Types of Paint and Eco Paints

​There are several options to choose from when it comes to paints because the market is flooded. This has made people confused and difficult to choose what exact paints to select for their building. However, we are in the business to help clients overcome fear and confusion. Painters and Decorators Leicester is a painting company that helps you ease your confusion and guide you through selecting a paint suitable for your home, office, hotels, schools, or any other area. As experts in the industry, we help our clients by carrying the burden of selecting the right paints, considering the surface of the walls that need to be painted and the environment the paint will be subjected to. With our expertise and professional consultation, you won't ruin your home trying to do it all yourself. So, let's do business today! We've provide a short overview of some main internal  paint finishes but there are many more intermediary, undercoat and specialist paints available too. 

Gloss paint

There are many options to choose from when it comes to paints and how they will be seen on the wall after painting. Many people are familiar with the name of this paint but what is gloss paint used for? Gloss paints are tough and durable and exhibit stain-resistant properties and are shiny (have high reflection) which has the disadvantage of making surface imperfections more visible. Based on it's qualities it is mostly used on wooden surfaces such as skirting boards and doors which with a different colour to the walls can provide an effective 'frame' to the room.

Matt paint

Matt emulsion is the least reflective paint finish and is available in a variety of colours and shade. By having a low sheen (non reflective) finish this can help hide imperfections with the surface of your walls and gives a real depth to its colour. Due to its more less smooth finish this does make it more difficult to clean so not the best choice for high traffic areas such as hallways. ​

Silk Paint

Silk emulsion has a much higher sheen level than Matt and as a result it has contrasting benefits to Matt. By being more reflective of light this can have the effect of making a room feel bigger than if the same colour was chosen with a matt paint. Similarly being a smoother finish it is easier to wipe clean but can highlight wall imperfections from some angles. Silk and Satin paint are pretty much the same 'mid-sheen' paint but naming conventions between different paint brands has led to more confusion when selecting paints.

Vinyl Paint

Vinyl or vinyl matt paint is a way of improving the durability of Matt paint. By adding a resin to the paint it increases it ability to withstand more bumps and scrapes that standard matt paint. So if yo find a colour you love but want it in a higher traffic area this may be the best choice for you.

Eco Paints

Eco paint is a catch all phrase to encompass a number of environmentally preferable features which a paint may offer. Some brands will claim that it is completely non toxic, vegan and VOC free. Exposure to excessive amounts of VOCs have been linked to health issues. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds and the claims for low and non VOC levels in paints is the main driver behind an Eco claim. By default most modern paints are water based which have dramatically lower levels of VOCs in them anyway so whilst most people will want to be eco friendly be weary of paying much more for paints having these claims vs. the tangible benefits they provide compared to other water based paints.