Vinyl Paint: A Versatile Solution to Your Decoration Projects

Vinyl paint is grouped with similar water-based coatings and is considered a high-quality paint. From its adherence to its coverage, but ultimately, its ability to texturize surfaces makes it a decorator’s dream. 

Vinyl Paint Composition and Properties

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Vinyl paint gets its name from the binding agent used in its composition: vinyl acetate, also known as PVA, or in layman’s terms, vinyl. The product in question is mainly sold by Lefranc Bourgeois, a French company, under the commercial brand Flashe. The latter is basically composed of one type of vinyl acetate known as polyvinyl acetate/vinyl ester of versatic acid (PVA/VeoVA). 

The range of colours available is achieved using a combination of various pigments. For example, the green is made of eskolaite extract, a chromium oxide.

To that is added calcium and carbonate, serving as extenders. They’re insoluble additives mixed in with the binder and solvents found in paint. Here’s their intended purpose:

• Improve flow

• Reinforce mechanical properties

• Affect permeable characteristics  

• Enhance gloss 

• Balance the paint film 

In paint, additives are what render the finish either matte, semi-gloss, or textured. The textured finish will depend on the size of the additives. When it comes to textured vinyl acetate, calcium carbonate 45 or dolomite 45 are used.

Other additives are used in vinyl paint’s formula, such as polyphosphates. 

Polyphosphates are dispersing or sequestering agents. With one or the other, the goal is to fight against a phenomenon known as flocculation. In a nutshell, it prevents pigments from binding together as flocs or flakes during all stages of the paint’s use. 

• Manufacturing

• Storage 

• Application 

• Curing 

Dispersing and sequestering agents are primarily used in acrylic paints on account of the lack of polymer film. This is also the case with latex-based paints.

Lastly, some components aren’t included on paint labels. As for the vinyl paint brand Flashe, it includes diisooctyl phthalate, a product serving as a plasticizer. 

Vinyl Paint-Specific Benefits

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Durable & Hard-Wearing

The durability of vinyl paint starts with its formula. The type of binder used, in combination with the type of pigment, will influence the coated-on end result. Therefore, shades of white and yellow are among the colours that showcase the most obvious changes. 

Much like with all acrylic paints, once the vinyl acetate is applied to the medium, the paint will go through a 4-step process, the quality of which is largely dependent on the pigment: 

1. Water evaporation 

2. Paint particle deformation 

3. Coalescence 

4. Curing

For example, for the first few days, vinyl paint will lose about 43% of its mass before stabilizing. What’s worthwhile to note here is that vinyl acetate is a paint with a particularly durable colour. Compared to acrylic or oil-based paints, vinyl paint has one of the most hard-wearing colours over time. 

Long-term, vinyl paint must withstand:

• Ozone 

• Heat (thermal aging) 

• Humidity

Exposed to such adverse conditions, vinyl paint exhibits similar characteristics as acrylic paints, but for the better. In fact, vinyl acetate, much like acrylic solutions, is rather unreactive to ozone, which is an oxidizing agent that primarily affects the polymer chain in oil-based paints.

However, vinyl acetate is more vulnerable to heat exposure and humidity. Thermal aging most notably affects the look of the paint film. As such, vinyl acetate loses 3-4% of its mass as a result of heat exposure and the absorption intensity of its binder decreases. 

However, when compared, vinyl paint is much more resilient than others mentioned. For example, acrylic paints lose over 7% of their mass due to a higher water concentration found in their formula. 

To wrap up this matter, let’s just say that humidity changes the visual appearance of vinyl paint. The latter is increasingly matte-looking after gaining in volume.  

Low-Maintenance & Hassle-Free Application

This type of paint is made with a vinyl resin-based binder, making it especially flexible while still having exceptional adhesive properties, most notably on porous mediums. When mixed with alkyd, it turns into both exterior and interior paint.

The only thing to be on the lookout for during the application process is the curing of the first coat applied. In fact, if you don’t allow the first coat sufficient drying time, it may peel back from the newly applied coat.

How to Choose the Right Vinyl Paint for Your Project

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Paint Selection Guidelines

1. Steer clear of light colours, more specifically whites and yellows, as these hues are likely to turn yellow or fade over time.

2. Choose a paint based on the intended area (interior, exterior, humidity level, salt water exposure, immersion).

3. Apply anywhere between 3-6 coats based on the necessary thickness to withstand adverse conditions.

The components differ based on the constraints the paint must withstand. For example, exterior siding is subjected to immersion as well as sunlight. Therefore, the paint may have the following characteristics:

• Titanium dioxide pigments (white and grey hues)

• Tripolymer 

• Vinyl copolymer 

Such a paint type has a 3-hour drying time, good adhesion, great flexibility, and optimal permeability. On top of that, one can say that it presents great resilience when faced with solvents, salt water, as well as abrasions. 

