Acrylic paint is applicable in versatile painting projects. From drawing on the canvas to coloring the roof and wall, acrylic paint is a popular choice. The smoothness, finish, and vibrant colors of this paint have already grabbed the attention of many artists to professionals.
Indeed, you can glide this paint on multiple soft and hard surfaces. But can you use acrylic paint on walls?
You can use acrylic paint on walls without any hassle. The application method of acrylic paint is similar to other paint. Just take the brush, prime the wall, paint the surface and leave it to dry. Isn’t this so easy? Together you may need up to 24 hours for complete painting.
I am a paint enthusiast and love to paint murals with paints. It helps me to express what is in my mind. Earlier, I was facing with the selection of paints for murals or regular walls. But when I started using acrylic paint, it became an incredible and reliable way to paint the walls. I can reflect my thoughts with acrylic wall painting ideas.
In this article, I talk about different acrylic paint matters, including answers to these questions:
- What is the definition and significance of acrylic paint?
- What is acrylic paint used for?
- Can you use acrylic paint on the walls?
- Will acrylic paint wash off walls?
- Can you put acrylic paint over old paint?
- Are there any demerits of acrylic paints?
The focus of this article is acrylic paint and wall painting. But the answers to the above questions will help you get more and clearer scenarios. Okay! No more waste of time!
Table of Contents
What is the Definition and Significance of Acrylic Paint?
Definition:
Typically, paints are of two general types: water-based and oil-based. Acrylic, latex are water-based, whereas alkyd paints are oil-based. Acrylic paints are more famous than other types of paints.
Each painting has four major ingredients such as binders, pigments, solvents, and additives. Binders enable fast-drying, pigments intensify the real color, solvents help in adhesion. Additives are not mandatory, yet they work for endurances, the thickness of paints.
Acrylic paints contain pigments that are suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion. These paints are water-based materials. But when you apply them, they become water-resistant after full drying. Depending on the way you apply it, it will resemble watercolor, gouache, or oil painting.
Significance:
People were using a mixture of paints earlier before the 19th century. It helped them to get the expected color quality and thickness. They could control the usages of fillers. But when you have acrylic paints in your hand, there is no possible need of a hand mixture.
In fact, you can pick the paint and start immediately using it. Acrylic paints can stick to different surfaces. You can use it on walls, roofs, vehicles, and houses.
Traditional or classic acrylic paints dry faster, whereas modern on dry a bit slower. But you can reactivate modern acrylic paints after it dries completely.
What is Acrylic Paint Used For?
Acrylic paints are toxin-free, fast-drying paint. I love that I can easily clean the surface when I used acrylic paint. Additionally, the longevity of the paint on the painted surface is remarkable. Indoor or outside walls, you can apply it effortlessly. In this section, I will explore, “what is acrylic paint good for?”.
Craftsmen acrylic paints:
If you want the cheapest form of acrylic paint, craft paint is there for you. You can choose colors from a wide gallery. The smooth and creamy consistency helps to conduct any craft project very well. Also, you can apply these paints on paper, wood, ceramics, glass, canvas, and fabric items. After applying, the paint may take couple of minutes to several hours for full drying.
Crafting various textures, colorful designs, drawing at outdoors are also possible with acrylic paints. For example, you can draw a giant picture of flower on the exterior wall. Patio paint is specially designed for this purpose.
Some craft paints are known as puffy paints. They are available as tiny tubes like the facial cream you may use at home. You can select them for 3D decoration or writing. Some other acrylic craft paints are available on the market. Metallic, glitter, chalkboard, glow-in-the-dark, etc., are some of them.
Read More: Can You Paint on a T-shirt Using Acrylic Paint?
Home acrylic paints:
Acrylic latex paints are preferable for home painting projects. You can paint the inner walls, the ceilings, and the outside with these paintings. Also, the variation of finishes from matte to super glossy of these paints are appreciable.
The duration of drying depends on the brands or quality of paints. Again, some specific finishes may need more time to dry than others. For painting the walls and roofs, you may need to apply a multicoat of acrylic latex paints.
When you want to apply acrylic paint for walls and ceilings, you must prime the wall before applying it. It will help to stick the paint on the wall well. Otherwise, it will wear and peel off soon, especially in painting over old, oil-based paint.
Artists or Arts acrylic paints:
These paintings are available in various grades and prices. Artists love to use these acrylic paints on their canvases. Essentially, these are student-grade items that as very easy to remove as students do it frequently.
Artist acrylic paints are not only affordable but all lower in quality and durability. They are not for permanent results. But most accurate paints for practicing drawings. The users get better consistency and control of the paint while they are using it.
They can draw smooth edges, borders with fluid acrylic paints. Heavy-body paints have thicker consistency for great strokes and attractive textures. You can choose them for color mixture.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint on the walls?
