PAINTING
After walls and ceiling are plastered or rendered smooth it might be necessary to
finish the surface finally with painting. Paints are applied on the surface of timber, metals
and plastered surfaces as a protective layer and at the same time to get pleasant appearance.
Paint is applied in liquid form and after sometime the volatile constituent evaporates and
hardened coating acts as a protective layer. The main objectives of applying coats of paint
to a surface are preservation, protection, and decoration to give a finish which is easy to
clean and maintain. To achieve these objectives the surface preparation and paint
application must be adequate. The preparation of neat and previously painted surfaces
should ensure that prior to painting the surface is smooth, clean, dry and stable.
COMPOSITION OF PAINTS
The actual composition of any paint can be complex but the basic components are-
Binder: This is the liquid vehicle or medium which dries to form the surface film
and can be composed of linseed oil, drying oils, synthetic resin and water. The
first function of a paint over the surface and at the same time acting as a binder to
the pigment
Pigment: This provides the body colour, durability and corrosion protection of the
paint. White lead pigments are very durable and moisture resistant but are
poisonous and their use is generally restricted to priming and undercoating paint.
Solvents and Thinners: These are the material that can be added to paint to alter
its viscosity.
TYPE OF PAINT
The main types of paints are:
Emulsion paint
oil paint (do not contain thinner)
Hard gloss paint
Enamel and synthetic paint
Emulsion Paint: A variety of emulsion paints is available. It contains binding materials such as
polyvinyl acetate, synthetic resins, etc. This paint is easy to apply and it dries quickly in about 1½ to
2 hours. The color of the paint is retained for a long period and the surface of paint is tough and it
can be cleaned by washing with water. There is absence of odor and the paint possesses excellent
alkali resistance. The application of emulsion paint can be carried out either by brush or spray gun.
For long service life, it is recommended to apply two coats of emulsion paint. For rough cement
plastered surface, a thin coat of cement paint may first be applied to smoothen the surface. It is
necessary to have a sound surface to receive the emulsion paint.
Oil Paint: This is the ordinary paint and it is generally applied in three coats of varying
composition. They are respectively termed as primes, undercoats and finishing coats. This paint is
cheap and easy to apply and it possesses good opacity and low gloss.
It should be remembered that the oil paint should not be applied during humid and damp weather.
The presence of dampness on wall surface also considerably affects the life of oil paint coating. It is
advisable to redecorate the surfaces finished with oil paint with a coating of fresh oil paint only. The
layer of old oil paint serves as a foundation for the fresh paint.
Enamel Paint: This paint is available in different colors. It contains white lead or zinc white, oil,
petroleum spirit and resinous matter. It dries slowly and forms a hard and durable surface. The
surface provided with this paint is not affected by acids, alkalies, fumes of gas, hot and cold water,
steam, etc. It can be used for both internal and external walls. In order to improve the appearance, it
is desirable to apply a coat of titanium white in pale linseed oil before the coat of enamel paint.
Hard Gloss Paint: Gloss paint is essentially a finish with a high paint sheen level. This means it reflects
or bounces light around a room and can make smaller areas feel larger. It’s also easier to clean and more
hardwearing than other finishes, such as matte paint, making it perfect for hallways and as a paint finish
for trim and all kinds of woodwork, where it’s resistant to scuffs and scrapes.
APPLICATION OF PAINTS
Paint can be applied by the following methods-
Brush- The correct type, size and quality of brush such as those recommended in
BS 2992 needs to be selected and used. To achieve a first class finish by means of
brush application required a high degree of skill.
Spray- as with brush application a high degree of skill is required to achieve a
good finish. Generally compressed air spray or airless sprays are used for building
works.
Rolling- simple and inexpensive method of quickly and cleanly applying a wide
range of paints to flat and textured surfaces. Roller heads vary in size from 50 to
450 mm wide with various covers such as sheepskin, synthetic pile fibres, mohair
and foamed polystyrene. All paint applicators must be thoroughly cleaned after
use.