All About Wall Coating Types in 2023
Wall coatings can add value to a property while simultaneously improving its aesthetic appeal. Wall coating companies added features, such as weather protection and no need for repainting, can add the final touches, not to mention an array of colours that won’t fade and can add visual interest and curb appeal.
The chemical composition of these coatings allows them to provide extreme weather protection, unlike standard masonry paints. As such, they can be tested using accelerated weathering machines.
Water-based
Water-based paints are easy to clean, dry quickly, and have minimal odour, making them suitable for use across all conventional spray painting systems (cup, airless, and airmix). Furthermore, these eco-friendly products don’t release harmful VOCs into the environment compared to solvent-based products and require less washing equipment, making them more eco-friendly overall.
Joey recommends water-based wall coatings for exterior walls exposed to weather or interior walls with moisture issues, as these coatings offer UV light resistance while keeping their colour true over time. In fact, some Hydroplus water-based topcoats feature excellent distension capabilities for improved results.
Though water-based coatings contain water, most use co-solvents to help evaporate any remaining moisture as they dry, thus decreasing VOCs in their final products and saving businesses from incurring fines for exceeding VOC quotas.
Oil-based
Oil-based paints use either natural or synthetic alkyd as their base and include resin, pigment, and thinner in their composition. Oil-based paints are widely used on metal surfaces because of their resistance to corrosion while also offering good durability in high-traffic areas around the home. Unfortunately, however, they emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), known to cause headaches and damage the environment.
To be safe when working with oil-based paints, it is necessary to wear a facemask and work in an open and well-ventilated space. They require longer drying times than their water-based counterparts and tend to yellow over time.
As mentioned previously, latex paint cannot be applied directly over an oil-based painted surface without wall coating companies first performing some preparation work, such as sanding the surface, deep cleaning, and priming. You can determine if your walls currently feature oil-based paint by wiping with denatured alcohol; if no residue remains behind after wiping, then it’s likely a water-based product!
Epoxy
Epoxy coatings provide seamless solutions, helping hospitals and veterinary clinics maintain an environment free from bacteria by being free from seams that trap it in the crevices of vinyl walls. Furthermore, seamless wall coating can prevent dirt accumulation that otherwise would collect in the crevices of vinyl surfaces.
Epoxy coatings are easy to maintain and provide superior impact, stain, and chemical resistance. They can be installed over existing wall enamel paint for quick installation.
Epoxy coatings offer many advantages over other coatings, one of which is their rapid application process in one day, meaning less downtime for your facility while it’s being repainted! This speed of process makes epoxy ideal for Minnesota’s extreme temperatures without cracking in cold weather conditions. Additionally, its fast application reduces disruption and disruption costs associated with other services, like carpet installation or painting services.
Acrylic
Acrylic wall paints offer several distinct advantages over their counterparts in terms of wear and tear resistance and flexibility, including plastic components that make them tougher against wear and tear as well as their elastic properties, which allow for the filling in of surface cracks in exterior masonry and building materials. These properties help prevent concrete and plaster degradation, which can cause moisture intrusion and lead to mould or dry rot issues.
TREMGard HB is a water-based, elastomeric acrylic coating that provides durable protection for concrete and masonry surfaces. This durable coating stands up well under environmental factors like temperature fluctuations, wind, rain, sunlight, etc., which typically cause conventional architectural wall coatings to crack. Furthermore, this TREMGard can repair surfaces compromised by corrosion damage as well as provide protection for new construction sites with excellent washability suited for both SG and flat formulations and exceptional stain removal properties, even with two red lipsticks added!