Acrylic paints come with a wide spectrum of colorful, protective coating. Painters, carpenters are moving their preferences to water-based acrylic paints for superior durability and bright, smooth finish. But the question is, “is acrylic paint best for walls?”.
As I already discussed the platforms where you can apply this paint, now I am pointing towards wall painting. It can be an indoor wall, ceiling, or outdoor wall.
Of course, there are plenty of options when you seek paints made for walls. They can be of different qualities, having distinct functions such as mildew and UV protection. With so many brands, sometimes we get confused which one we should choose. Acrylic paint can be the best idea to avoid this confusion.
The quality of acrylic paint is unique as you can apply it on any surface. Wood, plastic, metal, masonry etc., are suitable for painting with this paint. The high elasticity, ability of expansion, contraction without splitting are some fantastic characteristics.
When you apply the paint on the surface, it holds the surface tightly for a long time. There is least or no chance of peeling, stains, scratches, or other marks. The breathable surface membrane enables the free escape of moisture without leaving any marks. Also, moisture, sun heat, cold, mildew cannot affect the walls.
Oil-based paints require more drying time when you apply them to a wall. But acrylic paints take lesser time than oil-based paints. The first coat takes 1-2hours on average. Then, you can do the second coat within 4-6 hours.
Applying acrylic paints doesn’t create such an odor that lasts for months, even a year. You can get an odor-free residence within few days. However, for complete odor removal, you can try some methods discussed over the web. Being low odor, it helps to apply on wall thoroughly without feeling suffocation. Besides, you can paint the walls at soft room temperature (about 35°F).
The touch-up or maintenance of acrylic paints is also less strenuous. You can clean the paint with simple soap and water solution. It will look the same vibrant, magnificent wall after retouching the acrylic painted walls and roofs.
Will Acrylic Paint Wash Off Walls?
You may have pet animals at home. It is hard to care about the walls of the living, dining, or bathroom. Without proper care, you will be in a mess. You may think of the paint on walls in such a situation. Will this paint wash off the walls?
No, there is no chance of wash of the acrylic paints. There are some specific reasons behind this. Acrylic paints are designed for the home interior to keep the surface neat and clean. Also, the ingredients (chemicals) of the paint stick to the surface when you clean the wall.
When you use water for cleaning, it will only clean the outside of the painted surface without damaging the inside. So, you can stay worry-free after applying acrylic paint.
Read More: Acrylic Paint Color Mixing Chart by Wayne Weaver
Can You Put Acrylic Paint Over Old Paint?
It is a simple but most important question when you prefer acrylic paint for walls. It is all about the best performance of water-based acrylic paint. If you have acrylic wall painting ideas, you may keep this in mind too.
Let me assume that you are thinking of repainting the old, faded painted walls. Also, you have chosen acrylic paint. Now, you think if it will work well or not. Is it really possible to put acrylic paint over an old paint?
I am 100% sure you can use acrylic as a repaint item. However, there is a bit of complication behind this. You can easily apply this type of paint over old acrylic layers. But it is not feasible for painting over an oil-based layer of paint.
When you apply acrylic over oil-based paint, it will cause old paint to loosen up. Thus, it invites the peeling of whole layers of paint and structural damage.
Oil-based paint is mostly a traditional idea for old homes. Anyway, you still want to repaint oil-based paint, I suggest you choose new oil-based paint instead of acrylic. Otherwise, remove all the layers of old oil-based paint and apply layers of acrylic paints.
Are There Any Demerits of Acrylic Paint for Walls?
I am not the man who praises stuff blindly. I always try to find the opposing sides of that thing. Similarly, I tried to find the downsides of using acrylic paints on walls and ceilings. Indeed, there are some disadvantages of acrylic paints in an interior wall painting project.
If you think of a smooth feeling of painted surface, acrylic paint is a bit behind oil-based paints. These paints do not offer a high smooth glide. When you are focusing on making patterns or textures, this not-so-glide feature will be efficient. But it is not satisfying in case of avoiding some brush strokes on the surface. However, manufacturers are trying to add some additives to offer a better smooth glide.
To be true, acrylic paints have a lesser lifespan compared to oil-based products. These paints have least solidity that makes walls prone to damages when they are dried. To avoid this problem, you can apply acrylic paint at low-traffic areas. It will help to protect the wall from any aggression of outsiders. By outsiders, I am talking about the kids and pets you have at home.
Lastly, you need to remove oil-based paints if you want to use acrylic paint over them. Alternatively, use oil-based paint over the same origin of paint.
Verdict:
Still, do you think like this: “can you use acrylic paint on walls”? If you ask me that, I will say – “Sure! It works the best.” I have discussed this in this article. Thanks for reading till now.
I think you have the ideas why you should pick acrylic paints for versatile projects from now. It is your time to choose the brands, quality, and size of acrylic paint. Be careful about the vast benefits and some minor downsides of this paint.