Consumption of water-based paint per 1 m2

Water-based paints are used very often, since they are relatively inexpensive, environmentally and sanitary safe, and do not give strong unpleasant odors. They also have a number of other advantages, but even such a perfect and convenient building material costs money. It is necessary to carefully calculate the real need for it, so as not to overpay and not to buy it additionally during the repair process.

The tonality of water-based paint changes quite flexibly, you just need to add color to it. Special additives help to avoid delamination, cracking and burnout; the applied layer dries very quickly. Emulsion dye easily and comfortably lays on a variety of surfaces, even wallpaper; it is used for painting walls and ceilings.

This kind of coating is necessary for both outdoor and indoor work. The paint is formed by combining water with specially selected pigments. When the water evaporates, only substances "responsible" for the color will remain on the surface. Ease of use, solid protective characteristics, excellent resistance to moisture and ultraviolet radiation - all this testifies in favor of water-based paint. Therefore, it is very important to calculate its quantity, to accurately take into account all circumstances and factors.

Of great importance in calculating the real need for paint is the condition of the substrate (the previous layer). Any manufacturer always writes on the label and on the packaging how much of the dye composition needs to be consumed to close 1 sq. m of surface. But all these figures refer only to ideal conditions, and with ordinary repairs in an apartment or house, it is rarely possible to achieve the ideal.

The consumption of water emulsion per 1 m2 is also determined by the hiding power of the paint: if this parameter is high, it is sometimes possible to completely cover the darker base with a couple of layers. But there are times when you have to paint three times or even more. When applying the first layer, 1 kg of paint can cover 4-5 m2, and when you paint the second time, you will be able to paint from 6 to 9 square meters with the same amount. m. Remember that rollers with long pile (as well as any length of pile made of foam rubber) slightly increase the cost of the dye mixture.

If you turn to the tables showing the consumption of water-based paints of various compositions on thoroughly prepared surfaces, you get the following picture (consumption by layers per 1 square meter):

• Silicate varieties - 400 and 350 g.
• Polyvinyl acetate - 550 and 350 g.
• Silicone - 300 and 150 g.
• Acrylic - 250 and 150 g.
• Latex - 600 and 400 g.

But it should be remembered that each manufacturer has its own recipe, technology, the range of tolerances is also different. And although acrylic paint for interior work is unlikely to be more expensive than latex or polyvinyl acetate, a difference of 10-15% compared to the table values ​​is quite likely.

Helpful hints:

• The hiding power of water-based paints is closely related to the indoor microclimate. The best conditions are air warming up from 25 to 50 degrees, dryness in the room, relative humidity of the air maximum 80%. Pay attention to the porosity of the surface to be painted: the higher it is, the more paints will have to be used.It is advisable to use a spray gun whenever possible, it allows you to reduce the consumption of the paint mixture by 10% in comparison with a brush or rollers.

• Acrylic paints are not only more economical than others, but also have a long service life, have an excellent level of protection and are relatively inexpensive. If you do not want to consult with experts before buying paint or decide to check the calculations of consultants, repairmen, online calculators will come to the rescue. They indicate the type of paint mixture, the type of surface, the number of layers and the intended tool.
• When working with a brush, do not make sweeping movements, it is better to spend a little more time, but not to lose valuable material in the form of splashes.

• When painting, press down on the tool evenly so that all layers form the same thickness. The consumption rate of the color scheme varies according to the specific tone and specifics of the room. Tinting begins with the preparation of the base base, to which the color is added in a few drops. Each time after adding the next portion, the composition is stirred until completely homogeneous, otherwise the resulting color may not look what you expect.

• If wood is to be painted, paint consumption should be considered the highest. The national standard always mentions the nominal value, which is equal to the consumption when painting a clean, prepared concrete surface. A little more than the nominal amount goes when painting drywall sheets and structures. It is best to paint metal, this is the most profitable base material.

• It should be borne in mind that cost-effectiveness is not the only important indicator when choosing a painting tool. The brush and roller are relatively high quality, and if you need to paint tight, hard-to-reach areas, you won't have much alternative. The aerosol method of application is the fastest, but the paint costs are very high, and with the slightest mistake, the quality of the layer will turn out to be unsatisfactory.

Try not to paint in the heat, the more water evaporates at once, the more material needs to be added to make up for the loss. But the humidity of the air, if it does not exceed the optimal value, on the contrary, allows you to reduce the consumption of the coloring material.

• Waterproof paint cannot be used at temperatures below freezing; attempts to add antifreeze and bypass this limitation are only harmful. Although the minimum air temperature, according to the assurances of individual manufacturers, may be +3, it would be more correct not to risk it and work at least at +5. Then you definitely will not ruin your work and do not waste paint and varnish material in vain.

• Emulsion paint based on PVA glue is very weakly susceptible to moisture, and is able to reliably protect drywall from it. But if steam is continuously concentrated in some place, the coating inevitably swells and collapses. First of all, such a paint and varnish material is used in industrial and other non-residential premises. You can reduce paint consumption by diluting it with a little water. Be careful, excessive thinning will lead to loss of decorative properties.

• In order not to waste liter by liter, be sure to prime the cement walls, otherwise you will not only waste a lot of paint, but also increase the risk of cracking. Never skimp on finishing putty; painting over the starting putty, you will only use up a lot of material in vain. If possible, do not use water-based paints on walls covered with fabrics, unless it is provided for by the design project.

• Porous materials (such as expanded polystyrene) are preferably primed with a mixture of acrylic primer and water in equal proportions, after which diluted polyacrylate paint is applied. This solution guarantees the reproduction of the original structure of the material and a decrease in dye consumption.

There are several nuances that allow you to reduce the cost of paint to a reasonable amount:

• Do not use a uniform thick layer (thinning with water, adding PVA glue and creating several thin layers is much more practical).
• Each next coat of paint is applied approximately 60 minutes after the previous one.
• A primer or other strengthening compound helps to reduce the absorption of the lowest layer.

Water-based paints are applied not only to flat walls and other coloring compositions, they are often used for wallpaper for painting. Average consumption is 1 liter per 8-11 sq. m (depending on the specific material and other conditions).

See the next video for more on this.