Is Acrylic Paint Waterproof | Best ways to make it waterproof

Acrylic paint is one of the favorite paints among people who want an extra finish and a shining surface. These paints are available at very affordable prices. Before using this paint, most people ask is acrylic paint waterproof. The answer is no.

An acrylic sealer is one of the perfect ways to make the paint waterproof. Besides sealer, there are many other options that make a paint waterproof.

Now the question that most people ask is acrylic sealer waterproof? The answer is yes, the acrylic sealer is a waterproof compound, and you can use it for multiple purposes. However, not all acrylic sealers are highly resistant to water. Some waterproof acrylic sealers are helpful to make the paint highly resistant to rain and water.

Detail Explanation of “Is Acrylic Paint Waterproof”?

Does Water Wash Away the Acrylic Paint?

Yes, rainwater or any other water is one of the biggest reasons to wash away acrylic paint. So, to save your paint from fading color and other issues, you need to make it water-resistant. Take the necessary steps; otherwise, you will face severe issues as it’s not easy to cover the acrylic paint once it’s affected by water. It is why you need to make the acrylic paint waterproof.

Can you Use Acrylic Paint Outside?

Acrylic paint outdoors is another debate that is discussed even among professionals. You can use acrylic paint outside but take the necessary measurements for it. Use acrylic paint sealers or buy clear waterproof paint which does not cause serious issues.

Right after you have completed the acrylic painting on a specific surface, for example, a bench, a chair, or a table, allow it to dry in a specific and protective place. Now place the item where you want to place it.

On the other hand, if you want to paint a wall or a surface that is not moveable, the best way is to paint it and then use a sealer for better results. In the end, ensure to protect the surface from the water, rain, chemicals, and other substances that can lead to severe issues. Using a sealer or a waterproof substance is the best way to do so.

Acrylic Paint Compostion

Acrylic paint is made up of acrylic polymer emulsion, water, and some other substances. This paint dries up quickly due to these substances involved in its manufacturing. Due to drying up the paint early, most of the particles tied up with each other in a very stable way. Still, it does not mean that it is water-resistant. Here is more detail about the substances which are used in its manufacturing:

1) Resin

Resin or acrylic binder avoids buttering issues. Its primary function is to keep the substances on the surface without any tightness issues.

2) Pigments

Several pigments are used in the manufacturing of acrylic paints. These pigments help maintain the paint’s color for a long time and make the paint durable and offer a fine finish.

3) Water

Water is another reactant to make acrylic paint. It is helpful to make a connection between binder and pigment. It leads to making the paint durable.

When it comes to knowing about the concentration of the Ingredients, it depends upon the paint type. Some acrylic paints use more amounts of pigments in case someone wants to make it colorful, and others have fewer amounts of pigments. More pigments make the paint dark. Some paints also have additive compounds to make them resistive against a specific chemical. These additive compounds hence make the paint more water-resistive.

Why is it Necessary to Make Acrylic Paint Waterproof?

The main reason you should make an acrylic paint waterproof is its durability making it water-resistant means freeing yourself to paint the surface again and again, even after a short time. Also, keep in mind that if you are not taking steps to make it waterproof, then you should prepare for its early damage.

How to Make Acrylic Paint Waterproof?

Making an acrylic paint waterproof is not easy. However, some steps are necessary to consider. In this section, I mentioned a complete guide on waterproofing acrylic paint. There are multiple ways, i.e. using varnish and a sealer to make acrylic paint waterproof. Specific sealers are made for specific acrylic paint, making your painting process easy. Using a sealer means you are preparing the surface for acrylic paint, which is available in different types.

Moreover, many things depend on the waterproof power of acrylic paint. Paint type, sealer type, and surface type are the main factors. Here I provided some ways for sealing the acrylic paint on a specific surface. In my experience, it’s not enough at all, and there are after-care effects that you need to perform. It would help if you also kept in mind that sealing the acrylic paint may come with some results, which include peeling and fading of the paint. So, make sure to use a sealer carefully and with the help or advice of a professional.

Acrylic Painting Waterproofing

Waterproofing the acrylic paint depends upon the surface, paint type, and the location. If you want to seal the acrylic paint on canvas directly, use a sealer on the whole surface without leaving a single surface. Most of the canvas are ready to acrylic paint because of their pre primer texture features, and some are available as after-paint. I recommend using both for the sake of high-quality sealing results.

Once you have applied acrylic paint, the next step is to use an acrylic sealer to protect it as soon as possible. Don’t use an acrylic sealer right after painting the canvas; wait to dry the acrylic paint and then use the sealer.

You can apply more than one coat of sealer, but it depends upon the texture. Apply a coat of sealer and see if it’s good. If you feel that more sealer is needed, use a second layer of sealer. Before using the second layer of sealer, wait for the first one to dry completely.

Waterproofing Acrylic Paint on Glass

The advantage of using acrylic paint is that you don’t need to use a primer or pre-paint product; instead, directly paint the surface and allow it for some hours until the paint gets dried.

After 24 hours of applying the paint, you can use a sealer on the surface. However, here are some points which are necessary to consider:

Waterproofing the Acrylic Paint on Metal

Painting on metal is very common, and everyone nowadays seems to use it. Waterproofing acrylic paint on the metal is essential to make it durable. Most of the metals on the indoor and outdoor surfaces, including doorknobs, frames, and lamps, use acrylic paint. The reason is that acrylic paint stays on the surface for a long time.

So to make it waterproof and durable, you must apply a varnish. Once you have applied the paint, the next step is to apply varnish to the surface. A single coat of varnish is good to make the paint waterproof and durable.

