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Painting and Staining Glossary Terms

The definitions in this glossary are provided as an aid to assist you with unfamiliar terms. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations vary; therefore the reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow applicable codes and regulations, and is urged to consult with a professional if in doubt about any terms or procedures.

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A

Abrasion Resistance – Resistance to being worn away by rubbing or friction; related to both toughness and gloss.

Abrasive – A material such as sandpaper, emery paper, powdered pumice, or rotten-stone that is used to wear away a surface by friction.

Absorption – Usually refers to resins penetrating (being absorbed by) a porous substance.

Accent Color – A contrasting hue used to add visual interest in a color scheme.

Acetone – A volatile, flammable, water-soluble solvent used for clean-up.

Acid Resistance – The ability of a dry film coat to maintain its integrity and not break down when exposed to acids.

Acid Stain – A liquid stain made from organic acids that are soluble in water.

Acrylic – A synthetic resin used in high-performance water-based coatings. A coating in which the binder contains acrylic resins.

Additives – Chemicals that are added to paint or stain formulations to impart various desirable characteristics, such as mildew resistance, low spatter and little or no foaming.

Adherence – See Adhesion.

Adhesion – The ability of dry paint to attach to and remain fixed on the surface without blistering, flaking, cracking, or being removed by tape. Adhesion is probably the single most important property of paint. Wet adhesion, the ability of dry paint to adhere to the surface in spite of wet conditions, is particularly important for exterior house paints. Other words for adhesion are Adherence and Bonding.

Advancing Colors – Warm colors – red, yellow and orange – that make surfaces appear closer or larger. Dark colors have a similar effect.

Aerosol – A product that uses compressed gas to spray the coating from its container.

Air Cure – One method by which liquid coatings cure to a dry film. Oxygen from the air enters the film and cross-links the resin molecules. Also called Air Dry or Oxidizing.

Air Dry – See Air Cure.

Air Entrapment – Air bubbles trapped in the paint film.

Airless Sprayer – Power spray equipment that uses a pump to atomize the liquid paint and force it on to a surface. Both electric- and gas-powered models are available. The small hand-held type is often called a Cup Sprayer.

Alcohol – A fast evaporating, flammable solvent. The most commonly used type is denatured alcohol.

Algae – Brownish or reddish aquatic plants, such as seaweed and pond scum.

Algaecide – A chemical that kills algae.

Alkali – A chemical (lye, soda, lime, etc.) that will neutralize an acid. Oil-based paint films can be destroyed by alkalies.

Alkali Resistance – The ability of a dry film coating to resist damage by alkalies. Especially important when coating masonry substrates.

Alkyd – Synthetic resin modified with oil. Coating that contains alkyd resins in the binder.

Alkyd-modified Urethane – See Urethane-modified Aklyd.

Alligatoring – Condition of paint film where the surface is cracked and develops an appearance similar to the hide of an alligator. Caused by incorrect paint application.

Alternate Complementary Color Scheme – A color scheme combining complements along with two alternate complements of one of those colors.

Aluminum Paint – A paint that includes aluminum particles and gives a metallic finish when dried.

Amalgamate – A chemical that reconditions old paint or lacquer. Also used to remove white rings from lacquer that were caused by heat, water or alcohol.

Ambient Temperature – Temperature of one’s surroundings.

Amide – A functional group which can act as an epoxy resin curing agent.

Analogous Colors – Colors that lie near each other on the color wheel.
Anatase Titanium – A pigment used in alkyd paints to produce self-cleaning films that renew themselves by chalking. Rarely used.

Anchoring – Mechanical bonding of a coating to a rough surface, as contrasted with adhesion (which is chemical bonding).

Aniline Dye – A dye, bluish in color, poisonous, made from aniline.

Anti-Corrosive Paint – Metal paint designated to inhibit corrosion. Applied directly to metal.

Anti-fouling Paint – Paints formulated especially for boat decks and hulls, docks and other water-line surfaces and structures. Contains additives which kill the marine plants and animals that attach to and “foul” marine structures.

Antimony Oxide – An ingredient in many fire-retardant paints.

Antique Finish – A finish usually applied to furniture or woodwork to give the appearance of age.

Arcing – Moving a spray gun in an arc rather than parallel to a surface.

Architrave – The molding around a doorway or window opening.

Asbestine – Trade name for a type of paint filler that is white in color. It is a natural fibrous magnesium silicate. Dangerous to health.

Aromatic Oils – Oils present in some woods, such as cypress, teak, and cedars (except western cedar) that can cause finishing problems. They can slow down drying of coatings, leaving them sticky, and often cause blistering, softening, wrinkling, and general disintegration.

Asphalt – Hydrocarbon product used as a protective coating, used for waterproofing road and roof surfaces. By-product of petroleum refining.

Asphaltum – Very thin asphalt.

Atomize – To break a liquid into a mist or droplets. Spray guns atomize paint by forcing the paint through a small orifice under high pressure and through air stream interaction.

b

Backbrushing – The process of brushing out a material applied with another type of applicator. The classic use of backbrushing occurs when stain or clear finish is applied to raw wood with a pump sprayer. Without backbrushing, the material may lie on the surface, ultimately drying into a sticky puddle and then harden to film, which can peel.
 
Backrolling – Same thing as backbrushing except a roller is used rather than a brush.

Back Prime – The process of painting the back or unexposed side of material, such as the back side of exterior window shutters.

Backing Guide – Refers to the weight of the paper backing on sandpaper. “A” is the lightest: finishing paper. “C” and “D” are medium weight: cabinet paper. “E” and “F” are the heaviest: used primarily for mechanical sanding.

Ball Mill – A machine used to mix pigment into the coating. It is a large cylindrical drum filled with ball or cylindrical media that fall through the mixture as the drum is rotated.

Barium Metaborate – A pigment commonly used in corrosion-inhibitive coatings. Pigment particles plug the small pores in the dry film and absorb any moisture that enters the film, preventing it from reaching the metal substrate. Barium metaborate is also a mildewcide.

Barium Sulphate – A natural white pigment used in coatings as a pigment extender.

Barrier – One of the methods whereby a corrosion-resistant primer inhibits the formation of rust on a painted metal surface. Barrier paints contain pigments which prevent air and water from penetrating the dry coating film and reaching the metal underneath.

Barytes – A base or extender pigment or barium sulphate, a colorless crystalline insoluble compound. It is opaque to x-rays.

Binder – Solid ingredients in a coating that hold the pigment particles in suspension and attach them to the substrate. Consists of resins (e.g., oils, alkyd, latex). The nature and amount of binder determine many of the paint’s performance properties – washability, toughness, adhesion, color or retention.

Biocide – An additive to coating that kills plants such as algae, fungus, mildew and mold, growing in or on the surface of a coating.

Bitumen – A hydrocarbon product. It’s used much the same as asphalt.

Bituminous Coating – A thick waterproof coating made of either coal tar or asphalt. Used on roofs and submerged metal.

Bleaching – The use of oxalic acid or other bleaching agents to lighten or restore discolored or stained wood to its original color. Loss of color is usually caused by exposure to sunlight.

Bleeding – Paint discoloration caused by leaching of subsurface dyes, acids, stains, or rust.

Blistering – The formation of bubbles or pimples on the painted surface caused by moisture in the wood, by painting before the previous coat has dried thoroughly, or by excessive heat or grease under the paint.

Block Filler – Thick material used to seal rough, porous, masonry materials and serve as an undercoat for paint.

Bloom – A rainbow-like surface caused by excessive humidity before the painted surface is completely dry. Will disappear on drying.

Blushing – White discoloration due to excessive humidity; usually affects shellac.

Body – The thickness and viscosity of a fluid.

Boiled Oil – Linseed oil which will dry faster. Formerly it was heated to make it a drying oil. Today it has chemical driers added.

Bonding – See Adhesion.

Boxing – Act of combining two or more cans or batches of paint. This ensures a consistent mix of vehicle and pigments.

Breathe – The ability of a dry coating film to permit the passage of moisture and vapors without damaging the film.

Bridging – Ability of paint to span small gaps or cracks through its cohesion and elastic qualities.

Brightwood – Name given to varnished or clear wood finishes as opposed to painted. Usually used in marine finishing.

Bristle – The working part of the brush that carries the paint or coating. Made of natural fibers (usually animal hair) or artificial materials (nylon or polyester).

