Walls and Window Teatments

WALLS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS 3(1+2)

Lesson 4 : Wall Treatment And Finishes

Types Of Paints

Choosing paints for interiors depends first of all on the particular spaces to be painted verandah, kitchen, living room, lobby etc. Each requires its own painting requirements, and a range of paints and ancillaries to choose from. There are four categories of interior paint - Dry Distemper, Acrylic Distemper, Matt Emulsion and Silk Emulsion in ascending order of price and quality. Choosing is a question of economics, a matter of budget, materials, labour and time relative to the finish you want.

1. Distempers

The traditional economy paints, they can produce a perfectly satisfactory finish at reasonable cost, given proper application and workmanship. Their lifecycle is shorter. Dry Distempers (which come in powder form) and Oil Bound / Synthetic Distempers are not washable. Acrylic Distempers, being partly based on acrylic resins, produce greater smoothness and washability. Properly maintained, they keep their good looks for 3 to 4 years.

2. Emulsions

Known generally as "plastic" paints, these are based on a fine dispersion of resin in a solvent, which on drying, creates a remarkably tough, adherent, durable coating. Special additives in emulsions give them an incomparably smooth finish, in beautiful shades that last for years. Resistant to water and chemicals, washing makes them smile again. Other special properties keep them free from fungus and algae. They come in three categories:

1. Silk Emulsions are premium acrylic emulsions, with silky smoothness and a luxurious silk-like finish. Their very high acrylic resin content enhances durability, and creates reflectance and smoothness of such a high order that dust cannot settle on it. A ‘silk’ wall looks fresh long years later.
2. Regular Emulsions produce a smooth eggshell finish, in an equally wide choice of colours, and have almost the same durability as Silk. Combining Silk and Regular judiciously could give your painting project just the right balance between great looks and a long-cycle economy.
3. Economy Emulsions offer the basic strengths of emulsion paint at economy prices. They are still a generation ahead of Distempers on durability, washability, fade-resistance and smoothness.


3. Enamel

Solvent based Enamel paints and oil paints are lustrous. They cannot be pre-mixed with water. Oil based paints take a longer time to dry and often produce strong odors which are irritating and sometimes even toxic in nature. The advantage with these paints is that they really last long and produce rich and desiring effects on the wall.

4. Functional paints

Functional paints are not just decorative paints, they have specific functions like anti-condensation or mold and mildew resistant paints for eliminating insects, bacteria, fungus or dust mites. Functional paints have an in-built, safe and non-toxic mechanism to humans but fatal to insects, fungus, bacteria or dust mites. These types of paint are generally used in kitchens, baths, basements and any other area that may be damp. While this type of house paint cannot completely prevent condensation, mold or mildew, it can greatly lessen their effects.

Another specialty paint is heat resistant or fire-retardant house paint. While these paints cannot completely prevent fire, they do withstand much higher temperatures and slow the spread of fire. They are often used for painting radiators and fireplace surround

Wood Paints: These are varieties of paints influenced by types of sealers and fillers. These are special substances applied to new surfaces as a base coat ensuring a more professional finish.

• Satin: It is a glossy ingredient penetrates wood pores and contains various colorants that can enhance natural color or give a different color to wood. Stains should be tested in an inconspicuous area first, because different woods react differently to the same color stain. A varnish is generally required over the stain to steal it.

• Varnish : It is made from natural resins from alcohol or a drying oil or a volatile thinner and dryers. A varnish is usually a transparent coating and is commonly used on wood to protect the surface and allow the natural grain to show through. Some varnishes have a colorant added to darken the wood, but the result is usually less satisfactory than staining before applying clear varnish. Varnish comes in high gloss or matte finishes.

• Shellac: It’s a protective coating similar to varnish. It is made of a resinous substance called lac, which is deposited on trees in India and Asia. Its solvent is alcohol. Shellac dries more quickly than varnish but is less durable and is subject to water spots. Clear shellac doesn’t discolor when applied to a light colored surface.

• Lacquer: It’s a superior quick drying varnish like finish made from resin from Asiatic sumac or from a synthetic nitro cellulous resin. The finish ranges from matte to high gloss and comes in white, black, brown or beige. Commercially made furniture may be finished with lacquer.