about latex paint
Paint is basically a combination of three ingredients: pigment, a “binder” that adheres to the wall, and a liquid “carrier” that evaporates as the paint dries. Oil-based paints typically use a petrochemical solvent as a carrier; latex paints use water. Most of the paint sold today is latex, and for good reason: latex paint is easier to work with, dries six times faster, and won’t sag, fade, yellow or lose its gloss the way oil-based paint will. In damp areas, oil creates a non-breathable surface that can peel and crack, while latex allows moisture to escape.
But latex paints aren’t all alike. Many contain toxic solvents, or cheap binders and bulking agents that can ruin a paint job's performance, appearance and longevity. We select our latex paints for quality as well as environmental safety. A “green” paint doesn’t benefit the environment if you have to use twice as much of it because it requires extra coats or frequent reapplication.
Most of our latex paints are made with 100-percent acrylic resin, the highest-quality binder available. All-acrylic paints are super-durable, and less subject to blistering and peeling than their cheaper counterparts. Because they last at least twice as long as paints with inexpensive binders, they typically cost less in the long run.
Superior paint products also contain a high percentage of pigment, which gives them excellent coverage and washability. Our premium paints have an exceptionally high volume of titanium dioxide, a non-toxic white pigment with strong “hiding” power. Because our vendors don’t rely on bargain-basement fillers to achieve high levels of hiding, our paints can be scrubbed without destroying the finish.