Emulsion - The Versatile Paint - Part Four
How long does emulsion paint take to dry?
It tends to dry more quickly than other paints. The surface should be touch-dry after 1-2 hours and can be recoated after 2-4 hours.
Also, because emulsion dries by evaporation of its water content (see above) it is a good idea to keep windows closed while painting to prevent the paint from drying too quickly. When the work is finished it is a good idea to open the windows to remove the moisture from the atmosphere and get rid of any paint smells.
What sort of finish will I get?
When paints dry they produce varying grades of sheen. These range from matt or flat finishes through increasing degrees of lustre to high gloss finishes. So silk finishes give a silken sheen to the finish, an eggshell finish closely resembles the lustre of an eggshell and so on.
It’s worth bearing in mind that different manufacturers sometimes use varying names for their finishes — one may say ’silk finish’, another, ’semi matt’. So check the sample cards to make sure of what you are getting.
What choice of colour have I got?
Very wide. Most paint manufacturers produce a colour chart showing the colours that are available. These charts vary in quality but most of them are laid out linking colours and shades together to help you choose the one you want. The colours available are updated from season to season - new ones are introduced and the less popular ones may be discontinued.
If the colour you want is not available in the basic colour range most specialist paint shops and some general DIY shops can mix the colour you want for a slightly higher price. The stockist has a series of basic colours and a machine with different colour