Bronzing Liquid – Paint that has powder particles or flakes or aluminum, copper or copper alloys suspended in it.

Brushability – Term given to a paint or other coating that indicates the ease or difficulty with which it is applied to a surface by brushing.

Brushing – Act of applying paint using a brush.

Brushing Lacquer – Lacquer formulated with slow-drying solvents to allow time for brushing without showing brush marks.

Brush-in Stick – Heat-resistant wax stick used for cabinet and furniture touch up. Sandable and tintable.

Brush Marks – Indentations made by brush bristles that remain in the dried paint film.

Brush-Out – A sales technique that consists of applying a sample of paint onto a piece of wood or other material so the customer can see how the finished job will look.

Bubbles – Air bubbles in a drying paint film caused by excessive brushing during application, by overvigorous mixing, or poor formulation that results in air entrapment.

Build or Build Up – The thickness of the coating caused by successive application of coats.

Burning In – Repairing a finish by melting stick shellac into the damaged places, using heated knife blade or iron.

Burnishing – Glossy or shiny spots on painted surface caused by rubbing, washing, wiping and scrubbing.

Burnt Sienna – A pigment that’s yellow when raw, reddish brown when burnt. Made of iron and manganese oxides.

Burnt Umber – A pigment darker in color than sienna, moderate to dark brown when burnt. Made from iron and manganese oxides.

Butadiene – A gas which was chemically combined with styrene to create a resin used in latex binders, styrene-butadiene.

c

Caking – When pigment settles and cakes hard in the bottom of the paint can.

Calcimine – A water-thinned paint composed essentially of calcium carbonate (chalk) and glue.

Calcium Carbonate – A natural mineral used in lime, cement and paints as a colorant and a pigment extender. Its common name is chalk.

Carbolic Acid – See Phenol.

Carbon Black – Commonly used pigment.

Casein – A protein derived from souring of milk, used to make cheeses, and as an additive to paints, adhesives and plastics.

Cat Eye – Also called “cat face” or “fish eye.” See Holiday.

Catalyst – An ingredient that prompts or speeds up a chemical reaction; common in tow-component coatings.

Catalytic Coating – A coating that cures as the result of a chemical reaction. For example, a two-part epoxy where a hardener must be added to obtain the required results.

Caulk – A pliable and elastic material that can withstand expansion and contraction. Use to fill voids, cracks, and seams to prevent air or water infiltration. May be called a sealant. May or may not be paintable.

CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) - The wood preservative commonly used in pressure treated lumber. It is pressure applied at 200 lbs. per square inch and provides longer protection than typically applied wood preservatives.

Cellulose – Short cotton fibers. When bathed in nitric acid, the resin nitrocellulose results. Nitrocellulose is the resin used most often in lacquers.

Cellulose Nitrate – See Nitrocellulose.

Chalk – Powdery substance on the surface of a coating – actually the coating itself disintegrating.

Chalking – The oxidation of paint, usually due to weathering, which causes a powder on the film surface.

Checking – Cracks in wood or paint surfaces that follow the grain of the wood and then crack across the grain. Roughening of wood in the form of grain-wise cracks, usually caused by moisture. Occurs under finishes which may be waterproof, if moisture can gain access from behind. This term is also applied to grain-wise cracks in a finish which may not actually occur in the wood. A kind of paint failure in which many small cracks appear in the surface of the paint.

Chemical Resistance – The ability of a coating to resist damage by chemicals.
Chime – The chime is the area of the lip or rim of a paint can to which the lid seals.

China Clay – Fine clay pigment used as an extender. It aids in abrasion resistance.

Chroma – A measurement of color. The degree of saturation of a hue. A color at its full intensity has maximum chroma.

Chromium Oxide – A pigment previously used in paint. The Environmental Protection Agency has prohibited its use as Chrome 6 but not as Chrome 3.

Clay – A common pigment extenter.

Cleanability – The ability of a dry film coat to maintain its original appearance after repeated washing with soap and water.

Clear Coating – A transparent protective and/or decorative film.

Clear Stain – Clear, penetrating stain that seeps into the pores of wood to protect it against water intrusion. The clear stain can also protect against the sun if it has a protective agent in it and against fungi and insects if it contains a preservative.

Close-grained Wood – Hardwoods that when fully dry do not show pores. Cherry, birch and maple fall into this group.

Clouding – Murky, dull, or uneven luster or color in clear coats. Generally caused by precipitation of insoluble matter or resin seeding.

Coal Tar Patch – Black residue from distilled coal tar.

Coal Tar Solvent – Solvents made from distillation of coat tar: benzene, toluene, xylene, naphtha.

Coalescent Acid – The small amount of solvent contained in latex coatings. The coalescent acid simply helps the latex resins to flow together (coalesce) after the water evaporates.

Coating – A paint, varnish, lacquer, or other finish used to create a protective and/or decorative layer.

Cobweb Finish Paint – A special effect paint.

Cohesion – A bonding together of a single substance to itself. Internal adhesion.

Cohesiveness – The force holding a substance together; the attraction between molecules of a substance; internal adhesion; how well a dried film holds together.

Cold-checking – Checking caused by hot and cold temperatures cycling of lacquers.

Cold Cracking – Cracking caused by hot or cold temperatures or cold/ambient cycling.

Cold Water Paints – Casein, glue or similar material dissolved in water. Used as a plaster, masonry or concrete surface coating.

Colorant – Concentrated color that can be added to paints to make specific colors.

Colorfast – Non-fading in prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Color Chip – A small square of color found in paint brochures.

Color Person – (Or colorist or tinter) The person who is an expert in the mixing, tinting and matching of colors.

Color Retention – The ability of paint to keep its original color. Major threats to color retention are exposure to ultraviolet radiation and abrasion by weather or repeated cleaning.

Color Scheme – A group of colors used together to create a mood or effect.

Color Uniformity – Ability of a coating to maintain consistent color across and entire surface, particularly during the weathering process.

Color Washing – A paint technique used to produce a softly textured, patchy finish, achieved by applying several layers of thin paint.

Color Wheel – A chart used by designers, decorators and other retailers to help customers select colors.

Combustible, Combustibility – Any liquid with a flash Any liquid with a flash point at or above 100° F is a combustible liquid.

Complementary Colors – Two colors directly opposite one another on the color wheel.

Complementary Color Scheme – The use of complementary colors in a decorating plan.

Conditioner – A coating additive that increases flow, adhesion and coverage without altering the color or durability of the coating. Used especially when spraying. Sometimes called slip.

Consistency – See Viscosity.

Contact Cement – Completely non-staining glue. Ideal for applying wall paneling and for covering counters, cabinets and table tops with both porous and non-porous surfacing materials, like plastic laminate and linoleum.

Contrasting Colors – Colors that have at least three other colors in between them on the color wheel.

Conventional Sprayer – A power paint sprayer which uses compressed air (produced by an air compressor) to force paint onto a surface.

Cool Colors – Blues, greens and purples.

Copal – A natural gum resin obtained from plants.

Copal Ester – A synthetic resin that results from combining copal resin with an ester.

Copper – Used as an additive in anti-fouling paints. Copper kills marine animals and plants that attach to boat hulls, docks and other below-water-level objects.

Copper Staining – Usually caused by corrosion of copper screens, gutters or downspouts washing down on painted surfaces. Can be prevented by painting or varnishing the copper.

Corrosion Inhibitive – A type of metal paint or primer that prevents rust by preventing moisture from reaching the metal. Zinc phosphate, barium metaborate, and strontium chromate (all pigments) are common ingredients in corrosion-inhibitive coatings. These pigments absorb any moisture that enters the paint film.

Corrosion Resistant – A paint or primer that aids in the prevention of corrosion. Commonly applied to metals. An insulator against water vapor and air-borne contaminants such as chloride compounds.

Coverage – The area which a given amount of paint will spread and hide the underlying surface. Also called Spread Rate. Usually expressed in square feet per gallon.

Cracking – Splitting of a coating usually due to aging paint. It can also be caused by subsurface expansion under a brittle topcoat.

Crackle Lacquer – A special purpose coating which delivers a unique visual and textual effect.

Crawling – Uneven paint film caused by the wet paint receding from small areas during the drying process, leaving it virtually uncoated.

Crazing – A network of very fine shallow cracks on the surface of a coating film. Also a condition of plaster, concrete, ceramic, etc. where cracks form under the surface to produce a micro fissure effect like cob webs.

