There was a time when oil based field paint was your only option but now there is the other option – a water based field paint. Water based paints also called acrylic paints are now becoming quite popular. However, each of these paints have their advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this article is to discuss the difference between these two paints so that you can make an informed decision.

The primary difference is water paints dry pretty fast and they can be diluted with water if necessary. On the other hand oil paints take a little longer to dry and they obviously cannot be diluted with water because they have an oil base.

Water paints are also much easier to clean up compared to oils. To clean up oils, you need a special mineral liquid to clean up the surface. This is not the case with the water-based alternative athletic field paint.

Experts believe that water soluble paints are environmentally a better choice. They are usually made of natural ingredients like pigment, lime putty, water, chalk and glue. This gives them a matte finish and they are also know to be durable. They are not recommended for high traffic areas like parking lots though. They can however be used as an athletic field paint.

Oil based paints are usually made of oils – the oil used is usually vegetable or animal oil, white spirit as a solvent, pigments, driers and resins. The advantage with these paints is that they are durable and give a rich texture to the paint. This is great for parking lots and highly traffic locations.

Many believe that the ingredients of oil paints can be toxic and highly flammable and are better used for outdoor surfaces rather than indoor surfaces. If using it indoors, it’s important to make sure the room is well ventilated.

These are pretty much the main differences between these two athletic field paints. When choosing an athletic field paint, make sure you choose a supplier who uses superior commercial grade products.