Latex paint

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When latex paint is called two different types of wall and ceiling paint coats :

  • Real, classic latex paints are paints that use natural latex (the milk sap of the rubber tree or an emulsion of rubber and water ) as a binding agent . This gives them special, previously very rare properties such as water resistance , impermeability to water vapor , elasticity (abrasion resistance, generally hard-wearing) and gloss , but also makes them very expensive. Real latex paints have practically disappeared from the market.
  • Modern synthetic resin paints are actually ordinary emulsion paints that have only been adjusted for special properties. They use a synthetic resin as a binder and no longer contain any latex at all. The name is only intended to suggest that these colors have properties like the real latex colors, which enable them to be used in highly stressed, mostly public spaces (e.g. stairwells). More rarely, the name is said to refer to special decorative properties.

history

Before the dominant position of modern emulsion paints , as a universal coating for walls and ceilings indoors and outdoors, latex paint was an, albeit relatively expensive, alternative to lime paint (not abrasion-resistant), glue paint (not waterproof) or mineral paint .

In the past, medical practices were often painted with real latex paint for reasons of hygiene .

Paint over

Modern latex paint (based on a resin dispersion ) can usually be painted over with emulsion paint without any problems , but a “fat” (high-gloss) paint should not be painted over with a “lean” (matt) paint, because then the adhesion may be inadequate . Caution is also advised if the old paint layer contains special decorative additives.

Real latex paint, on the other hand, is notoriously difficult to paint over or wallpaper. Since it cannot be washed off either, it has to be removed mechanically in extreme cases, i. H. Scrape it down with the help of a steam cleaner , remove it with a facade milling machine or remove it with the plaster.

Risk of mold growth indoors

The application of latex paint on the inside of uninsulated external walls can, under certain circumstances, promote the formation of mold in cold wall areas. The reason for this is that the ability of the walls to buffer humidity peaks is limited. As a result, there is more often critically high air humidity and thus in the area of ​​thermal bridges there is a risk of condensation, which can lead to the formation of mold.