Enamel paint is often thought of as hard, glossy, and used in small quantities, sort of like fingernail polish! It is frequently used to add vivid colors and durability to small crafts. Despite this paint’s main purpose for appliance finish touch-ups, though it can be used for more than just small items. If you’re in need of a paint that forms a hard shell and provides reliable protection, enamel just might be the finish for you.

So, What Is Enamel Paint?
Enamel paint is defined more by its qualities than by its content. In the broadest sense, enamel paint means any solvent-based paint that dries to a hard shell. Solvent-based paints are also called oil-based paints, in contrast with water-based paints.

Enamel paint springboards off of its root words “smelt” or “melt,” since true enamel is a glass coating that is melted or kiln-baked at extremely high temperatures onto metal or ceramics. Note, however, that enamel paint bears no similarities with the enamel of molten glass, as there is no glass content in this kind of paint.

In reality, air-dry enamel paints are far softer than true enamels formed in a painter’s kiln. Paint manufacturers have further widened the definition by sometimes attaching the word enamel to water-based paints, thus losing the one ingredient that usually ties together all enamel paints: solvents.

What are Some Examples of How to Use Enamels?
Brush on, roll on, or spray enamel paint for home projects that either require ultra-durability or a glassy, glossy look. Popular uses for enamel paint include:

● Refurbishing a Barbecue Grill
Thoroughly clean the outer surfaces of your barbecue grill. Remove the grill rack. Coat the barbecue grill twice with heat resistant enamel paint, using spray paint in a can.

● Painting Door Casing
Door casing gets a lot of abuse. So it makes sense to apply a highly durable paint that is also easy to clean. Clean the door casing with trisodium phosphate (TSP). Mask the wall area around the casing by taping sheet plastic with painter’s tape or use self-sticking masking film. Cover the floor with a drop cloth. Apply a minimum of two coats of enamel paint with a high-quality brush to the door casing.

● Sprucing Up Your Outdoor Furniture
Even hardy resin outdoor furniture can fade after enough time. Colorful enamel paint in a spray can helps to bring that furniture back to life. Use a pressure washer set to low pressure, or use a water hose, soft brush, and mild detergent to clean the furniture. Let the furniture completely dry, then spray with two coats of enamel paint.

Now that we’ve jogged your imagination, there are many things to use enamel paints for other than small projects. If you are still uncertain about how best to make use of enamels, or even on how to differentiate which paint suits your project, give us a call today, our number is: 954-581-6060. Happy Painting!