Why use emulsion paint?

Not sure what paint to use for your latest refurbishment project? Why not look over the range of benefits emulsion has to offer?

Emulsion paint could be a good
choice for your project

Painting a room may seem like an easy task and thousands of home owners go about doing it every day without much planning and preparation. The truth is, however, that by diving into the job head first you risk missing out on the better quality paints that might be a perfect fit for your chosen room; and if you’re not careful you could end up with a messy finish and unattractive final design – leaving you with no choice but to start all over again. If you are unsure about what paint is best for you, why not start by looking into the advantages of using emulsion?

What’s so special about emulsion paint?

Emulsion paint is formed of tiny droplets of liquid polymer that are chemically bound to water and the chosen pigment. The presence of a polymer creates a more structurally dense final liquid that, unlike oil-based paints, is unlikely to separate into its component materials when left for a short amount of time – saving you the extra trouble of re-mixing your product and worrying about the effect such separation will have on the colour and sheen of your walls. Just like other paints, emulsion is also available in varying degrees of shine, from matt and eggshell to gloss and the more luxurious silk effect. There are a number of other benefits of using emulsion paint, including the following:

• Firstly, water-based emulsion is less toxic than most oil-based paints, which means no nasty smells, a reduced number of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) released – which is particularly helpful for the environment – and a decreased risk of skin irritation.
• Emulsion is also perfect for a number of different styles of painting, from rag rolling and stencilling to sponging and crackle-graze effects.
• It can be painted directly onto a wide range of materials, from walls to wooden furniture and even indoor metal radiators. It’s handy to know that the application of emulsion won’t affect the output of heat on such emitters, leaving you and your family just as warm with a bare radiator as a newly painted one.
• Unlike oil-based paints, emulsion doesn’t leave difficult, hard-to-clean stains behind on brushes and rollers (or carpets, if you’re more of a messy painter!) which makes it easier to clean and clear-up once you’ve finished. Just a short rinse under hot water will save all that extra expense on special cleaning agents.
• The silky look of emulsion paint also allows for the increased reflection of light in daylight hours, which is a perfect way to brighten up darker rooms in your home. This will, however, accentuate any surface imperfections on walls and ceilings, so if you’re worried about the overall impression of the room you may want to have those filled in first.
• Water-based emulsion also coalesces extremely effectively; that is, the water evaporates without distorting the colour or sheen of the final coat –and subsequent exposure to water won’t affect its quality either.
• Finally, emulsion is very easy to apply, and dries quicker than almost every other water or oil-based household paints; the entire job can be completed in a matter of hours.

How much does emulsion cost?

The cost of your paint will depend on a number of factors, including how much you will need, what type of shine you are looking for and (sometimes) the specific colour you want for your refurbishment. Cheap, wholesale figures usually price emulsion at around £1 per litre, so for a more accurate estimate you might want to increase that to £1.50 to £2. If one litre of paint will usually cover around a two square foot surface area, you will need around three to four litres of paint for an average sized bedroom in a semi-detached home – that’s just under a gallon of emulsion for under a tenner! It goes to show that, fortunately, opting for emulsion will provide you with strong, environmentally friendly paint at a relatively cheap price.