Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Taking the Decision about the Appropriate Paint Type


Choosing the suitable paint for your office or home is just not merely about deciding upon the color, and to get painters who are skilled in painting is another important task. Determining the most appropriate paint would be depending upon:

A)    The kind of surface (wallpaper, plasterboard, wood, tile, plastic, brick, metal, aluminium, concrete, and so on)
B)    The surface’s condition
C)    The surface’s age
D)   The sort of paint that was used formerly
E)     Location (exterior, interior, high traffic, and so on)

The basics of paint

Paint is composed of pigments, binders, and additive that are held together via oil or other water-based solvents. The ratio of pigments and binders in the paint would be determining the glossiness the end product would be having. The glossier the product would be, the more durable it generally would be. The purpose of the inclusion of the additives is that it would be enhancing the paint’s performance, including mildew resistance, UV protection, splatter resistance, easy cleaning, etc. The paint ingredients’ quality determines the durability and longevity of the paint when applied. Typically, cheaper paints consist of higher solvents percentage compared to expensive ones.

Oil vs. water-based paints

Generally, paint has 2 categories:

A)    Water based latex paints
B)    Solvent based paints, also known as alkyds or oil-based

Both of the paints are usable on almost all the surfaces, each having its own pros and cons. Latex paints are most popular for several reasons. Generally, it is cheaper and can be applied in both exterior and interior surfaces. Other features of this paint are:

A)    Fast drying time, generally from 1 to 6 hours
B)    Easy to clean with water
C)    Negligible odor
D)   Superior performance
E)     Mildew resistant
F)     Superb color and shine retention

Alkyd or oil-based paints are popular still with the proficient painters for several reasons. High quality oil based paints contains exceptional adhesion features, meaning that they have well grip on the surface where it is applied and offer terrific durability. Oil-based paints have the characteristics of being resistant to stain, and since it becomes thicker, it dries out with little brushstrokes, giving the surface an awesome appearance. Oil based paints are most commonly used in interior surfaces on wood trim, cabinetry, and doors.

The drawbacks of the alkyd or oil based paints are slow drying time, strong odor,
Difficult to clean up and extra equipment required for cleanup.

Primers

Primers help increasing the durability and quality of the paint job. It seals and produces an even surface for the application of the paint. Choosing the appropriate primers is necessary for the condition of the surface, the material type, as well as for the environment. Both exteriors and interiors primers can be found.

Finishes

Finish of paint, also known as sheen or gloss, can have major impact on both the look and service ability. In general, the glossier, the smoother is the surface, and it is more resistant to washing as well as wear & tear affects. When deciding upon the finish, think about the durability and the choice of the color, since the paint’s gloss can change the color’s look. Lighting is extremely important as well due to the quality of reflection in glossier paints. There are 4 basic finishes:


A)    Matter or flat finish paints contain the least gloss amount. They aid in hiding the imperfections in painted surfaces and are mostly used on ceilings and walls. This paint type is not right for the areas of high traffic as it is difficult to clean.
B)    Eggshell or satin finish paints have slight gloss or sheen. These finishes are mostly used on trims or walls, since it has the ability to resist dirt and can be easily cleaned. Moreover, satin finish is preferable for the exteriors as it has the ability to shed water more readily and resists the sun’s affects.
C)    Semi-gloss finish paints are prefers for bathrooms, kitchens, and children’s rooms. It is highly durable and perfect for the areas of high traffic that requires often cleaning.
D)   High gloss finish paints are mostly used for highlighting the architectural features. It is also used on windows, doors, and trims, and has high reflective attribute that would turn up even little imperfections.

The common conventions of painting house are:
A)    Matter for ceilings
B)    Low gloss for walls
C)    Gloss from trims
D)   Low – high gloss for wet areas.


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