By Aaron Lipski
Expert Author Aaron Lipski
Epoxy and Acrylic paints are the most used surface paints. Although, the paints are the most used, they are quite
different from each other. If you are curious enough, continue reading to learn the differences.
Longevity
According to various research studies, epoxy is the most durable and long lasting. It has been shown that a surface
painted with epoxy does not require a redo for a period of seven to 10 years.
On the other hand, Acrylic is usually less durable and surfaces painted with the paint tend to require regular repainting.
According to the studies, surfaces painted with Acrylic usually require repainting within two to three years.
Versatility
Epoxy tends to be effective on unpainted surfaces. If you want to use epoxy on surfaces where other paints had been
applied, you need to thoroughly remove the previous paint before you apply epoxy.
The reason as to why you need to first remove all prior paint is because epoxy has been shown to shed easily when
applied on other paints.
Acrylics are more versatile than epoxy. This is because you can use acrylic on almost every surface: on a bare surface,
on top of surfaces already applied with acrylic or epoxy, and on any other surface.
Safety
Acrylics are usually water based thus they don't require a hardener or catalyst. As a result of this, the paints are usually
safe to apply because they don't produce fumes that could endanger your life. In addition to being safe, they are also
usually easy to apply and in case of spills, you can easily clean with water.
Epoxy comes in two parts: resin and hardener. Since you need to mix the two, fumes are usually emitted during mixing.
In addition to producing fumes that are dangerous, epoxy is also difficult to apply and in case of unwanted spills, it's
difficult to remove it.
Cost
Epoxy is far more expensive than acrylic both by application and by gallon. Research has shown that Acrylics tend to
cover a larger surface per gallon thus making them a more economical choice for short term plans.
Although, acrylics are cheaper, you need to repaint the surface every few years and within a decade, the two paints cost
almost the same.
These are the differences between acrylic and epoxy. To ensure that you are using the right paint for your surface, it's
always wise to seek expert's counsel.
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up by the middleman!
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