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

B

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.

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.

D

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.

E

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.

F

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.

G

Gloss

The level of shine on a paint. Different gloss levels are matt, low-sheen, satin, semi-gloss and high gloss.

H

High gloss

The shiniest of gloss levels. Hard-wearing and easy to keep clean.

Hue

A different word for colour.

I

Intercoat

Any paint coat between a primer and the top coat.

J

Jamb

The frame in which a door sits and which it is attached to.

K

Kickboard

The recessed panel that sits beneath base cabinets.

L

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.

M

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.

N

Nap

The length of fibres on a paint roller. Short nap rollers are best for gloss finishes; medium nap for low sheen and matt paints; and long nap for rough or textured surfaces.

Neutral colour

A colour that is not bright or strong but may have undertones of other colours. Examples of neutral colours are white, beige and grey.

O

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 colour.

Overspray

Sprayed paint that has missed the intended surface.

P

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 colour.

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 colours

Red, yellow and blue. These colours can be mixed together to create all other colours.

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.

R

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.

S

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 mould stains, from bleeding through the final coats.

Secondary colours

Colours created by mixing two primary colours. 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 colour 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.

T

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

U

Undercoat

A coat of paint applied after a primer but before the top coat.

Undertone

A subdued colour that can be seen through another main colour.

V

Varnish

A clear finish that dries to a hard, durable finish.

W

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.

Y

Yellowing

When a paint or varnish goes yellow over time. Occurs with oil-based finishes.

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