You’ve started redecorating your home but aren’t sure you’ve chosen the right paint to get the best results in every room in your home. Here are some tips on painting the home with emulsion paint.

Although paint is a very common material, the technology used to obtain it is quite complicated. Paint usually consists of pigments and a binder (oil or water based). Therefore, long-term storage will cause the two constituents of the paint to separate in the can; when you want to reuse, the contents of the can must be stirred well (except anti-drip paints) so that the pigments and binder mix evenly.

While some paints give different surface finishes, others are designed for particular jobs (primer, undercoat, anti-condensation, radiator paint, fire retardant, bituminous). This makes paint selection quite a difficult task without the help of an expert.

Modern emulsion paint is a mixture of two substances that do not mix. It is water-based and due to the added vinyl or acrylic resins, it becomes more resistant than traditional emulsions. The paint becomes more resistant as the gloss increases; paint specialists often offer matt, semi-matt, satin and full gloss ranges.

Emulsion paints are typically used for walls and ceilings. There are three types of emulsion: matt vinyl, satin vinyl (used in areas that can be washed or sponged) and silk vinyl emulsion specific for kitchens and bathrooms. There are also special types of water-based emulsions created for woodworking that can be easy to apply, but are not as resistant as oil-based paints.

Emulsion paints may contain certain substances such as fillers, catalysts, stabilizers, emulsifiers, adhesion enhancers, flatteners or texturizers that produce different results: thickening the film, supporting the structure of the emulsion paint or increasing its volume. In addition, they can contain a large number of additives to produce various properties such as: antifreeze, foam control, bacterial growth control and pigment stability.

Also, emulsion paint can be applied as a gas (aerosol) or as a liquid. Generally, you will apply it using brushes, rollers, and other instruments. Once applied, the paint can be mixed with other painted regions within a certain time interval (known as “open time”). This range can be extended by adding white spirit or other glycols.