Painting is normally required for three surfaces. They are walls, metals and wooden surfaces.

Wall surfaces chip & crack, metals rust & corrode and wooden surfaces get warped & scratched.
Painting of these surfaces' is necessary to increase the beauty, strength and longevity. Different
paints have' speCific .properties which prevent or delay the decay of these surfaces. These paints
form a protective layer on the surface of the materiaL For interiors, most people want good paint
finish, so manufacturers categorise paints according to the degree of paint shine. Paints without
shine are called flat or matt paints and paints with shine are called low-lustre, eggshell, silk or satin
and gloss or high gloss finish.
1. INGREDIENTS OF PAINT
Paint is a mixture of four important ingredients. They are pigments, additives, binders and solvents.
Pigments render colour and opacity to the paint. Additives give the paint special properties such as
resistance to rust and fungus. Binders hold the paint together and bind it to the surface for
durability. Solvents enable brushing or rolling of paint on a surface. .
2. TYPES OF PAINTS
Depending on the solvent used, paints can be broadly classified into two categories. They are
A. Water-based paints B. Oil-based paints
A. Water-based paints
In water~based paints, the contents are mixed with clean water only:Some of the water-based
paints are discussed below.

(a) Lime wash - Lime wash or colour w~h is based on lime, i,inorganic alkali fast pigments and
few other additives. White wash is a lime wash without pigment. The ingredients of lime wash are
suspended in water prior to application. Glue, casein, salt, alum, drying oil and tallow are often
used to increase the longevity of lime wash. It is applied (or interior and exterior surfaces of the
building. ..

(b) Distemper - Distemper is superior to limewash and available in a wide range of colours. It's
available in the form of dry powder and paste.. Depending upon the binding material:/it may be
washable or non-washable. It is economical even in new buildings which are not fully dried out. It
is economically priced and durable. It is available as oil-,bolind and acrylic. Acrylic distemper is
much better than oil-bound distemper in finish and durability. Non-washable distemper should
always be removed before painting. Washable distemper can be painted with a similar distemper
after dusting down. Oil-bound distemper is more expensive than non-washable distemper, but it
provides washable paint film cover which can' be repainted. It may be applied by brush or spray
gun. Distemper is widely used in the interiors. .

(c) Emulsion paints - Emulsion paint is used as a decorative finish. There are three major types of
emulsion paints. They are polyvinyl acetate, styr and acrylic resin. Acrylic emulsions are also
known as plastic paints. They have good adhesive properties, washable and easy to maintain.
Premium emulsions are based on pure acrylic latex and high opacity~ pigments. Emulsion paint is
thinned with water, easy to apply and dries rapidly within two hours. It has no odour and it is a
good alkali resistant. It is durable and washable. It is available with matte and gloss finishes.
Emulsion paint should not be applied over distemper or colour wash. It may be applied over
oil-bound distemper or oil-paint. Two coats of emulsion paint is necessary for longevity. These two
coats should be applied on the same day: It may be applied by brush or spray gun. Emulsion paints
are frequently used in interiors. '

(d) Silicate paints - Silicate paint consists of a thin paste suspension Of alkali resistant inorganic pigments
and extenders. It is not damaged by alkali in cement. It is also porous to allow moisture to escape. It may
be directly applied on brick, plaster and concrete surfaces after wetting. No primer coat is necessary. Two
to three coats are normally applied. The painting tools should be cleaned with water immediately after use.
Painting should be avoided in hot weather. Silicate paints are mostly applied in the interiors.

(e) Cement paint - Cement paint consists of white cement, alkali fast pigment. accelerator and other
additives. It is available as dry powder in several shades. It is economical, water-resistant and durable even
on damp surfaces. Cement paint should not be used on smooth surfaces" gypsum plaster or lime wash. It is
mQfe Qurable on rough surfaces. Cement paint surfaces can be repainted with any non~oil based paint. It
is the most widely used external paint for buildings.
B. Oil-based paints
Unlike water':based paints, solvent-based paints need to be mixed with a solvent like turpentine or any
thinner which is a petroleum by-product. The purpose of these solvents is to make the~application of
coating easy. These Plants are tough, durable and stain-r~sistant. They can withstand frequent cleaning
without losing its shine. These paints can be used on all cement plastered surfaces, metals and wood. It
forms a non-porous film, which ensures stain resistance;of the ,surface. We shall discuss below some of
the oil-based paints.