Creeping – Spontaneous spreading of a liquid on a surface. In the case of an applied paint, or other coating, it refers to the spread of the wet film beyond the area to which it was applied.

Creosote – A liquid coating made from coal tar that was used as a wood preservative. It has been banned because of potential health risks.

Cupping – A distortion or twist across the flatness of a board. Wide boards tend to cup more than narrow boards.

Cure, Curing – The process whereby a liquid coating becomes a hard film.

Curtain – Running or sagging of paint into a scallop or curtain-looking pattern.

Custom Color – Special colors made by adding colorant to paint or by intermixing colors, which permits the retailer to match a color selected by the consumer.

Cutting In – Carefully painting an edge or border; such as where a wall meets the ceiling or at the edge of woodwork.

d

Dammer – A natural resin derived from trees, used in some varnishes.

Dead Flat – No gloss or sheen.
Deglosser – A liquid chemical used to remove the gloss from a coated surface and give it “tooth” so that a coating applied to it will adhere better. Also called Liquid Sander and Liquid Sandpaper.

Degreaser – Cleaning product used to remove grease, oil and dirt from asphalt and concrete surfaces.

Density – Weight per unit volume (pounds per gallon).

Desaturated Colors – Subdued hues; colors made less brilliant by the addition of white, black or complimentary color.

Dew Point – Temperature at which moisture in the air begins to condense.

Diluent – A liquid used in coatings to reduce the consistency and make a coating flow more easily. The water in latex coatings is diluent. A diluent may also be called a Reducer, Thinner, Reducing Agent or Reducing Solvent.

Dipping – The act of submerging a surface or object, such as a paint brush, into the coating or paint.

Dirt Staining – Excessive collection of dirt and other debris. Sometimes mistaken for mildew.

Double Complementary Color Scheme – A color scheme combining complements along with two alternate complements of one of those colors.

Drag – The failure of a paint or coating to slide off the brush or roller evenly and smoothly.

Driers – Various compounds added to coatings to speed the drying.

Drop – One vertical descent of a scaffold.

Drop Cloth – Cloth made from canvas, plastic or paper used to cover and protect items from paint drips, splash, or splatter.

Dry Colors – Powder-type colors to be mixed with water, alcohol, or mineral spirits and resin to form a paint or stain.

Dry Dust-Free – That stage of drying when particles of dust that land on the surface do not stick to the paint film.

Dry Tack-Free – That stage of drying when the paint no longer feels sticky or tacky when lightly touched.

Dry to Handle – Paint that has dried sufficiently to be handled without being marred.

Dry to Recoat – Paint that is dry enough to receive the next application.

Dry to Sand – That stage of drying when a paint film can be sanded without the sandpaper sticking or clogging.

Dry to Touch – Paint that has dried enough that light touching will not leave paint on fingers.

Drying Oil – An oil that when exposed to air will dry to a solid through chemical reaction with air: linseed oil, tung oil, perilla, fish oil, soybean oil.

Drying Time – Time required for a coating to dry once it’s been applied.

Drywall Compound – A paste used to repair plaster and drywall walls.

Drywall Tape – See Joint Tape.

Dull Finish – Just a little gloss, almost dead flat.

Dull Rub – Mostly a furniture finish, where gloss is rubbed to a mar-free dull finish with sandpaper, pumice or steel wool and either oil or water.

Dumping – Applying paint very quickly. The term usually refers to spraying with an airless sprayer.

Durability – The ability of coating to last or hold up well against destructive agents such as weather, sunlight, detergents, air pollution, abrasion, or marring and continue to look attractive.

Dust-free – Condition of area used for painting when all dust has been removed; surface condition where dust will no longer stick.

Dye, Dyestuff – A colored material used just to change color, with little or no hiding of the underlying surface.

Dye Colors – Colors that are dissolved not mixed with water, alcohol, or mineral spirits, to form a transparent coating or stain.

E

Earth Pigments – Those pigments that are obtained from the earth, including barytes, ocher, chalk and graphite.

Ease of Application – Features of the coating which, in combination, determine how easily it is for customers to apply the coating.

Ease of Clean-up – Characteristics of the coating which determine how easy and convenient it will be for customers to clean tools and hands after applying the coating.

Edger – A pad applicator designed for applying paint at edges, e.g., at ceiling lines, where walls meet, at the junction of walls and moldings.

Edging – Act of stripping in or painting near the edge of a surface such as the wall intersection at ceiling, doorway or window.

Edging Stick – Specially-formulated sticks used to touch-up or finish raw edges of counter tops and cabinetry.

Eggshell – The sheen or luster of a painted, finished surface that resembles that of an eggshell.

Eggshell Finish – The degree of gloss between a flat and semi-gloss finish.

Elasticity – The ability of paint to expand and contract with the substrate without suffering damage or changes in its appearance. Expansion and contraction are usually caused by temperature and humidity fluctuations. Elasticity is a key to durability. Acrylic binders are noted for their elasticity.

Emulsion – A mixture of solids suspended in a liquid.

Emulsion Paint – Coating in which resins are suspended in water, then flow together with aid of a coalescent aid. Example: latex paint.

Enamel – Broad classification of paints that dry to a hard, usually glossy finish. Most equipment coating enamels require baking. Enamels for walls do not.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – A brand of the federal government responsible for protecting the physical environment.

EPA – See Environmental Protection Agency.

Epoxy – Extremely tough and durable synthetic resin used in some of the catalytic coatings. Epoxy coatings are extremely tough, durable, and highly resistant to chemicals, abrasion, moisture and alcohol. Also a two-part adhesive.

Erosion – The wearing away of a coating film caused by exposure to weather.

Ester – The organic compound group which results when an alcohol and an organic acid react, usually as water is eliminated.

Ester Gum – A synthetic resin made from rosin or rosin acids and a polyhydric alcohol.

Etch – Surface preparation by chemical means to improve the adhesion of coatings. Usually an acid etch.

Evaporation – The process of a liquid becoming a gas.

Extender – Ingredients added to paint to increase coverage. Less expensive than prime hiding pigments such as titanium dioxide. Examples: Calcium carbonate, clay, gypsum, silica, talc. May also improve coating performance.

Extractives – Substances in wood that affect its properties. Depending on the species, wood may contain water-soluble extractives, such as tannins, pitch or oil. Each of these substrates has its own properties and characteristics. Although they involve only a small percentage of the wood, they are disproportionately important in terms of their effect on a number of wood properties, including color, decay and insect resistance, odor, permeability, density and hardness. Without extractives, pitch, and oil, many woods would appear essentially identical except for their anatomical features.

Exterior – The outside surface of a structure.

Exterior Clear Wood Finishes - The best exterior clear wood finishes are high in resin solids and contain UV absorbers and mildewcides. They perform by penetrating into the wood cells and curing to become part of the cell structure. In this way, they become an effective barrier to ultraviolet radiation and moisture attack. The presence of UV absorbers and mildewcides combine to maintain the natural beauty of the wood for a much longer period than water repellents and wood preservatives.

F

Fade Resistance – See Color Retention.

Fading – The loss of color due to exposure to light, heat, or weathering.

Fanning – Movement of spray gun to surface when one’s arm moves back and forth in a fan-like motion.

Fat Edge – A term used to describe a buildup of paint on the edge of an object, caused by poor painting techniques.

Faux Finishing – An applied paint technique that simulates materials or imitates natural finishes. Decorative painting effects such as sponging, ragging, woodgraining or marbling are all faux finishing techniques.

Feathering – Blending the edges of a finished area by lifting the brush at the end of the stroke so that the edge becomes indefinite. Also, sanding a dry film and tapering the edge smooth with the underlying substrate.

Feel – The working quality of a paint: how it spreads, covers, and dries. Painters like to use a paint that “feels” right to them.

Ferrous Metal – A metal that contains iron. Because iron is subject to rust, special primers are required before painting.

Ferrule – The metal band which connects the handle of a paint brush to the bristle portion of the brush.

Filler – An ingredient added to a coating to provide certain qualities. Also, a material used to fill holes, pores, and cracks in a surface before the application of paint. See Wood Filler and Block Filler.

Filler Strips – Strips made from specially treated wood, metal, fiber, or plastic built in the center of a paint brush, creating a reservoir for paint, thereby greatly increasing the paint-carrying capacity of the brush.

Film – Layer or coat of paint or other coating applied to a surface.

