Painting is the easiest way to change the appearance of your home. Knowing the glossary of painting terms will help you hire the right Montclair Painting experts and have the best professional results in Montclair.
A–Z of painting terms
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is a water-based paint that’s water resistant.
Adhesion primer
A primer used on hard-to-paint surfaces such as tiles, laminates and glossy finishes.
Architrave
The moulding that goes around windows and doorways to cover the join between the frame and the wall finish.
Arcs
See Architrave
Caulking
Waterproofing the gaps around or between building materials using a flexible filler.
Ceiling white
A paint specifically designed for ceilings. A flat finish helps hide defects and it has a low spatter formula, so it’s less messy when painting overhead.
Cornice
A profiled plaster moulding placed at the junction between the wall and ceiling.
Cut in
Using a brush to paint around the edges of a surface that are too difficult to reach with a roller.
Bagging
A rough sand and cement finish applied to brick or blockwork.
Binder
An oil-based undercoat used to bind powdery or chalky paint.
Blistering
When bubbles form on a finished paint job. Caused by moisture or other contamination of the surface that paint is applied to. It can also be caused by painting over a previous coat before it has dried thoroughly.
Blocking
Occurs when 2 painted surfaces, such as a door and jamb, come together and stick. More likely to occur when using acrylic paints rather than enamel.
Brush
Brushes come in different sizes and bristle types to suit various tasks. A good quality brush will give you a better finish and be less likely to lose bristles, which will spoil the job.
Brush marks
These are visible lines or ridges left by the bristles of a brush in a dried paint job.
Bulkhead
A box type structure built to hide wiring, pipes and other fittings or to fill the space between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling.
Design paint
Paint with surface effects that go beyond simply adding colour. Suited to feature walls or design elements.
Dipping
A method of painting where an object is dipped in paint rather than having paint applied to it with a brush or roller.
Drop sheet
The cover placed over a surface to prevent paint drops or spatter from landing on it.
Drying time
The time it takes for paint to dry. Touch dry is when paint is dry to touch, while re-coat time is when paint has hardened sufficiently to be painted over.
Enamel paint
A paint type that produces a smooth and hard finish. Typically used on trim and woodwork such as windows and doors.
Epoxy enamel
A paint for metal surfaces that does not require a primer. It protects against rust and has a very durable finish.
Etch primer
A primer for very smooth metal that etches the surface while coating it, providing good adhesion for top coats.
Extension pole
The telescopic pole that a roller fits onto for painting ceilings and walls.
Exterior paint
Specially formulated UV and weather-resistant paints. Exterior acrylics are self-priming for most colours.
Fading
The loss of colour from paint due to exposure to the sun or weathering.
Feathering
Going over the wet edge of paint that has just been applied so it will blend with the following paint.
Filler
Material used to fill cracks, holes or gaps prior to painting.
Flaking
Where paint peels off a surface, usually after blistering or cracking.
Gloss
The level of shine on a paint. Different gloss levels are matt, low-sheen, satin, semi-gloss and high gloss.
High gloss
The shiniest of gloss levels. Hard-wearing and easy to keep clean.
Hue
A different word for colour.
Intercoat
Any paint coat between a primer and the top coat.
Jamb
The frame in which a door sits and which it is attached to.
Kickboard
The recessed panel that sits beneath base cabinets.
Lacquer
A clear, durable finish that’s generally applied to wood.
Lap
The amount a freshly applied coat of paint overlaps, and blends with, paint that has been previously applied.
Laying off
Going over freshly applied paint with a brush or roller so it has a uniform appearance. Always lay off a surface in the same direction.
Lead-based paint
Older paints contain high concentrations of lead, which can be a health hazard if ingested. Working with lead paints requires special precautions.
Load
To fill a roller or brush with paint.
Low sheen
A gloss level of paint. Usually used on walls.
Marbling
A painting technique that simulates the look of marble.
Marine finish
A hard-wearing finish that will endure water and salt attack.
Masking
Covering areas that are not to be painted. Usually achieved using masking tape and paper.
Matt
A gloss level. The least reflective of paint finishes.
