What types of wall paint are there? Emulsion, gloss and more

For interior walls, the most common choice is water-based emulsion. It is easy to apply, has hardly any smell and dries quickly. Gloss paint is better suited to wood and metal. There are also specialist paints for specific problems, such as damp, facades or tiles. In this article we explain each type in a few words.

Water-based emulsion

Water-based emulsion uses water as its thinner. This means it cleans up with water, has little smell and dries faster than solvent-based paints. It is the paint used on most walls and ceilings in a home in Portugal.

There are interior and exterior versions. Do not swap one for the other. Interior paint does not stand up well to sun and rain. Exterior paint may be unnecessary indoors, but it does no harm.

Good for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and ceilings.
Easy to touch up, and brushes and rollers are easy to clean.
Available in several finishes: matt, satin and gloss.
Washable versions are available for areas that get more wear.

Gloss paint

Gloss paint forms a hard, smooth film. It is mainly used on doors, windows, skirting boards, railings and other wooden or metal items. It stands up well to wear and cleaning.

For many years, gloss paints were almost all solvent-based. Today there are also water-based glosses. They smell less and dry faster. Solvent-based ones are still around and smell stronger, so they need open windows while you work.

On walls, gloss is rarely used. The very smooth, shiny film shows every flaw in the plaster. It only makes sense in small areas, such as a border or a dado panel.

Paints for special cases

Besides these two, there are paints made for a specific problem. They are worth knowing about, because ordinary paint does not solve everything.

Anti-mould or damp-area paint: contains an additive that makes mould harder to appear. It helps, but it does not fix the cause of the damp.
Facade paint: stands up better to rain, sun and temperature changes.
Tile paint: used to refresh kitchen or bathroom tiles without removing them. It needs careful surface preparation.
Chalk paint or deep matt paint: used on furniture and feature walls, with a very flat look.

How to choose

Start by thinking about where you are going to paint and what the surface has to put up with. A bedroom wall hardly suffers at all. A kitchen wall gets steam and grease. A door is touched every day.

Check whether the room is interior or exterior.
Check the material: wall, wood, metal or tile.
Think about wear: children, pets, steam, grease.
Choose the finish you prefer.
Read the tin: it says where the paint can be used and how many coats it needs.

The most common mistake

The most common mistake is buying good paint and applying it over a badly prepared wall. Paint over dust, grease or loose plaster does not stick well and peels. Clean, scrape off anything loose and fill the cracks before painting.

Another slip is mixing types of paint without checking. Applying water-based paint over an old, glossy gloss finish, for example, may not adhere. Sand lightly and use the recommended primer.

Tip: Always keep the name and reference of the paint you used in each room. When you need a touch-up in a few years' time, it will save you a lot of time.