Film Build – Amount of thickness produced in an application.

Film Formation – The process whereby a liquid coating forms a continuous dry film. Common film forming methods include emulsion (latex) and oxidation (alkyds).

Film Integrity – The integrity or continuity of the paint film.

Film Thickness – Depth or thickness of the dry coating in thousandths of an inch (mils).

Finishing Oil – A natural oil usually used in finishing furniture. Examples: Danish oil, linseed oil or Swedish oil.

Filter – Cloth or other media used to remove particles from a liquid substance. Paint should always be filtered before being used in spray equipment.

Fingering – Misapplication of paint spray with an airless sprayer. Low pressure causes two outside bands of thick paint with very little paint in between. Or fingering due to “dumping” or applying too much paint to a given area, causing the paint to puddle and run. Fingering can also happen with a brush when the brush is poorly cleaned; fibers stick together in bundles, causing the paint to flow in streaks that resemble fingers.

Finish Coat – The last coat of paint or other finish applied.

Fire Resistance – The ability of a coating to withstand fire or to protect the substrate to which it is applied from fire damage.

Fire Retardant – A coating which will (1) reduce flame spread, (2) resist ignition when exposed to high temperature and/or (3) insulate the substrate and delay damage to the substrate.

Fish Oil – Oil from fish, used as a drying oil in coatings.

Flagged – Paint brush bristle tips which are split.

Flaking – The detachment of pieces of paint from the substrate, caused by a loss of adhesion and elasticity. Also known as scaling.

Flammability – Any liquid with a flash point below 100° F. Also, many mixtures which have ingredients with a flash point at or above 100° F.

Flash – Color or gloss variation due to surface porosity. Paint is sucked into the surface at different rates. Usually caused by inadequate priming/sealing.

Flash Point – The measurement of a liquid’s ability to ignite. The lowest temperature at which the vapors from the liquid will ignite when mixed with nearby air.

Flat – A surface that scatters or absorbs the light falling on it so as to be substantially free from gloss or sheen.

Flat Applicator – A rectangular-shaped flat pad with an attached handle. Used to paint shingles, shakes, and other special surfaces and areas. Also called a Pad Applicator.

Flat Wall Paint – A paint, usually interior type, that dries to a lusterless finish. Best for hiding surface imperfections. Ideal as a topcoat or as an undercoat for translucent semi-gloss and full-gloss paints.

Flatting Agent – Pigment added to reduce gloss or give a “rubbed” look. Some flatting agents are zinc stearate, silica and talc.

Flexibility – Degree to which a coating, after drying, is able to conform to movement or deformation of its supporting surface, without cracking or flaking.

Floating – Separation of pigment colors on the surface of applied paint.

Floor Varnish – Varnish formulated to produce an abrasion-resistant, smooth, lustrous finish for floors.

Flow – The ability of a coating to spread into a smooth film. Paints that have good flow usually level out uniformly and show few brush or roller marks.

Flowing Varnish – Varnish designed to produce a smooth lustrous surface without rubbing or polishing.

Foots – The pigments, additives, and other solids that settle on the “foot” or bottom of the paint can.

Forced Dry – Baking the paint between room temperature and 150 degrees F to speed the drying process.

Frieze – A horizontal band of decoration around a room, building, mantel, etc.

Frosting – Salty looking discoloration, most visible on darker colors, sometimes mistaken for efflorescence.

Fungicide – An agent that helps prevent fungus and spore growth on paint.

Fungus – Plants that grow in or on a coating and cause discoloration. Mildew and mold are both fungi.

G

Galvanization – Process in which a thin coating of zinc is applied to iron or steel to prevent rust.

Germanium – A chemical additive used in anti-fouling paints to kill marine plants and animals.

Ghosting – Non-uniform sheen of paint resulting in a shadowed effect. Usually caused by lack of primer or sealer, or poor quality ones.

Glaze – A term used to describe several types of finishing materials: (1) A thin, transparent solvent-based coating that dries to a flat finish. (2) A glazing stain is a pigmented stain applied over a stained, filled, or painted surface to soften or blend the original color without obscuring it. Also see Glazing Compound.

Glazing – The process by which a glaze coating is applied over a base coat, then wiped off selectively, revealing the base color. The process is called antiquing, marbling, wood graining or striating, depending on the special effect achieved.

Glazing Compound – A putty used to set glass in window frames and to fill nail holes and cracks.

Gloss – The luster or shininess of paints and coatings. Different types of gloss are frequently arbitrarily differentiated, such as sheen, distinctness of image gloss, etc.

Gloss Meter – A device for measuring the light reflectance of coatings. Different brands with the same description (such as semi-gloss or flat) may have quite different ratings on the gloss meter.

Gloss Oil – Varnish composed of limed rosin and petroleum thinner. Dries to a high shine.

Gloss Retention – The degree to which a coating retains its original shininess.

Glossy Finish – Coatings that do not contain flatting agents and therefore dry to a hard, glass-like gloss.

Grain – The natural look or pattern of wood. Texture due to alignment of the wood fibers.

Grain Raising – The swelling of wood fibers when they absorb water or solvents.

Graininess – Paint film that does not dry smooth. It looks as if sand were mixed in.

Graining – Simulating the grain of wood by means of specially prepared colors or stains and the use of graining tools or special glazing techniques.

Grit Number – Measurement of the coarseness of abrasives: #12 is the coarsest, #1200 is the finest.

Ground Coat – First or prime coat used as a base for all other coats of paint.

Guide Coat – Coat paint first applied to a surface, just slightly different in color from the final topcoat. Aids in obtaining complete coverage of topcoat.

Gum Arabic – A water-soluble gum used as an adhesive or binder.

Gypsum – Calcium sulfate, used as a pigment extender and in the manufacture of wallboard and plaster of Paris.

H

Hairline Cracks – Fine cracks in plaster or paint film.

Hard Oil Finish – Any interior varnish that dries to an extremely hard film with a moderate or high luster, as if rubbed with oil.

Hardboard – Reconstituted natural wood, fabricated by reducing natural wood to fibers and then pressing the fibers together into panels of various thicknesses.

Hardener – Curing agent for epoxies or fiberglass.

Hardness – The ability of a paint film to resist denting, scratching, or marring.

Hardwood – A term given to wood from non-coniferous trees (trees that do not bear cones). Not a true description, as many hardwoods are softer than so-called softwoods.

Hazing – Clouding of the finish. Surface appears to have lost its gloss, or has a smoky appearance. Actually a loss of DOI (distinctness of image).

Heartwood and Sapwood – A dark column of wood (heartwood) and the lighter column of wood that surrounds it (sapwood). The sapwood is composed of live cells that carry water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves and that provide mechanical support. The heartwood, which is composed of dead cells, provides only mechanical support.

The heartwood, being already dead, provides a much better resistance to decay than sapwood. Some species, such as southern yellow pine, have a much wider sapwood zone than other species, such as cedar and redwood and, therefore, much less decay resistance.

Old or original-growth timber from some species, such as cypress, is notable for its natural resistance to decay and insects. Second-growth lumber contains a much larger amount of sapwood than old-growth lumber and is much more susceptible to decay than old-growth; its heartwood is not as resistant to decay as old-growth heartwood.

Heat Resistance – The ability of a coating to remain intact and undamaged after exposure to a predetermined and elevated temperature.

Hide, Hiding Power – The ability of the paint or coating to mask or cover the surface.

High-pressure Washer – See Water Blaster.

High Solids - A coating system in which the volume solids ratio to solvent is high (e.g. 60% solids or higher). High solids coatings are being worked with as a response to VOC limitations.

Hold-Out – The ability of a paint film to dry to its normal finish on a somewhat absorptive surface.

Holiday – Application defect whereby small areas are left uncoated.

Hot Spots – Lime spots which are not completely cured and bleed through the coating on a plastered wall.

Hot Wall – A plastered wall that contains a lot of free lime. Lime is highly destructive to oil-based paints.

House Paint – Exterior paint formulated to withstand the elements. It is primarily used on houses, barns, fences, and other outbuildings.

Hue – The basis of color, e.g. whether it is a red or a green. Lighter or darker variations are still the same hue.

Humidity – Moisture content of the air relative to the temperature.

HVLP Sprayer – Stands for high-volume low pressure. This sprayer sprays paint or stain using very little pressure which gives you greater control of the spray.

Hydrolysis – See Saponification.