Waterproofing the Acrylic Paint on Wood

Waterproofing acrylic paint on wood is one of the attention-grabbing tasks. The reason is that sealing paint on the wood is not easy enough. Applying varnish on the wood is an excellent option to make it waterproof and durable. Moreover, the varnish is suitable for acrylic paint because it increases the wood’s shine and offers a complete and fine finish. There are multiple types of varnishes, and a polymer varnish is ideal.

However, the most crucial factor in applying the varnish is applying an even layer on the paint to avoid any color fading issues. Applying a single coat could lead the uneven varnish results. To make the surface, even you can use a foam poly brush. The reason is that a foam brush helps absorb the extra varnish, which makes the surface uneven.

Apply the varnish simultaneously, and don’t pause while applying it; otherwise, you can face serious issues. Apply the varnish at once and allow the surface to dry. Most of the wood products need to remove sand which is not good. So, I highly recommend using varnish carefully.

Waterproofing the Acrylic Paint on Fabric

Making paint waterproof on fabric is not easy as compared to other materials. However, heating the fabric after applying the paint is ideal. For heating, ironing the fabrics is suitable for making the paint waterproof. Ironing the fabric also offers a smooth layer of paint, which is another advantage. After plugging the iron, please turn it on at medium heat and apply it to the fabric’s surface. Iron the surface slowly and enjoy the whole process.

Varnish or Sealer- Which one is Best?

Both the varnish and sealers are available in the market to enhance the waterproof ability of acrylic paint. However, the varnish is made explicitly for the wood surfaces, while the sealer is designed for various applications. Sealers are used on metals, wood, and other types of surfaces.

These sealers and varnishes are available in different forms, i.e. spray and liquid. The spray form is, however, easy to apply. Moreover, a spray sealer’s dry time is much less than the varnish forms. Moreover, these varnish and sealers are available in different sizes so that you can select the one depending upon your need and the total surface area.

Another varnish name is lacquer, which increases the paint’s coat shining. It is an excellent product due to its ability to provide a glossy finish to the paint and overall surface. However, while applying the varnish, taking care of your health is necessary as ingesting or absorbing the skin can lead to severe issues.

And if I talk about the sealants, these are suitable compounds but not much compared to the varnishes. These are toxic, and the toxicity of each type depends on the texture and the substances used in the manufacturing of paint for a sealer.

Hence, selecting varnish and sealer is a long debate. When I compare it with a varnish, selecting a sealer is a good option. The reason is that it is less toxic as compared to the varnish. Similarly, there are specific ways to make the varnish less toxic. It depends on your interest and the surface where you used and painted and want to make it waterproof.

What Makes Varnish Water Resistant?

Varnish is an ideal substance that makes your surface water-resistant. It adds a layer of water protection just as you put some substance on the roof to protect it. It works like a roof on the paint. Most people are curious to know what substances make the surface water-resistant. Here are some of these which add value to your paint and make it water-resistant:

The Best Acrylic Paint Sealer

Here are some of the best and top-rated acrylic paint sealers that are famous for use worldwide. These paints are reasonable to buy and offer perfect water-resistant results to acrylic paint.

Plaid Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer

Plaid Mod Podge is a famous brand with 12 ounces of waterproof sealer in a bottle. The best thing about it is that it dries up quickly, and it never turns into yellow color within time. Hence, it makes acrylic paint durable.

Moreover, it is available in the form of a spray, due to which it’s easy to use for everyone. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, using this sealer is always an enjoyable experience for you.

Aleene’s Spray Gloss Finish Acrylic Sealer

Another perfect brand is Aleene’s gloss finish which offers a clear finish without fading issues. It is helpful for both indoor and outdoor purposes. And when you apply it to the surface, it becomes durable and transparent. Hence, I recommend using it in those places where you want to get transparency results, i.e. in kids’ rooms or drawing rooms.

This sealer is easy to use and is available as a spray, which adds flexibility options to use this paint. Compared to all other sealers, it is helpful to use on all types of surfaces rather than only using at a specific surface.

The Best Varnishes for Acrylic Paint

Varnishes are best to use in places where your main aim is to use a specific type of wood. It is beneficial and ideal for all types of wood surfaces. Some of its best products which are based on our experience are given below:

1) Gamblin Gamvar Picture Varnish

Gamblin is made of synthetic resin and is like a natural product. Its glossy appearance makes the surface once you apply it and offers a shiny appearance no matter what type of paint you use.

The product is available in a semi-gloss appearance which helps increase the shining of the overall surface where you apply paint. Moreover, it is a protective agent not only against water but also against Ultraviolet rays and chemicals, leading to making the surface more durable.

2) Krylon Gallery Series Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol

With1 2 ounces of varnish, this Krylon is one of the best and most excellent products, which aim to provide a cleaning and water-resistant paint surface. Rather than only being used on a single surface, this varnish is helpful for all types of surfaces, making it ideal among many other brands. Hence, it offers more resistance to water and other chemicals. Moreover, this product is available for beginners and experts due to its easy-to-use options.

Final Verdicts- Is Acrylic Paint Waterproof

Above is a complete detail on is acrylic paint waterproof and what factors make it waterproof. Moreover, I also provided guidelines on how to make the surface more waterproof. You can use a sealer or varnish to make this paint more resistant to water. However, I recommend using a heating system for fabric and other soft surfaces.

I hope you have enjoyed the article and if you have any questions, feel free to ask us anytime I are always here to help and answer your queries.