Types of Paint Tips
Read these 10 Types of Paint Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Interior Painting tips and hundreds of other topics.
Polyester Epoxy
Polyester-Epoxy are two-component materials that are usually mixed prior to application. Polyester-epoxy combines the physical toughness, adhesion and chemical resistance of an epoxy with the color retention and permanent clarity of polyester. The film is stain resistant and moisture resistant.
Polyester-epoxy is available in gloss and semi-gloss sheens, and can be applied to any firm interior surface. Pot life is a full working day.
Varnish
Varnish consists of a solution of resins in a drying oil. Varnish contains little or no pigment. It dries and hardens by evaporation of the volatile solvents, oxidation of the oil, or both.
Varnish is recommended for both outdoor and indoor applications where a hard, glossy finish that is impervious to moisture is desired. For a satin finish, the gloss varnish surface can be rubbed down with steel wool, or a "satin" varnish can be used. As a floor finish, varnish provides a hard, durable film that will not greatly alter the tone of the wood.
Enamel
Enamel is a varnish with pigments added. Enamel has the same basic durability and toughness of a good varnish. It produces an easy-to-clean surface, and in the proper formulation, can be used for interior and exterior applications. For the highest quality interior work, an undercoat is required.
Acrylic Urethane Coatings
Acrylic-Urethane Coatings are recommended for areas that demand superior chemical and stain resistance, plus color and gloss retention. They are suitable for both interior and exterior application on properly primed steel, aluminum and masonry, which are subjected to high acids and alkalinity.
These products are designed to be used in commercial and industrial applications but not in homes.
Acrylic-urethane coatings have high performance properties including excellent resistance to salt, steam, grease, oils, many coolants, solvents and general maintenance type machinery fluids. They also have excellent film properties and resistance to scratching, marring and chipping. The tile-like gloss and semi-gloss finishes provide superior corrosion and abrasion resistance, while maintaining excellent gloss and color retention on exterior exposures for long periods of time.
The color and gloss retention, and chemical resistance of acrylic-urethane coatings will exceed those of conventional high performance coatings. They also dry to the touch faster than any other heavy duty topcoat in the trade sales line.
Urethane-Modified Alkyds
Urethane-Modified Alkyds are one-component finishing material for outstanding abrasion resistance on wood floors, furniture, paneling, cabinets, etc. Good resistance to normal household materials such as alcohol, water, grease, etc. It may yellow to some degree with age.
Acrylic Epoxy
Acrylic-Epoxy are two-component coatings developed by Pittsburgh Paints(tm), which include Pitt-Glaze Water Base Coatings. Chemically, acrylic-epoxy coatings provide the resistance to staining, yellowing and scuffing of acrylic resins, combined with the toughness, acid and alkali resistance of epoxies. Their performance characteristics are almost equal to those of polyester-epoxy solvent based products and their stain-resistance is superior.
Acrylic-epoxy coatings are available in gloss and semi-gloss finishes - in both clear and pigmented formulations. Colorant can be added to the pigmented products to achieve hundreds of colors.
Though priced higher than conventional enamels, acrylic-epoxy coatings offer superior washability, non-yellowing characteristics, and generally 3-5 times longer life, which makes them an outstanding value for interior walls continuously subjected to hard-use conditions.
Shellac
Shellac is a long-standing favorite for finishing wood floors, trim and furniture. Shellac is thinned with alcohol, and should be applied in dry warm air to avoid clouding. It dries dust-free in 15-20 minutes.
Shellac can be used as a pre-staining wash coat, to obtain an even stain tone on porous or soft wood such as pine. It can also be used to change the tone of an already shellacked surface, by tinting it with alcohol-soluble aniline dye.
Instead of re-staining, pigmented shellac, also called shellac enamel, is often used as a sealant over stained finishes for a uniform, freshly painted surface
Is It Latex Or Oil?
Here's an easy way to check if the surface you are about to repaint is a latex or an oil based paint. Carefully cut a quarter-size chunk off in an inconspicuous place, like in a closet. If the chip of paint is brittle and it cracks, it's an oil base, if it's rubbery and it bends, it's a latex.
Aluminum Paint
An all-purpose aluminum paint formulated with varnish as the vehicle for aluminum flake pigment. As the paint dries, the aluminum flakes float to the surface, providing a reflective coating. Highly resistant to weathering. Also suitable for interior use on wood, metal or masonry.
When formulated with an asphalt base, aluminum paint offers maximum adhesion and water resistance at low cost when applied to asphalt composition.
Polyamide Epoxies
Polyamide-Epoxy is a tough, two-component finish with outstanding hardness, abrasion resistance, alkali and acid resistance, and adhesion when dry. Excellent as a concrete floor finish where heavy traffic wears through an alkyd finish in a short time.
For exterior applications, polyamide-epoxy will chalk and lose gloss on prolonged exposure; however, film integrity is not lost.
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