of kinds of applications, such as both exterior and interior jobs. They are also all-encompassing and can be found in any home improvement store, from various brands.
However, acrylic paints should never be ignored. Their weatherproof and durability are the best paints to use for a range of purposes including home exteriors and patio flooring.
I hope that this guide given you the information to decide if either acrylic or latex paints are the ideal choice for your project.