Painting with Water Based and Emulsion Paints
We read earlier about painting walls with Oil Based Paints. Now we look at painting with Emulsion or Water Soluble paints. An Emulsion is essentially a mixture of two substances that are somewhat incompatible. In water based paints, the pigment is suspended in water, and cannot be fully absorbed by it.
photo credit: ▲ lewis chaplin
Emulsion paints give a nice sheen when applied. The degree of sheen can be chosen along with the paint. They also tend to become hard as the sheen increases. Emulsified paints will be thicker and cloudier than other paints. They contain additional components known as fillers to stabilize them. Different additives impart various properties, depending on the requirements like bacterial growth control, and antifreeze foam control.
To paint with these paints, it is preferable to use a thick brush. Unlike with oil paints, you must apply the paint in all directions. If you start at the top of the wall, continue horizontally across the top, moving in a criss cross pattern. Make sure that you don’t apply too much paint. Once a horizontal patch is done, you can start on painting immediately below it.
While “Laying Off” the paint, use a dry brush and maintain the criss cross pattern.