I

Ignitable, Ignitability – Able to burn; the ability of a substance to burn.

Impact Resistance – The ability of a coating to resist being deformed by a blow or impact. Coatings with better adhesion and flexibility are more impact resistant.

In-Can Preservative – A preservative (biocide) which is used in the Flood manufacturing process of waterborne (based) coatings to prevent growth of microorganisms in the container

Inert – A material that will not react chemically with other ingredients.

Inorganic – Composed of matter other than plant or animal; not arising from natural growth.

Insoluble – Not soluble; cannot be dissolved.

Intensity – The strength of a color. The difference between pink and red is a matter of intensity.

Intercoat Adhesion – How well primer and topcoat attach to each other.

Intermediate Coat – The coating between the primer and topcoat, often called a barrier coat.

Intumescence – A mechanism whereby fire-retardant paint protect the substrates to which they are applied. An intumescent paint puffs up when exposed to high temperatures, forming an insulating, protective layer over the substrate.

Iron Oxide – A common paint pigment.

Isocyanate Resin – Active resins used to prepare urethanes.

J

Joint Cement – Paste-like metal used for dry wall construction, as a bedding compound for joint tape, and as a filter for nail holes. Also called Joint Compound.

Joint Compound – See Joint Cement.

Joint Tape – Special paper, or paper/cotton or fiberglass tape used over joints between wall-board to conceal the joint and provide a smooth surface for painting.

K

Kalsomine – See Calcimine.

Ketone – Organic compound or solvent; highly flammable. Acetone is one example.

Knots –Irregularities in wood growth. The presence of knots affects the ability to paint lumber and is generally a function of lumber grade. Knots are mostly exposed on the end grain of wood. End-grained wood absorbs more finish than flat-grained or edge-grained lumber, which affects the way the paint looks. In pine, knots often contain a high percentage of resin, which may cause the paint above the knot to discolor. Furthermore, large knots usually crack, and a noticeable split or defect occurs. In sum, the higher grades are better to use for finishing.

Knot Sealer – Liquid coating designed to seal the tannic acids in wood knotholes and keep them from discoloring a coating.

L

Latex Putty – See Water Putty.

Leaching (surfectant) – blotchy usually tan colored glossy water-soluble spots on latex bleed.

Lead – A metal, previously used as a pigment in paints. Discontinued as a pigment because of its toxicity. Now used in limited amounts in commercial coatings as a pigment.

Lead Carbonate – Metal primer or pigment, white lead.

Lead Oxide – Lead monoxide and red lead; basically, lead combined with oxygen, used as a pigment and rust preventer.

Leaded Zinc – Primer made from zinc oxide and lead sulfates.

Length – Usually oil length. Another term for oil content.

Leveling – Ability of a film to flow out, free from ripples, pockmarks, and brush marks.

Lifting – The softening and penetration of a previous film by solvents in the paint being applied over it. Results in raising and wrinkling.

Light Box – A box containing the major types of lighting; incandescent (standard light bulbs) and fluorescent (cool white, warm white, and day-light).

Lightfastness – No loss of color due to exposure to sunlight.

Light Reflectance – The amount of light reflected off a dry film coat.  A function of both color and gloss.

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) – The numerical value associated with the amount of light reflected off a dry film coat; the measurement is obtained by using a gloss meter.

Lignin - An integral part of the cell wall of some wood. It is the most abundant organic material on earth after cellulose. The strength of wood is a result of lignin, which makes up about one-quarter to one-third of the mass of dry wood. Lignin holds fibers together.

Linoleum Varnish – Varnish formulated to be highly elastic and flexible.

Linseed Oil – Drying oil made from the flax seed. Used as a solvent in many oil-based paints.  “Boiled-“ linseed oil can be used to protect wood from water damage.  Sometimes used as a furniture polish.

Liquid Driers – Solution of soluble driers in organic solvents.

Liquid Sander, Liquid Sandpaper – A liquid chemical used to remove the gloss from a coated surface and give it “tooth” to attach to a new coating. Also called Deglosser.

Litharge – Lead monoxide was used in vitreous enamels.

Lithopane – A white pigment of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide.

Long Oil – Term used to describe a resin that contains more than 60% oil.

Long-oil Varnish – A high oil-content varnish with a slower drying time and a more elastic dry film than short-oil varnish.

Low Luster – A low sheen. Note that what is low-luster paint to one manufacturer is not to another, and vice versa. It is best to check the color chip cards of manufacturers. These show just what the luster is because they are made of paint and are not photographically reproduced.

LRV – See Light Reflectance Value.

Luster – See Gloss.

M

Maintenance Painting – Repainting to repair or renew on a regular basis.

Maleic Resin – A synthetic resin made from natural resin and maleic acid or maleic anhydride.

Manila Copal – A natural resin used in the manufacture of certain varnishes.

Marbling – A special effect glazing technique used to make a substrate (usually wood) look like a piece of marble.

Marine Paint – Coating specially designed for immersion in water and exposure to marine atmosphere. Also called Spar Varnish.

Masking – Covering an area that will not be painted.

Masking Tape – A strip of tape, used to temporarily cover areas that are not to be painted.

Masonry – Building materials such as brick and stone.

Mastic – A heavy-bodied, paste-like coating often applied with a trowel.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) – Information sheet that lists any hazardous substance that comprises 1% or more of the product’s total volume. Also lists procedures to follow in the event of fire, explosion, leak or exposure to hazardous substance by inhalation, ingestion or contact with skin or eyes. Coatings manufacturers are required to provide retailers with an MSDS for every product they sell to the retailer. Sales clerks should make MSDSs available to retail customers.

Medium Oil – Resin which contains 40% – 60% oil.

Metal Soaps - Salts derived from metals and organic acids, such as aluminum stearates, which are used in water repellent coatings.

Metallics – Paints that contain metal particles or flakes.

Metamersim – The phenomenon in which two colors appear to match under one type of light and may not match under another.

Midtone – A color “grayed” with the same amount of white and black.

Mil – 0.001 inch.

Mildew – Microscopic plant growth on damp surfaces in warm climates.

Mildew Resistance – The ability of a coating to resist the growth of molds and mildew.

Mildewcide – Chemical agent added to a coating that destroys mildew.

Mills – Machine used in the manufacture of coatings to disperse the pigment in the vehicle.

Mineral Spirits – Paint Thinner. Solvent distilled from petroleum.

Misses – Voids or skips in a painted surface.

Mist Coat – Very thin spray coat.

Mobility – Ease with which the paint flows.

Mold - Fungi characterized by cottony or downy growth varying in color from white to shades of yellow, brown-red, purple-blue, and green to black. Molds do not affect the strength properties of wood, but can collect moisture. Upon drying, affected wood may develop surface checking.

Moisture Meter – Device used to measure the water content in wood, plaster and concrete.

Moisture Resistance – The ability of a coating to resist being damaged by moisture.

Monochrome Color Scheme – A color scheme using various intensities of one color.

Mottling – Spotty round marks producing a blotchy or patchy effect.

Mud-cracking – Paint or plaster applied too thick; cracks like dried mud.

N

Nailhead Rusting – Rust from iron nails that penetrates or bleeds through the coating and stains the surrounding area. Sometimes referred to as flash rusting when it occurs with prime or first coats.

Nap – The length of fibers in a paint roller cover.

Naphtha – A petroleum distillate used mostly by professionals (as opposed to do-it-yourself painters) for clean-up and to thin solvent-based coatings. A volatile organic compound.

Napthenic Oil - An oil which does not fully cure. Used for water repellency in some penetrating finishes.

Natural Resins – Resins from trees, plants, fish and insects. Examples: dammars, copals.

Neoprene - Synthetic rubber very resistant to oils. Used as a paint modifier.

Neutral Colors – Subtle variations if whites, grays, and beiges.

Nitrocellulose – A resin used in the binder of a coating. Made by bathing cotton fibers (cellulose) in nitric acid. The most important ingredient in lacquers. Also called Cellulose Nitrate and Pyroxylin.

No Alkali Resistance – Results are color loss and complete deterioration of the plant on fresh masonry.

Nonvolatile – The portion of a coating left after the solvent evaporates; sometimes called the solids content.

O

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – An agency of the federal government which sets workplace health and safety standards for U.S. employees.

Oil-based Paint – Any paint that thin and cleans up with mineral spirits.

Oil-modified Urethane – Air-drying type of urethane that contains no hardeners.