Colour Options and Available Finishes

All colours are available provided that the intended medium isn’t located in an area that’s highly susceptible to adverse external challenges. As we already mentioned, pigment plays an important part in a paint’s lifespan.

As a result, when you have to focus on vinyl paint with specific properties, you’re naturally focusing on certain pigment types, therefore, limiting your colour options. 

In the previous example, this type of paint was perfect to coat steel exposed to outdoor conditions and subject to very strenuous environments (immersion, abrasion, etc.). With such a case, the only colours available are white, medium grey, and shades of aluminum.

Without a doubt, vinyl paint is rarely used as a finishing coat, due to its cost. Hence why it’s typically favoured as a component within a mix of paint to create visual effects, or used as a sub-layer (primer) given its adhesion properties (drywall, finish coating, etc.).

Unearth 2024’s trending interior paint colours. 

Decorative Finish Blend

In the realm of interior design, vinyl acetate holds its own. We mentioned it from the get-go: Additives make paint-made visual effects a possibility.

Paired with calcium carbonate 45 or dolomite 45, vinyl paint can be used to create a textured visual effect. Based on the paint’s formula and that of the mixed-in paint, you can either achieve a matte or semi-gloss finish.

Vinyl acetate mixes well with oil-based paints, but also with alkyd.  

How to Apply Vinyl Paint

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5 Key Steps to Preparing Your Surface Prior to Painting

Step 1: Protect floors and furniture with masking tape and tarps. 

Step 2: Smooth out the wall by filling in with putty holes and cracks.

Step 3: Dilute the paint with water if applied with a paint sprayer (or if the substrate is a porous mineral).

Step 4: Paint the edges with a paintbrush. 

Step 5: Allow the first coat to dry for 3-4 hours (see manufacturer’s instructions).

Step 6: Apply a protective varnish. 

Multi-Purpose Use of Vinyl Paint

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Home Ideas & Inspirations

Vinyl paint can be applied everywhere inside. By playing off the colours, you can paint:

• Baseboards and moulding with bright colours

• Walls in shades of white

• A door using several different colours

• A ceiling with a dark hue paired with light-coloured walls (optical illusion)

• Geometric shapes 

• Murals

• And more

There’s no limit to where your imagination can take you based on your material possessions since vinyl paint can also:

• Coat your headboard

• Decorate a wardrobe

• Style concrete stairs

• Cover a wooden banister

• And more

Using Vinyl Paint Outdoors: What You Should Know

Typically, when used outdoors, vinyl acetate is paired with alkyd or oil-based paint. It’s thus used as a way to texturize paint or primer. However, some vinyl paints can be applied outside without mixing other substances. 

Vinyl resin paints, as we already mentioned, formulated as a copolymer or tripolymer, can be applied outdoors. Depending on the richness of the composition, the paint will or won’t be designed for exterior use.

As a result, avoid solely relying on paint manufacturing labels and the cost of the paint you’re looking to purchase. An alkyd-acetate vinyl mix will likely be less expensive than applying paint that’s solely made with vinyl acetate. 

Handy Tips for Vinyl Paint Maintenance and Upkeep

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Vinyl paint can be cleaned, but beware of the cleaning products used. For vinyl paint, limit yourself to the following: 

• Hot water

• Dish soap or dishwasher liquid detergent

Avoid using hefty amounts of water when cleaning or rinsing a painted surface, as interior vinyl paint is typically water-permeable. As a matter of fact, it allows the medium to breathe and prevents water vapour generated in the home (breathing, bathroom, etc.) from resulting in mould growth. 

Therefore, if you’re using too much water, it’ll seep through the wall’s material (e.g. drywall). The latter will not only take a while to dry, but it’ll also increase the paint’s volume during the drying time. After a while, you’ll start to notice that the colour is fading and looking rather matte. 

Versatility and Efficiency: The Core Essence of Vinyl Paint

Overall, vinyl paint reveals itself to be an exceptional solution for a wide range of decoration projects, pairing versatility and durability. Its ability to adhere to multiple surfaces, humidity-resistance, and low-maintenance factors make it a preferred choice in high-traffic areas and humid spaces, such as kitchens or bathrooms. Furthermore, the range of available finishes allows for unlimited tailoring.