What is Latex ?

Latex is the most widely used paint today. Latex is made with man-made polymers, adhering best to flat oil or other latex paint. Be careful about using over wallpaper; sometimes the water in the paint may dissolve the wallpaper paste.
Look to Latex For:

• Easy Clean Up
• Low Odor
• Quick Drying

And Alkyds?

Alkyd paints are essentially oil-based formulas with added chemicals to enhance the flexibility and durability of the paint. Alkyds are usually more expensive than common oil-based paints, but because they come in such a wide variety of finishes, alkyds are ideal for many interior and exterior applications.

Look to Alkyds For:

• Durability
• Low Odor
• Coverage over paint layers of "unknown origin"

What about Oil paints ?

Oil paints were the first kinds of paints used. They provide hard, glossy surfaces with great durability, but due to oil paint's many drawbacks, and the recently mandated E.P.A guidelines, it has been largely replaced by latex and alkyds. And is quickly becoming the preferred product of choice by professional painters and homeowners alike.

Drawbacks of Oil Paint:

• Strong Fumes
• Turpentine or mineral spirit clean up
• Slow Drying

Ultimately

the type of paint that's right for you depends on the three P's:

• Project, What surface are you covering?
• Price, What can you afford?
• Preference, What is the look you want?

Recognize an existing paint

To determine whether a previously painted surface is covered with a latex paint or alkyd, just make a simple test. Apply a solvent (nail remover, methyl hydrate or rubbing alcohol) on a cloth and rub the surface. If the paint is removed or melts, is that it is latex, if it remains intact, it is alkyd based.