Oil Resistance – The ability of a coating to resist damage by oils.

Oil Stain – There are two types of oil stains, penetrating and non-penetrating. Penetrating oil stains contain dyes and resins that penetrate the surface; non-penetrating oil stains contain larger amounts of pigments and are usually opaque or translucent.

Oleoresin – A natural plant product that contains oil and resins. Turpentine is an example.

Opacity – Ability of a coating to hide or conceal the underlying surface. Light cannot penetrate an opaque coating. A paint with a high opacity value will cover well.

Opaque – See Opacity.

Open-grained Wood – Wood in which the pores are easily seen (e.g., walnut, oak, mahogany).

Open Time – The amount of time a coating stays workable or wet after it has been applied. Working in the shade can keep paint and stain, as well as stripper, wetter longer.

Orange Peel – Paint that has dried to an orange peel texture. Generally caused by poor spraying or roller techniques.

Orange Shellac – Reddish-brown shellac that has not been bleached.

Organic – Derived from living matter, either plants or animals.

Orifice – An opening or hole, especially in spray equipment.

OSHA – See Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Overcoat – The top or finish coat.

Overlap – What happens when each pass of the roller, brush, or spray overlaps or covers a portion of the previously applied coating.

Overspray – Sprayed paint that doesn’t land on the targeted areas of the item being painted.

Overspreading – When a painter covers more square footage with a coating than is intended by the coating manufacturer.

Oxidation – Chemical reaction upon exposure to oxygen. Some coatings cure by oxidation, when oxygen enters the liquid coating and cross-links the resin molecules. This film-forming method is also called Air Cure and Air Dry. Oxidation also causes rust on metals and chalking paint.

Oxidizing – A method of film-formation. See Air Cure.

P

Pad Applicator – See Flat Applicator.

Padding – Act of applying stain, lacquer, or polish to a surface with a padding pad, using a pendulum motion to wipe material on a surface.

Padding Pad – Short-napped pad used to apply a coat to a surface. It is a furniture refinishing term.

Paint – A coating including resin, a solvent, additives, pigments and, in some products, a diluent. Paints are in general opaque.

Paint Mitt – A paint applicator shaped and worn like a mitten, used most commonly to coat tubular objects like pipes.

Paint Incompatibility – Causing adhesion from a top coat of latex over many layers of old alkyd or oil based paint.

Paint Remover – A chemical that softens old paint or varnish and permits it to be easily scraped off. Usually contains methylen chloride.

Paint Thinner – See Mineral Spirits.

Painted Ladies – A term first used for Victorian homes in the San Francisco area that have been given colorful exterior color schemes. It now applies to any older home using such color schemes.

Paraffinic Oil - An oil which does not fully cure. Used for water repellency in some penetrating finishes.

Patchal Stick – No heat putty stick for touch-up work on furniture and cabinets. Colors to match most cabinet lacquers and stains.

Patching Plaster – A special plaster made for repairing plaster walls. Dries hard, is inflexible. Will not attach to alkyd or oil-based coating.

Peeling – Paint film that peels off in large segments.

Pentaerythritol – A polyhydric alcohol used in the manufacture of alkyds, copal ester, rosin esters, synthetic resins and lubricants.

Penetrating Finish – A finish that sinks into the surface, as opposed to settling on the surface.

Permanent Colors – Tinting colors. Color pigments in an oil base that are paste-like and won’t fade or bleed.

Permeable, Permeability – Usually refers to a dry film coat which permits water vapor to pass though it.

Petroleum Distillate – A group of solvents obtained by refining and distilling crude petroleum oil.

Phenol – A chemical compound used in the manufacture of epoxy resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, plasticizers, plastics and wood preservatives. Also known as Carbolic Acid.

Phenolic – A type of varnish which contains phenolic resins.

Piano-like Finish – Rubbed and polished lacquer or varnish. Highest grade of wood finish.

Pigment – Insoluble, finely ground materials that give the paint its properties of color and hide. Titanium dioxide (Ti O2) is the most important pigment used to provide hiding in paint.

Pigment Extender – See Extender.

Polyurethane – A film-forming coating not frequently used in exterior applications because of a tendency to discolor (yellow) on exposure.

Preservative – A substance which prevents the growth of microorganisms. It may contain only the biocide and the carrier but can also have a binder, such as an alkyd, oil, varnish or any emulsion and pigments as part of the formulation. Unless pigmented, the preservative will not maintain the color of the wood, but will eventually gray. The graying is due to the deterioration of the wood from ultraviolet light rather than from mildew formation. Depending on the giocide used, the gray can range from light to dark. Biocide protection will be short-lived if no binder is included in the formulation.

Q

--- none –

R

Reactivity – Usually refers to a reaction or something happening when two or more chemicals are mixed. Also, in reference to pigments: pigments which react to drying oils to form zinc and lead soaps; pigments (such as red lead) which react with acids formed at a metal surface to prevent rust.

Red DOT Label – Label used to identify materials that have a flash point under 80 degrees F. They’re highly flammable.

Red Lead – A rust-inhibiting pigment. Lead oxide is an example.

Reducer – A liquid used to reduce the viscocity of a coating. Each coating product has its own specific thinner or class of thinners.

Reducing Agent – See Reducer.

Reducing Solvent – See Reducer.

Refined Shellac – Orange or white shellac from which the wax has been removed.

Reflectance – See Light Reflectance.

Related Colors – Two colors next to one another on the color wheel.

Related Color Scheme – The use of related colors in a decorating plan.

Remover – A liquid or paste formulated to attack and destroy the paint or paint-to-surface bond so that the paint can be removed. Usually contains methylene chloride.

Resin – Synthetic or natural material used as the binder in coatings. Example: Acrylic, alkyd, epoxy, polyurethane, polyvinyl, chloride, silicone.

Respirator – Mask worn to protect one from fumes or dust. Self-contained breathing apparatus.

Retarder – A chemical added to a coating to slow down the curing process.

Ring Orientation – The way a board is sawn, or manufactured, from a log, which affects the orientation of the annual rings and the wood’s paintability. Softwood lumber is referred to as either flat-grained or edge-grained; plainsawn or quartersawn in hardwoods; or a combination of these. Most standard lumber is flat-grained. Flat-grained wood shrinks more than edge-grained wood and has wider, darker bands of latewood. Therefore, edge-grained lumber used for siding will usually hold paint better than flat-grained, and quarter-sawn or hardwood paints hold better than plain-sawn boards.

Ropey – Dry paint film that contains brush marks or ridges.

Rosin – Natural resin obtained from living pine trees or from dead tree stumps and knots.

Rottenstone – Very fine mineral powder used as an abrasive to obtain a hand-rubbed effect.

Rubbing Varnish – Any varnish that can be rubbed to a low luster finish.

Runs – Uneven flow or leveling of paint resulting in sags. Caused by applying too much paint at one spot or spray painting too close to the surface.

Rust – The corrosion product formed when ferrous metals, mainly iron oxidize. Must be removed before painting because paint won’t adhere to it.

S

Sags – See “Runs.”

Sal Soda – An alkaline cleaning compound.

Sand Down – Act of removing gloss from a surface via chemicals or abrasives. It cleans and abrades the surface so that new paint adheres.

Sand Finish – Pebble or sand-like texture applied to wall surface. Usually plaster but can be textured paint.

Sandblast – Abrasive cleaning of a surface by blowing sand against it at high velocity.

Sanding Sealer – Sealer formulated to make sanding easier. It hardens wood fibers so they cut off rather than bending out of the way.

Sapstain – A type of fungus which discolors wood without appreciably decomposing it. Found primarily in the sapwood. Other stains include red stain, green stain, yellow stain, brown stain, and grayish olive stain.

Sap-streak – Pockets of pure pitch often found in coniferous trees, frequently exposed when sanding and planning. The pitch must be sealed off (usually with shellac) before applying most finishes.

Saponification – Chemical reaction between alkalies and oil that produces a type of soap. Because of saponification, oil-based and alkyd coatings will not adhere to masonry substrates, galvanized metal or zinc-rich primers.

Saturated Colors – Bright hues; intense colors undiluted by black, white or complimentary colors.

Scale – Thin layers of flaking rust. Must be removed before prime or other coating is applied.

Scrub Resistance – See Scrubbability.

Scrubbability – The ability of a coating to maintain its original hide, gloss and color after being scrubbed or washed with an abrasive soap.

