Oil-Based or Water-Based Gloss...

 ...which is better?

​There's no doubt about it but oil based glosses are much harder-wearing, easier to apply and give a superior finish compared to water-based...BUT...at what cost, and for how much longer?

VOC's
There is obviously the environmental impact as oil-based glosses contain chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) that are released into the atmosphere. As well as damaging the environment they can also cause respiratory problems if inhaled.

Drying times
Extended drying times are a major downfall of oil-based paints, especially when used on doors and windows and externally. How many times have you closed a painted door or window expecting it to be dry, only to find the next day it's stuck shut, or painted a windowsill outside on a still, warm day then after several hours gone to check and found flies and dirt well and truly stuck to your paintwork?!

Bad smell
And the smell! One of my personal dislikes of oil-based paints is the smell. Sure, the VOC's have reduced over the years but not enough to prevent that smell that seems to get caught at the back of your throat. And if you're anything like me you'll find at the end of the day your head throbbing. Not great for a decorator!

Are water-based paints the answer?
So water-based paints are the answer...right?
Well, yes, to a point. Up until recent years water-based gloss hasn't compared to oil-based gloss and tends to leave an inferior finish. They don't self-level like oil-based mainly due to their accelerated drying times, and you are more likely to find brush strokes don't disappear as well. When it comes to having that perfectly glossed windowsill or skirting-board, if a high gloss or smooth, blemish free finish is your goal, then you wouldn't be reaching for the water-based gloss would you?

Well hang on a second, let me tell you, the new water-based gloss paints that are coming onto the market now are some of the best water-based paints we have ever seen!
Paint manufacturers have concentrated a lot of their resources into researching and creating better and better water-based paints, and finally we are starting to get water-based paints that compare well to their oil-based counterparts.

The paint that has taken the market by storm is Johnstones Aqua Guard Durable Gloss (and satin). Painters & decorators forums are currently full of discussions about this paint, and all that use it are full of praise, saying how very similar to oil-based gloss it is.
Having used this paint myself I can confirm it is fantastic. Virtually no smell, good flow from the brush and quick drying times - whats not to like?! Plus, once fully dried/cured, it appears to be just as hard wearing as gloss. (Some professionals have conducted their own scratch test of this paint and found it to hold out against everything they threw at it!).

​So there you go - ​for so many reasons, water-based gloss IS far better than oil-based gloss and I for one will always recommend this over the oil-based gloss!