Moulding
A profiled feature used to hide a gap or provide decoration. Skirtings and architraves are examples of mouldings.
Nap
The length of fibers on a paint roller. Short nap rollers are best for gloss finishes; medium nap for low sheen and mat paints; and long nap for rough or textured surfaces.
Neutral color
A color that is not bright or strong but may have undertones of other colors. Examples of neutral colors are white, beige and grey.
Oil-based paint
Paint that contains pigments suspended in a drying oil. Mineral turpentine is the solvent for oil-based paints.
Opacity
The covering power of a paint. A paint with high opacity will need less coats to cover over another darker color.
Over-spray
Sprayed paint that has missed the intended surface.
Paint pads
An alternative paint applicator to brushes and rollers on smooth surfaces. Available in a range of sizes, some also come with guiding wheels for getting a smooth line when cutting in.
Picture framing
When the brushed areas around the edges of a wall are darker than the rest of the wall that has been rolled, resembling the frame of a picture. To prevent this, cut in first and work in smaller sections to try to maintain a wet edge.
Pigment
The solid materials added to paint that give it its color.
Preparation
The essential work done to a surface to make it ready for painting. Thorough preparation is vital for a good-looking and long-lasting paint job.
Primary colors
Red, yellow and blue. These colors can be mixed together to create all other colors.
Primer
The first coat of a paint job. It protects the surface it’s applied to and provides a good bond for further coats.
Primer-sealer
A paint that combines the properties of a primer and a sealer.
Tacky
Not quite dry; still a bit sticky.
Tertiary colours
Colours produced by mixing a secondary colour with one of the primary colours used to make it.
Thinner
A liquid used to make paint runnier and easier to apply, usually its solvent.
Tint
The material added to a base paint to achieve the final colour. Paint colours are produced using varying quantities of a number of tints.
Tone
A variation of a colour produced by mixing grey with the original colour.
Top coat
The final coat of a paint job.
Touch-up
Applying small amounts of paint to fix defects or damage to a finished paint job.
Turpentine (mineral)
A solvent for oil-based paints.
Turps
See Turpentine
Re-coat time
The time it takes for a coat of paint to harden sufficiently so that it can be painted over.
Render
A smooth sand and cement coating applied to brickwork or other surface.
Roller
Rollers are available in different widths, nap lengths and materials, to suit different types of paint and the surface being painted.
Runs
Streaks in a finished paint job caused by applying the paint too thickly.
Sag
See Runs
Sanding
Smoothing a rough surface prior to painting and between coats to ensure a smooth top coat. Also done to roughen a smooth or glossy surface so following coats will stick to it.
Satin
A gloss level similar to semi-gloss. More recently used to describe the gloss level on clear finishes.
Sealer
A paint applied to porous surfaces to seal them and provide a stable base for following coats. Also used to prevent stains on a surface, such as water or mold stains, from bleeding through the final coats.
Secondary colors
Colors created by mixing two primary colors. They are purple, green and orange.
Semi-gloss
A gloss level between low sheen and high gloss.
Spatter
Small droplets of paint thrown off by a paint roller as the paint is applied.
Spraying
Applying paint by spraying it onto a surface.
Solvent
The substance used to dissolve and clean up paint. The solvent for acrylic paint is water and for oil-based paints is mineral turpentine.
Stain
A product that changes the color of wood without hiding the grain or texture. Needs to be followed with a protective coating, usually varnish.
Stripping
Removing old paint layers in preparation for new paint.
Undercoat
A coat of paint applied after a primer but before the top coat.
Undertone
A subdued color that can be seen through another main color.
Varnish
A clear finish that dries to a hard, durable finish.
Washability
The ability of a paint to be cleaned and still keep its appearance.
Water-based paint
Acrylic paint that can be cleaned up with and diluted using water.
Whitewash
A paint made from lime and chalk commonly used on exterior masonry surfaces.
Yellowing
When a paint or varnish goes yellow over time. Occurs with oil-based finishes.
Familiarizing yourself with this glossary of painting terms may help you communicate a little better with your Montclair Painting contractor. If you are looking for a qualified painting contractor to assist you with your painting project, contact Montclair Painters in your area.