Acrylic paint for walls: what is the difference between acrylic and latex paint

Photo: Acrylic Paint

Acrylic wall paint is one of the most used in real estate, residential and commercial painting in houses and apartments undergoing minor renovations.

Acrylic paint what is it for?

What is acrylic paint used for:  Acrylic paint is normally indicated for walls and is a product with a higher concentration of resins than pva latex. 

However, acrylic paint is used to paint not only the wall, but also  several other surfaces, such as plaster walls, drywall, wooden or metal doors and windows, floors, wall facades, ceramics and masonry, etc.

In some cases,  acrylic paint can also be applied to MDF, dividers, cardboard, but never to plastic or galvanized and zinc surfaces.

Acrylic Latex Paint

Acrylic paint must be diluted with water and dry quickly. The difference between acrylic paint and PVA is that acrylic has sap or resin in its composition, which makes it exceptionally waterproof, making it ideal for painting external regions and wet places.

So, unlike the recently referenced PVA latex paint, acrylic paint has a high concentration of resins and as I mentioned earlier, that's what makes it a decent choice for humid regions. 

Furthermore, what makes it interesting and fascinating: is that acrylic paint can be washed very well according to its finish!

The finish of acrylic paint is generally brighter than PVA latex paint, even in its matte form. Therefore, if you are going to repaint your property, first focus on the finish you need before making your purchase.

Currently, in Brazil, acrylic wall paint comes in the following finishes:

• Matte (No glare)
• Velvety (Marcia)
• Eggshell (egg shell)
• Satin (Silky)
• Semi-gloss (Gloss)

Acrylic paint finishes are divided into categories, such as: Economy, Standard, Premium and Super Premium.

Matte finish

Normally, the matte finish is part of the economic category and is indicated for repainting walls and ceilings in the same color, however, never for changing the tone of different brands.

This is because, in a change of tone of different brands and colors, there is a great demand for material expenditure for each application of paint on the surface.

Velvety finish

The difference between the velvety and matte finish is almost imperceptible to the eye, however, when touching the surface with your hands, you can notice the smoothness of the paint.

Due to its softness, it is given the name velvety, and it is part of the Standard category and is indicated for indoor environments and supports painting and repainting of different brands and colors.

Eggshell finish

Direct from the United States, this is a new finish for Brazilian painters, great for surfaces with undulations and imperfections. Eggshell or eggshell is the ideal finish for imperfect surfaces and in addition, it is a washable paint that supports stain cleaning.

The Eggshell finishing paint is part of the Premium category and is indicated for internal and external areas, however, it does not withstand constant rain or climate control. 

Satin or silk finish

Satin is one of the smoothest finishes, also known as silk by most painters and paint manufacturers. However, the satin finish requires skill and technical preparation from the professional to apply it, otherwise the paint may not come out as expected, becoming orange peel and with roller and brush stains and of course, this is due to lack of preparation. surfaces before painting.

The satin or silk finish is part of the Premium category and is recommended for internal environments and smooth surfaces.

Semi-gloss finish

Of all finishes, semi-gloss is the brightest. The same is indicated for external and internal areas.

This finish, like the satin finish, requires technical preparation by the painter and preparation of the walls before painting with semi-gloss. This glossy finish is part of the Premium and Super Premium category, it is recommended for smooth surfaces free of defects and undulations.

PVA Latex Paint

Photo: Suvinyl PVA latex

PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) latex paint  is great for painting interior walls and ceilings. Perhaps, it is for this reason that many Brazilians choose to buy this product to paint inside their houses and apartments. 

This paint is popularly known in Brazil as Poly(vinyl acetate) PVAc or Polyvinyl Acetate in Europe, the  name PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate)  comes from the substance used to make plastic paint, a derivation of polyvinyl acetic acid. 

In addition, pva paint is easily diluted with water, making it one of the top choices among interior painters and decorators. 

Due to this reality, assuming that you spill the pva paint somewhere in the house, just clean the place with a cloth with drinking water to eliminate the paint residues. 

Another intriguing thing about PVA paint is that it should only be cleaned with a damp cloth, never wash the walls completely, as it is not a washable product, like satin and semi-gloss acrylic paints. Its finish is matte and dries quickly, but it does not have severe areas of resistance to those found in different paints and is not fuel-derived.

The dubious side is that PVA paint is not as safe as acrylic paint, do you believe it? Therefore, it is not indicated for humid places or that may suffer from rain, as it does not offer waterproofing of the acrylic resin.

Oh! Before you forget, PVA latex paint comes in two finishes, matte and velvety and depending on the manufacturer's brand, it can vary by category, from economic to premium.