Scuff Sand – Very light sanding of a surface.

Sealant – See Caulk.

Sealer – A type of undercoat designed for porous substrates such as wood and masonry. Prevents bleeding of undercoats or stains in or on substrates into overcoats. Prevents penetration of finishing materials. Protects susbtrate from external moisture.

Secondary Colors – Orange, green, and purple; colors formed by mixing two primary colors.

Seedy – Also called “sandy” or “bitty.” Painter’s term for a newly painted surface with specks of dirt, old paint, or partially dried paint that were transferred with a dirty roller or brush.

Self-cleaning – A feature of certain exterior paints, whereby the dry film coats restore themselves.

Semi-gloss Finish – A finish that has a low luster sheen. Semi-gloss paints are formulated to give this result.

Semi-Transparent Stain – A penetrating stain that contains more pigment than any other stain except solid color (which is really more like a flat paint). Semi-transparent stains allow the grain of the wood to show.

Set – The initial hardening of a finishing material sometimes called “dust-free” after which settling dust will not cling.

Setting – A compound or adhesive used to bond the bristles of a paint brush to the ferrule of the brush.

Settling – When pigment separates from other coating ingredients and cakes or settles at the bottom of the can.

Set-up – A paint film that has set or filmed over and hardened.

Shade – A darker hue variation, created by adding black or gray.

Shadowing – Also called “show through.” Prior coating shows through the new coating due to the low pigment content of high-gloss coatings or inexpensive paints. May also be due to applying a light color over a darker color. Can also be caused by oil, grease or a previous stain bleeding through.

Sheen – See Gloss.

Shelf Life – Usable life of product before it deteriorates. Applies to both unopened and opened cans of paint and other coatings or bags of dry coating mix.

Shellac – A coating made from purified lac dissolved in alcohol, often bleached white.

Shine – See Gloss.

Shiner – A glossy spot on an otherwise non-glossy surface. Can be caused by spot-priming patched areas, poor wet-edge lapping, or spot-painting with poorly mixed or unmatched paint.

Short Oil – Resin which contains less than 40 oil.

Silica – Ground sand or ground quartz used as pigment extender.

Silicone – A resin used in the binders of coatings. Also used as an additive to provide specific properties, such as a defoamer. Paints containing silicone are very slick and resist dirt, graffiti, and bacterial growth.

Single-color Scheme – The use of varying shades of a single hue in a decorating plan.

Size – A sealer, usually applied before applying wallpaper.

Skin – The film, or top layer that forms when paint dries.

Skippy – A paint that is too thick and heavy, making it skip on some surface areas while piling up on others.

Sleeve – Painter’s term for a paint roller.

Slip – The opposite of friction. The term given to a coating which appears to be lubricated. Such coatings may, if fact, contain lubricants (as additives) which rise to the surface of the dry film.

Slip Under The Brush – A paint that is slippery or acts too lubricated to apply, making it difficult to control application.

Slow-dry – A paint or coating that takes more than 24 hours to dry before it can be repainted, sanded, etc.

Softwood – Wood from coniferous trees. Also, the softer areas of woods which are notably less dense in some areas than in others.

Solids – The part of the same coating that remains on the surface after the vehicle has evaporated. The dried paint film. Also called Nonvolatile.

Solid-color Stain – A stain that is essentially a flat paint and has a flat finish. It’s big advantage over paint is that it has much less tendency to peel.

Solid Hiding Stain – A finish with enough pigment to completely hide the grain of the wood but not to completely obliterate it. Normally forms a film on the surface of the wood but can also penetrate to some depth. These coatings can be either solvent- or water-based. Binders can be oils, alkyds, varnishes, urethanes, emulsions or other resins. Usually contain a biocide for protection from mildew.

Soluble – Able to be dissolved.

Solvent – Any liquid which can dissolve a resin.

Solventborne – Usually refers to a finish to which the solvent is a petroleum distillate (as opposed to water). The resin can be oil, alkyd, silicone, etc. The solvent can be mineral spirits, etc.

Spackling Compound – Material used to patch holes, cracks, nicks in plaster, wood, or drywall. Inflexible. Can be sanded and painted. Will attach to direct coating of alkyd or oil-based product.

Spalling – Paint that breaks up into small chips.

Spar Varnish – See Marine Paint.

Spattering – Droplets of paint that spin or mist off the roller as paint is being applied.

Specular Gloss – A mirror-like finish.

Spirit Stain – A solvent-based stain containing alcohol as the solvent.

Splattering – An application technique used to obtain a special visual effect.

Splitting – A defect in a painted surface that results when the solvents contained in a fresh coat of paint penetrate into the old paint. Likely to occur when the old layer has been sanded too much.

Sponge Painting, Sponging – An application technique which uses sponges as applicators. Used to create a visual effect on interior surfaces.

Spot-prime – To apply primer to those areas where the surface has been stripped by physical or chemical means.

Spray – Applicaton method that uses an aerosol, an airless power sprayer, or a conventional power sprayer.

Spray Cleaner – See Water Blaster.

Spray Washer – See Water Blaster.

Spread Rate – The amount of surface a given quantity of paint will cover. Usually measured in square feet per gallon.

Spreadability – See Flow.

Stabilizing Treatments - Dispersions of water reducible resins and mildewcides that combine to reduce the damage to wood caused by rapid change in temperature and moisture evaporation. They are excellent for new CCA or ACQ wood.

Stain – Usually used to change the natural color of wood. Coating that is absorbed into the substrate, rather than resting on the surface (like paint).

Stain Removal – Washing or cleaning stains off a coating surface without damaging the coating film itself.

Stain Resistance – The ability of a coating to survive exposure to stains without incurring damage.

Stand Oil – Heat-thickened oil or linseed oil which has been allowed to stand for 7-10 years in the sun.

Stearate – A soap that can prevent a coating from adhering to a surface. Some wood fillers contain stearates.

Stencil, Stenciling – A special effect painting technique using stencils.

Stippling – An application technique used to obtain a special effect on interior surfaces.

Striating – A special effect technique which uses a glaze and undercoat of paint to achieve a unique visual effect.

Strip – To completely remove old finish from the surface by mechanical or chemical means.

Strontium Chromate – A pigment commonly used in corrosion-inhibitive coatings. Pigment particles plug the small pores in the dry film and absorb any moisture that enters the film, preventing it from reaching the metal substrate.

Styrene – A chemical used to make synthetic resins and elastomers. One of the ingredients in styrene-butadiene, a latex resin.

Styrne-butadiene – A resin used in the binder of latex coatings.

Substrate – Any surface to which a coating is applied.

Suction – Force which causes a porous material to absorb moisture. Generally refers to a plastered wall. See Flash.

Surface Checking – A condition in which the wood starts to delaminate on the surface creating cracks that forma checkerboard appearance.

Surface Drying – A paint that dries from the outside in. This is not considered to be a good quality since the paint will skin over, blocking or slowing further drying.

Surfacing Putty – A type of water putty used to repair damaged wood surfaces.

Synthetic – Man-made.

T

Tack – Slight stickiness on the surface of the paint before it is set.

Tack Cloth, Tack Rag – A piece of fabric impregnated with varnish, oil, or a solvent so that it remains permanently sticky under proper storage, and can be used to remove minute dust particles from a surface to be finished.

Tacky – A paint film that has dried to the point where dust will not stick, but it is not yet set hard.

Talc – Extender pigment, white in color, with a slippery feel. Magnesium silicate.

Tank White – White paint that gives good coverage on exterior metal.

Tannin Bleed – Migration of water-soluble chemicals to the surface of wood.

Tannin Wood Staining – Brownish discoloration that will come through prime/finish coats unless properly primed.

Tar – Residue from distillation of coal, wood, shale or peat. It’s used as waterproofing below ground on walls, pools, and lumber.

Tempera – Water paint made from egg white, gum pigment, and water.

Temperature Sensitivity – A collection of coating features which affect application.

Tertiary Colors – Mixtures of two secondary colors such as orange and violet to create russet.

Thinner – See Reducer.

Through Drying – Term used to denote that the paint has dried completely, usually several hours to weeks after application.

Tie Coat – A coating formulated to be an intermediate coat between two non-bonding coatings. An intermediate bond coat.

Tin – Used as an additive in anti-fouling paints to kill marine plants and animals.

