PAINTING

This is the application to surfaces of pigmented liquids or semi-liquids

which subsequently harden to protect surfaces from rain, sunlight,
abrasion, chemicals, fumes etc. they may be required for hygiene to reflect
light, provide colour or define areas visually.
The life of paint is deemed to end when it fades, becomes dirty chipped or
scratched.

COMPOSITION OF PAINTS H/W

Number of Coats
The durability of an external film is usually directly related to its thickness.
Externally being at least 0.125mm, and a normal paint coat is usually 0.05
mm. internally, more coats may be preferred to provide acceptable opacity
and a superior finish. Minimum number of coats may be 4 externally and 3
internally for new work. Old painted surface requires 2 internally and 1 coat
internally.

The Paint System

Ordinary paint systems comprise; primer, undercoat and finishing coats,
each of which performs specific function. All costs must be compatible with
each other and with the back ground.
Primer
The primer must adhere to the surfaces and suitable premiers are used to
seal porous surfaces which would cause loss of gloss in the finish and to
equalize sunction on surfaces. Various primer minimize bleeding e.g.
bitumen, staining by resin or sap stained timber and attack by alkalis in the
background.

Undercoats
The first undercoat is applied as soon as the primer is hard. Undercoats
must provide obliteration and adhere well to the primer and to each other.
They should provide a good base so that the finish coat will not ‘sink’ and
loose it s gloss. Flatting of undercoats is necessary to obtain a first class
finish.
The colour of the undercoat should be near to but lighter than the finishing
coat.

Finishing Coats
They form the final protection and determine colour and texture. Surfaces
can be described as full gloss, semi gloss, eggshell, flat or matt in order of
smoothness.

COMPOSITION OF PAINTS
All paints contain a ‘binder’, pigments, strainers, extenders, driers, catalysts
(hardness) thinners or solvents and gelling agents. Some water –thinned
paints include emulsifiers.

Binders
A binding material is the dry paint film and gives good penetration into the
surface and adhesion. e.g. glue, natural drying oils, bitumen, cement etc.

Pigments
A colouring matter provided in the form of a fine powder and gives the paint
‘body’ impact colour to paints and inhibits and increase durability.

Driers and catalysts

They help to sped in oxidation of the medium and easy drying. They are
mainly used on paints which contain drying oils.

Extenders
These are finely ground minerals e.g. china clay, mica etc.They have little or
no opacity when mixed with oil but give body, help to keep pigments in
suspension, harden the film and reduce its cost.
Solvents and thinners
Solvents are generally added during manufacture and thinners sometimes
added later to adjust viscosity of paint. They evaporate during drying and
excessive thinning reduces gloss and density of the paint film.
Cement paint, emulsion paint, distempers are thinned with water.
Other Ingredients
Flatting agents – Sometimes added to reduce the gloss of a dried paint film.

Gelling agents
These are ingredients which give ‘false body’ to gloss, semi-gloss and
emulsion paints. They do not settle in the can and do not require stirring up
before use. More paint is carried by the brush than the ordinary paints.
Emulsifiers – they are included in washable distemper emulsion paints and
bituminous emulsions.

PAINTING WALLS
Walls are painted to provide colour or surface texture, to waterproof them, to
reflect or absorb light, for hygiene and to facilitate cleaning. A coat of
emulsion paint can act as a temporally decoration until the walls dry out
completely. Surfaces to be painted must be smooth and not powdery or
crumby. Low temperatures, high humidity and lack of ventilation may retard
the paint drying.
Matt finishes minimizes reflection of light sources and surface irregularities.
They are however less resist and to wear, more difficult to clear and absorb
more condensation than glossy surfaces. Glossy finishes provide better
washability and exterior durability.
Special paints for specific purposes are available. E.g. Fire retardant paints
to reduce fire risks, heat resistant paints and quick drying paints for use
where quick drying is essential.
PAINTING WOODWORK
New wood requires a 4 coat system with a potential life of at least 5 years. A
water-repellant preservative treatment in conjunction with 3 coats is
recommended. The preparatory treatment includes knotting, priming and
stopping.
Before applying undercoat the primer should be checked and if thin, a
further coat of primer applied undercoat should be of the same brand as
finishing coat.
The moisture content of joinery at the time of painting should not exceed
18% for exterior work and 125 for interior work.
Knotting
To prevent resin staining and discolouring of finishes, all knots should be
sealed and alluminium sealer or shellac applied in 2 coats.
Priming
Application of a primary coat is required to be brushed in one coat to all
surfaces. Backs of members in contact with damp walls should receive two
coats of alluminium wood primer.

Stopping
All cracks, nail holes should be stopped with appropriate hard stoppings.
e.g. putty or polyfillen and finished smooth with a paint knife.

PAINTING METAL WORK

Metals in building work are painted for protection against corrosion and for
decoration. Sites subject to industrial chemicals need special attention. All
metal surfaces must be free of mill scale, rust oil, grease, dirt and moisture
before paint is applied.
The paint system consists of primer, undercoat and finishing coat. The best
primers consists pigments which chemically inhibit the corrosion of iron and
steel. E.g. of such pigments are lead, zinc chromate, zinc phosphate and
calcium plumbate.
The undercoat and finishing coat provide additional film thickness, water
resistant and decorative.
Bituminous paint is often used on cast iron goods and offer protection
against water, salt and some chemicals.

