Acrylic vs Oil Paints: Which One Suits Your Home?

Choosing the right paint for a job comes down to understanding the difference between water based (acrylic) and oil based (alkyd) paints. From drying time to cleanup, each has its strengths, and picking the right one makes for a better, longer lasting finish. Here is how they stack up.

Drying Time and Odour

Acrylic paints are water based and dry much faster than oil based paints. Depending on the temperature they are usually touch dry within a couple of hours, so you can recoat and finish the same day. They also have a milder smell, which makes them the easier choice indoors, especially in rooms with limited ventilation or where there are young children or anyone sensitive to fumes.

Oil based paints take longer to dry and cure, often several hours to a few days. That slower drying can actually help in some cases, because it gives the paint more time to level out and smooth over brush marks. The trade off is a stronger, more lingering smell, so good ventilation is a must when you are using them in an enclosed space.

Cleanup and Tools

One of the big advantages of acrylic is that it cleans up with just soap and water. That goes for brushes, rollers and any accidental splatters, and it is far kinder to your tools over time.

Oil based paint needs solvents such as mineral turpentine (turps) to clean up, and used solvents have to be disposed of properly. Here is a tip worth knowing. Turps that has already been used to clean up can be kept in a glass jar with a tight lid and reused for future cleanups, which saves buying fresh turps every time.

To clean a brush, first scrape the excess paint back into the tin. Hold the bristles near the metal band and stroke upward on a slight diagonal toward the tip, repeating until most of the paint is out. Then sit the brush in a jar with enough turps to cover the bristles. For roller sleeves, a scraper with a semi circle cut in the blade sits around the sleeve so you can drag the paint off, turning as you go until it is clean. Finish by putting on rubber gloves and washing everything in warm soapy water, then leave it to dry ready for the next job.

Durability and Finish

Acrylic paints are durable, flexible and resist minor cracking. Exterior grades are built to flex with temperature swings, which makes them ideal for outdoor surfaces. They hold their colour well and resist fading in the sun, and they come in a range of finishes from flat and matt through to satin, semi gloss and high gloss.

Oil based paints give a hard, smooth finish that stands up to wear and frequent cleaning, which is why they are often chosen for doors, skirtings and trims. They tend to look glossier, though they can yellow over time, particularly in spots that get little natural light.

How to Choose

Match the paint to the job. Think about the surface, the drying time that suits you, how you want to handle cleanup, and the finish you are after. Keep in mind that rules around oil based paints and their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can vary, so it pays to check local guidelines and pick products that meet current environmental standards. When in doubt, a quick chat with your painter will point you to the right product for the surface.