February 26, 2019

Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or hiring a professional painter in rochester ny, it’s good to be curious about the products you’re using. Today we are going to be covering a little bit about Alkyd paints.

What is Alkyd Paint?

All paint is made with a pigment and a binder. The pigment gives the paint its color, and the binder holds it in place once it’s dry. Pigments in paint are generally the same, which is why paints are traditionally named by the binder used.

Alkyd paints are the modern descendant of oil paints. Instead of pigment suspended in oil, alkyd paints are typically formed by an alkyd resin dissolved in a thinner. Most commercially available “oil-based paints” are made with pigment suspended in a solution of an alkyd resin and a petroleum-based solvent such as naptha.

When do we use Alkyd paint?

Because of their special properties, cost, and potential toxicity alkyd paints are not typically used on walls. Professional painters use alkyd paints primarily on special surfaces where a different type of chemical binding is needed, or on specific areas where durability and finish are important.

At Golden Boys Painting, we typically use alkyd primers or paints to coat wood and metal. We also use a special water-soluble alkyd paint for trim, doors, and cabinets that is safer than traditional oil-based paints.

For more information on paints, painting, and how to complete your painting project please contact the professional painters at Golden Boys Painting.