FAILURE IN PAINT WORK

 Crazing – Unhardened undercoat before finishing coat is applied.
 Chalking – Destruction of oil paint by chemical or physical changes.
 Blistering and peeling - painting on base with high moisture content,
inadequate preparation or subject to excessive heat.
 Wrinkling – Too thick a paint film.
 Discolouration – absence of knotting or painting over bitmen
 Blooming – delayed or defective drying
 Saporification – Alkali attack on paint converting oil into soap.
APPLICATION OF PAINT
Generally, painting should not proceed in wet damp, on foggy weather, on
surfaces below 40C, in direct sunlight or in dusty conditions. Each coat
should be thoroughly dry before the next coat is applied.
On site application may be dry brush, hand roller or spray. In the factory
dipping, flow coating or roller coating methods are applicable.

Brush
The brushes should be vigorous manipulated to displace air and traces of
dust and moisture from the surface and gives the best adhesion. Skill is
necessary to avoid brush marks.

Rollers
The rollers hold more paint and requires less frequent recharging, although
a brush is needed to finish a lime and to paint into internal angles.

Spray
Spraying equipment using electrostatic method directs and confines spray to
the surface being painted. Areas not to be sprayed must be masked.
A method used in applying quick drying paints e.g. cellulose. Spraying is
generally economical on large areas and health hazard paints e.g. Lead paint
must not be sprayed.

Dipping
Used on components which allow for adequate drainage, but the requisite
close control of paint and process is not possible on building site.

Flow coating
The paint is hosed onto the article.

Roller Coating
By use of machines on one or both sides of boards and often continuous
lengths of metal sheets.
 TYPES OF PAINTS
Oil paints
These are based on natural drying oils usually thinned with spirit. they have
low flow properties and gloss. The oil dries by absorption of oxygen causing
polymerization. It is liable to saporification by alkalis especially in Portland
cement.
High gloss paints
These are ‘synthetic paints’ composed of drying oils and natural or synthetic
resins. It has a marked improvement in gloss and is more durable. They are
however also affected by alkalis present in Portland cement.
Oil modified alkyd Paints
These are durable paints of high gloss.
The resin used is built-in by reacting complex acid with complex alcohol in
presence of drying oils.
Synthetic resin paints
These are paints with substantial proportion of synthetic resins e.g.
polyurethane and epoxides.
Polythene paints
These types of paints have better resistance to water alkali, wear, and other
chemicals.
They also have better resistance to weather but do not adhere well to all
surfaces.
Epoxy resin paints
These paints have good resistance to water, alkalis, abrasion fatty acids and
solvents.
They can be supplied in single pack or two pack application.
Two pack epoxides have high cohesive strength and is not suitable on
plastered surfaces.
Suitable areas for use include floors, laboratory furniture and machines.

Cellulose nitrate paints (Lacquers)

They are based on cellulose nitrate compounds. They contain suitable
solvents alkyd resins for hardness and body. They dry by evaporation of
solvents without changing chemically. It dries very quickly and therefore
best applied by spraying.
The paint has good fire spread qualities and should be confined to metallic
finishes or where surfaces are not prone to fire.
Chlorinated Rubber Paints
They require special primes and under coats to resist softening by solvents
in the following coat. They dry by solvent evaporation and offer resistance to
alkalis, sea water, white spirit and sulphur dioxide. They are used in
chemical factories, laboratories; gas works swimming pools and marine
conditions.
They can be applied by brush, roller o spray. The range of colours is
however restricted by chemical resistance requirement.
Bituminous paints
They are made of bitumen, asphaltum, pitch or resin and with heat-treated
oils and solvents occasionally. They are mainly used to protect steel work.
They adhere well, are flexible and resist moisture and chemicals but are
affected by hot sunlight.
They contain strong solvents and should both be applied over other paints
which contain oil. These paints are black or dark in colour but alluminium
can be added to reflect heat and reduce degradation by light.

WATER-THINNED PAINTS
These paints are generally less durable but easier to apply than other
paints. They are generally permeable to moisture and can be applied to
surfaces which are not perfectly dry. They can be applied as primer,
undercoat and finishing coats.
Paints thinned with water may include;

i. Lime wash
The common type is slaked lime and has very little binding power and can
be brushed off with hand. It is mainly for external use although it chalks
rapidly with weathering.
ii. Non washable distemper
This is chalk powder mixed with animal glue in hot water. It is easily rubbed
off and suitable mainly on ceiling.
It however gives flatten matt surface and can easily be washed off. a little
whiting paint is applied to surfaces to equalize sunction before application.
It should not be used as an undercoat.
iii. Washable distemper
Also known as oil-bound water paint. Consists of an emulsified drying or
casein, with pigments and extenders.
It has a matt finish; it is cheaper than most emulsion paints. Hardening
takes place slowly and surfaces should not be washed for at least a month.

Emulsion paints
These are paints bound with emulsions of viny acrylic and provide matt
sheen, luster or gloss surfaces. Generally they can serve as primer,
undercoats and finishing coats and can be used as undercoats for gloss
paints.
Emulsion paints are tough, elastic and are resistant to wear and weather.
Cement paints
Composed of Portland cement with or without pigments, water repellants,
plasticizers and fillers. It has a coarse texture where brush marks are visible
and has limited colour range due to need for alkali resistant pigments.
They are suitable on porous concrete, masonry and rendering s, but not to
timber, metal or gypsum plaster.
Synthetic resin/aggregate paints
Made of water emulsified synthetic resin binders and aggregates e.g. granite
& mica which add to durability. Suitable on clean firm and dry cement
backgrounds. The paints are normally water repellent but not water proof. A
bituminous base coat may be required where rain-proof finish is required.
Surface finishes range from matt applied by brush, spray or roller to
textured and stippled.
Special paints
Special purpose paints are produced after consultation with the
manufacturer.
The paints include, low order paints, quick drying paints, paints for storing,
water chemical resistant paints, fire retardant paints heat resistant paints,
permeable paints, floor paints, multi colour paints, texture paints, stone
paint, anti condensation paints, metallic paints, luminous paints etc.