(a) Chlorinated Rubber paints - It can be applied without a primer. It is water and algae resistant. It is also
highly resistant to acids, alkalis and fire. It is non-toxic, easy to apply and dries rapidly. It is applied to
clean rust-free metal, wood, concrete, asbestos, brickwork and insulation boards. It is used in laboratories,
factories, swimming pools etc.' ,

(b) Oil-paints - There are many varieties of oil-paints. Oil-paints provide an impervious layer to water.
Oil paint should always be protected by one or two coats of alkali resistant primer. Oil paint should not be
applied during damp and humid weather conditions. Repainting on these surfaces should be done with oil
paint only. Synthetic enamel paints are the best for painting wooden and metal surfaces. For the wooden
surfaces, the choice is between synthetic enamel with an opaque finish or transparent finish to show the
natural beauty of the wood grain. They are tough, durable and glossy in finish. They protect metals from
corrosion. Synthetic enamels come in three categories of grade I, II and III.
3. THE PAINTING PROCESS
The painting process varies depending upon the type Of paint to be used and the surface. to be painted.
Most of the paint catalogues give the instructions for painting. However basic steps in painting are:

● When painting an interior wall for the first time, allow a period of at least 6 months after applying a
coat of lime wash for thorough drying of cement plaster. Then remove loose particles or flakes and
make the surface free of dust, dirt,grease etc., by using sand paper.
● If the existing wall is to be repainted, the previous coating of lime wash or distemper should be scraped
off. In the case of an oil based paint remove the shine by sand paper. For wooden surfaces, the dust
 should be cleaned and made smooth by sandpaper. The metal surfaces should be dry and free from
rust, grease, oil etc:, before painting.
● The first primer coat should be applied to provide adhesion between the paint film and the surface. It
smoothens the surface to make it less absorbent and also increases the spreading capacity of the paint.
Different primers are available for cement plastered surfaces, wood and metals.
● Then the putty is applied to fill minor cracks and surface imperfections. Major cracks and dents must
be repaired with cement mortar or plaster of paris (POP). The drying time for putty is 5 to 6 hours.
● Then the second primer coat is applied to sandwich putty between two primer coats becausepai~ting()n
putty leads to a patchy look.
● Finally, two coats should be applied to get the desired finish and colour. Each coat should be totally dry
before the next one is applied. Drying time for different paints depends upon their composition.
Normally for internal walls, distemper and emulsion paints are used; for external walls, cement and
textured paints are used; for metals,synthetic enamel paints are used; for wooden surfaces, synthetic
enamels, melamine and polyurethane finishes are used.

4. COMMON PAINTING DEFECTS AND REMEDIES

Some common painting defects and remedies are discussed below:
● Cracking or chipping - It may be due to excessive use of a putty~thick coat of paint or defective
surface. As a remedy, use the paint and putty in the required quantities..
● Efflorescence - It may be.due to the presence of saLts in the building materials like b*ks and cement
mortar. As a remedy, give a time gap of6 months including one monsoon between plastering and
painting of the surface. Try to use porous paints only.
● Blistering- It may be due to the trapping of air, moisture or solvents between the paint film and the
surface. As a remedy, allow the surface to be totally dry before painting and avoid painting under
sunlight.
● Flaking - It may be due to improper application of primer coat over putty or shrinkage or expansion
of the surface. As a remedy, do not leave gaps in the covering putty with a primer coat and also see
that the surface is clean and dry.
● Patchy finish "-It may be due to high paint absorbent nature .{)fthe surface. As a remedy, apply an
extra coat of primer.
● Poor drying - It may be due to the humidity, poor air circulation, low-temperature or alkalinity of the
surface. As. a remedy, try to reduce the impact of weather conditions as far as possible by cleaning
the Surface with white spirit, then wash with soap and water.
● Poor shine - It may be due to the poor surface preparation or pre$ence of l or thinning of paint. As a
remedy; clean the surface thoroughly before painting as per the instructions of the manufacturer.
● Discolouration - It may be due to the exposure to sunlight or chemicals. As a remedy, use light-fast
colours with chemical resistant finish or suitable primer.