Tint – A lighter hue variation, created by adding white

Tinting – Also called “shading.” Act of changing the intensity of a color that is not saturated by adding white.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)  – White pigment in virtually all white paints. Prime hiding pigment in most paints.

Toluene, Toluol – A solvent used most often by professional painters to thin lacquers. A volatile organic compound.

Tone – A color “grayed” by adding both white and black.

Toner – Clear finish with a slight amount of pigment.

Tooth – The holding power of a substrate, surface, or primer due to a slight roughness.

Topcoat – The last or final coating of a paint or varnish sometimes referred to as “overcoat.”

Touch up – Applying paint to small sections of a surface to obtain an even, unbroken coating film.

Toxic – Poisonous.

Trace Cloth – Special closely woven, soft-textured, absorbent, lint-free cloth used to make padding pads.

Translucent – A coating which admits some light; between opaque and transparent.

Transparent – A coating which light can penetrate; one which we look through and see the surface underneath.

Transoxides – Transparent Iron Oxides. Pigments which offers limited protection from ultraviolet sunlight while masking the color of the substrate. They are primarily used in furniture finishes and in automobile finishes, but require a top coat in order to withstand abrasion.

Triadic Color Scheme – A color scheme using any three colors equal distance apart on the color wheel (or variations of those colors).

Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) – An alkaline substance used as a cleaning compound. Environmental laws prohibit its sale in some regions. Because it contains phosphate, a fertilizer, it encourages the growth of mildew and mold.

TSP – See Trisodium Phosphate.

Tung Oil – Oil of the tung tree, used as a drying oil in fine wood-finishing coatings.

Turpentine – Distilled pine oil, used as a cleaner, solvent, or thinner for oil-based and alkyd coatings.

Tuscan Red – Pigment made from a mixture of iron oxide and an alizarine dye.

U

Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) – The sun radiates energy to the earth in electromagnetic waves over a range of wavelengths known as the solar spectrum. The solar spectrum is divided into three bands: ultraviolet (UV), visible light and infrared radiation.  Both UV and infrared light are invisible to the human eye.

Umber – See “Burnt Umber.”

Undercoat, Undercoater – A coating that is not the top or final coating of paint.

Undertone – A subdued color; a color that modifies another color. The color of paint viewed through transmitted (reflected) light. It may be caused by using a top coat that’s too thin or that’s lacking in solids.

Under Eaves Peeling – Occurs in protected or shady areas where condensation collects sulfer dioxide from the air. These salt like crystals are washed away by rain in areas not protected. Painting over these crystals will cause peeling as the salt draws moisture through the paint.

Urethane-modified Alkyd – Not to be confused with a true urethane. An alkyd molecule which has been chemically modified by the incorporation of a urethane. A coating, often a varnish, which uses a urethane-modified alkyd resin in the binder.

U.S. Gallon – Four liquid parts or eight liquid pints. The U.S. pint is 16 ounces, so the U.S. gallon is 128 ounces, The Canadian, or Imperial gallon, is comprised of eight 20-ounce pints, so the Imperial gallon is 160 ounces.

Useful Life – Life expectancy of a coating before refinishing is required.

UV – See Ultraviolet Radiation.

UV Inhibitor – Coating additives that absorb or reflect UV radiation and prevent it from damaging the substrate under the coating.

UV Resistance – The ability of a coating film to endure prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation without suffering damage.

V

Value – The scale of lightness or darkness of a color.

Varnish – A large class of coatings, most of which dry to a hard and very durable film. Usually clear or amber. Usually applied to wood. May be solvent-based or water-based.

Varnish Spar/Polyurethane - Clear coatings that protect the wood by forming a continuous film of resin over the wood surface. They generally are only suitable for small surfaces such as doors and outdoor furniture. They fail by cracking and peeling and are very difficult to recoat.

Varnish Stain – Varnish in which dyes are dissolved to provide color along with a protection.

Vegetable Oil – Oil obtained from vegetable products such as linseed, soybean, hemp seed, tung, castor, perilla. Used as drying oil and solvents.

Vehicle – Portion of a coating that includes all liquids and the binder. The vehicle and the pigment are the two basic components of paint.

Vinyl – See Polyvinyl Chloride or Polyvinyl Acetate.

Viscosity – The thickness or resistance to flow of a paint. Also called Consistency.

VOC – See Volatile Organic Compound

Volatile – A liquid that evaporates quickly when exposed to air.

Volume Solids – Solid ingredients as a percentage of total ingredients. The volume of pigment plus binder divided by the total volume, expressed as a percent. High volume solids mean a thicker dry film with improved durability.

W

Warm colors – Reds, oranges, yellows, and browns.

Washability – Ease with which washing will remove dirt from the paint’s surface without causing damage.

Water-Based – Coatings in which the majority of liquid content is water.

Water Blaster – Machine that converts low pressure water to high pressure (700 – 4,000 PSI). Used to clean or remove paint from a surface prior to painting. Also called a Power Washer, Spray Cleaner, Spray Washer, and High-Pressure Washer.

Water-borne – See Water-based.

Water Putty – A water-based material that is used to repair damaged wood and concrete.

Water-reducible – A method of film-formation. Water based coatings which use this film-forming method.

Water Repellent – Normally a mixture of a solvent and water repelling compound such as a silicone, wax or stearate. A product that touts only water repellency will have no biocide for mildew protection and will turn gray.

Water Repellent Preservative – A combination of a water repellent and a preservative. Depending on the raw materials used and their concentration, this type of finish can maintain the natural color of the wood longer than either used by itself. The wood will eventually gray out due to lack of UV absorbers of pigment.

Water Resistance – The ability of a coating to remain a solid, protective film after exposure to water.

Water Spotting – Spots left behind when water evaporates. Most likely white or brown in color. Caused by dissolved minerals remaining on the surface.

Water-thinned Paint – Any paint in which the majority of the liquid content is water.

Wax – A water repellent insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents. It works on the surface and is subject to erosion due to traffic, wear patterns, etc.

Wax Binding – Migration of waxy additives used in reconstituted wood products to the surface causing discoloration and possible wetting.

Weather Etch – Leaving a new metal exposed to weather for several months, allowing the environment to naturally roughen the surface, thus preparing it to adhere to a coating.

Weather Resistance – The ability of a coating to remain intact and attractive after prolonged exposure to weather, e.g., extreme temperature changes, UV radiation, rain, moisture, etc.

Wet Edge Retention – When a coating remains wet long enough so that an adjoining section can be smoothly blended into the previously painted section.

Wet Film Thickness – Thickness of film in millimeters while coating is still wet.

Wetting Characteristics – The ability of a paint or primer to flow over and saturate a surface.

White Lead – A white pigment.

White Rot – A form of wood destroying fungus that leaves a spongy or stringy mass with the wood surface remaining unchecked on drying. Affected wood is usually white or grayish but can assume various shades of yellow, tan and light brown.

White Shellac – Clear shellac that has been subjected to bleaching.

Whiting – White wash calcium carbonate or calcium oxide.

Wire Brushing – Hand process for removal of loose rust, paint, and other contaminants.

Wood Filler – Paste or liquid material used to fill the pores of open-grained woods and new wood substrates. Prevents wood from absorbing paint. Dries to a hard film.

Wood Destroying Fungus – Fungus that obtains nourishment by disintegrating cell walls, thus causing breakdown (decay) in wood. Brown Rot, White Rot, and Soft Rot are all examples.

Wood Graining – See Graining.

Wood Putty – A repair material made of actual wood fibers. Used to fill holes, cracks and dents in interior wood surfaces and to fill joints between pieces of wood.

Workability – See Flow.

Wrinkling – Improper paint application (usually too thick) can cause paint to have a crinkled surface.

Wrinkle Finish – Special effect achieved by applying a coat of lacquer over a coat of semi-dry enamel.

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Z

Zinc Borate – An ingredient in many fire-retardant plants.

Zinc Chromate – Zinc yellow. Its use in coatings has been heavily regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Zinc Dust – Ground zinc metal, gray in color, used in metal primers.

Zinc Oxide – A commonly used pigment which is capable of killing mildew.

Zinc Phosphate – A pigment used in corrosion-inhibitive coatings.

Zinc-Rich Primer – A type of metal primer which contains zinc dust and inhibits corrosion of the metal substrate.

Zinc Sulfide – A white pigment.

Zinc Yellow – Zinc chromate used in metal primers. It is yellow in color.