RAVEN DECOR'S GLOSSARY OF PAINTING AND DECORATING TEMS
There's a whole string of words and phrasing in the Painting & Deccorating world that probably means absolutely nothing to you. Here you can view a useful description on the meaning of each term:
Abrading (abrasion)
To wear away by rubbing
Acrylic
A term describing water based decorating materials
Acrylic Filler
A water based gap and surface fillers that remain highly flexible when cured to allow movement. Particularly useful for ceiling cracks and junctions between plaster and wood
Adehere
To stick
Adhesive
Glue
Ageing
Giving something an aged appearance - various techniques can be used, such as staining and denting. Also referred to as Antiquing or Distressing
Alkaline
Having a pH greater than 7 (an acid has a pH less than 7)
Alkyd
An oil based paint made from synthetic resin instead of natural oils
Anaglypta
Originally a trade name but now used generically to describe wallpaper with an embossed surface pattern
Antiquing
see Ageing
Architrave
A decorative moulding, usually made from timber, that is fitted around door and window frames to hide the gap between the frame and the wall
Arcing
Creating an arc or a seciton of a circle
Atomised
When a liquid is broken up into tiny droplets like a mist
Banding
Where brickwork has sections in slightly different shades
Barrier cream
A cream used to protect the skin from damage or infection
Bitumen
A heavy, semi-solid, brown-black substance also known as asphalt or tar
Bleed through
A painting fault resulting from a wood knot, solvent or other contaminate under paint showing stains in the paint
Blocking
A technique of applying a design to a wall, floor, or other area. Uses a cut-out, shaped object, the surface of which is dipped in paint and then applied to that area
Brushing out
Spreading paint or other liquid finishes to give even coverage
Colourwashing
A traditional paint technique where paint is diluted and used to create a semitransparent rather than an opaque finish
Combing
A paint effect using a decorators comb is dragged across a glaze to produce a series of lines
Cut in
To paint the edges of a wall or ceiling to complete the coverage of the surface. Especially applies where a paint roller or pad is used which cannot reach into the corners
Distemper
A traditional unstable wall 'paint' comprising water, pigment and glue. Now largely replaced by emulsion paints, old distemper normally needs to be removed or sealed before redecoration
Distressing
see Ageing
Dragging
A paint effect using a flogger (a long-haired paintbrush) is dragged across a glaze to create a series of random fine lines
Eggshell
An oil or water based paint with a semi-gloss finish
Emulsion
A water based paint normally used to paint large areas such as walls and ceilings
Flexible filler
A filler that is able to accommodate minor movements in wood or plaster surfaces without cracking and is suitable for repairs which will be covered by paint
Flogger
A long haired paintbrush used to create a Dragged paint effect
Friable
A friable surface is one which crumbles away easily when you rub your hand over it
Frieze
A narrow band of decoration along a wall. Frieze papers are available or it can be stencilled etc.
Gloss (paint)
A hardwearing, high sheen paint, mainly used as a top coat on woodwork
Graining
A paint effect giving a realistic hardwood appearance to softwood
Grinning
A painting fault where paint has been applied too thinly over darker surfaces, the surface below may show or grin through
Grout
A paste filler used to fill the gaps between tiles and mosaics. Can be waterproof
Inset tile
A tile of a different design or colour from the surrounding tiles
Knotting
A shellac based solution used to seal knots in wood before priming
Laying off
The final, light brush strokes, normally all in the same direction, in painting to produce a smooth surface
Liming
A technique for staining softwood a whitish colour using a liming wax
Lining Paper
A wallpaper used to cover poor surfaces prior to applying paint or wallpaper - when being covered with wallpaper, the lining paper is normally put on at rightangles to the final paper
Low-tac
A term used to describe types of masking tape that have a low level of adhesion so that they can be removed without damaging the surface
Make good
To prepare a surface for decorating by filling in holes, smoothing etc. It is often said "90% of the time to make good, 10% for the actual decorating"
Marbling
A paint effect used to create the impression of a marble surface
Nibbler
A hand tool used to cut away small portions of ceramic tiles in order to cut them to shape or size - they resemble a pair of pliers with a 'nibbling' tooth
Non-drip (paint)
A Thixotropic paint which has gel like consistency and so tends not to run or drip
Notched spreader
A tool with a notched edge used to spread tile adhesive over a wall prior to positioning tiles. Different shape and sizes of notches are used for different type of tiles and/or location
Oil (paint)
Paint based on an oil solvent, such as linseed and tung. The final surface is hard wearing but the paint gives off strong fumes and brushes etc can only be cleaned using white spirit
Permeable
Allowing things to pass through
Primary colour
One of three 'pure' colours - red, blue, and yellow - all other colours are just a mixture of these three
Primer (Paint)
A paint used to seal and stabilise a surface before further coats are applied - often with very little colour content to hide the underlying surface. Different types are necessary for different surfaces (I.e. wood, steel, non-ferrous metals etc) to provide good adhesion. Combined 'Primer and Undercoat' for wood is available
PVA
Polyvinyl acetate - the basis of various types of adhesives, paints etc. Often used diluted as a stabilising solution on powdery surfaces
PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride (a tough plastic)
Rag rolling
A paint effect that is similar to ragging except that the rag is made into a sausage-like shape and then rolled down a glaze or emulsion to produce a directional pattern
Ragging
A paint effect achieved with a crumpled rag that is used to create a pattern on emulsion or a glaze - alternatively, the rag may be dipped in the paint and then applied to a surface
Saponification
A Chemical reaction that makes soap and so foams up as a result
Size
Thinned adhesive applied to walls to seal the surface before hanging wallpaper
Soaking time
The time which wallpaper is left after pasting before hanging, this allows the paste to soak in and prevent the formation of bubbles - it varies between papers and is normally specified on the label
Solvent
A chemical used as the base of certain decorating materials. The solvent evaporates (releasing fumes) for the material to 'go off' - good ventilation is normally required
Sponging
A paint effect achieved by using a natural sponge to produce an impression in a glaze or emulsion - alternatively, the sponge may be dipped in the paint and then applied to the surface
Stabiliser
A liquid which is applied to flaking or dusty surfaces to bind the surface in preparation for subsequent decoration
Stencilling
A decorative effect achieved by applying paint on to the cut-out areas of a paper, cardboard or acetate template to produce the design on a surface
Stippling
Applying paint or other finishes by using just the extreme tips of bristles of a brush
Stripper (paint)
A solution (liquid or paste) used to chemically remove old layers of paint from a surface
Stripper (wallpaper)
A piece of equipment which produces steam through a flat plate held against the wallpaper thus releasing the adhesive so that the wallpaper can be easily scrapped off
Thixotropic
A term used to describe materials that have a gel-like consistency until stirred so tend not to run or drip
Tile gauge
A piece of wood marked with the tile-width measurements along it and used to mark off the positions that tiles will occupy on a wall
Top Coat (Paint)
The final coat of paint which is laid off, or subjected to a paint effect technique, to give the final finish
Undercoat (Paint)
The paint applied after the primer to mask the underlying material and to provide a key for the top coat - often now replaced by a combined 'Primer and Undercoat' for wooden surfaces
Varnish
A resinous or water-based solution that seals and protects surfaces
Verdigris
The greenish coloured coating on copper, bronze, or brass that forms naturally with age as a result of atmospheric corrosion
Vinyl (Wallpaper)
A wallpaper with a front surface of vinyl - usually water resistant
Vinyl Paint
An emulsion paint with good wearing and cleaning properties - available in a number of finishes such as Silk (semi-gloss) and Matt
Wet-and-dry paper
A waterproof abrasive paper made with silicon-carbide particles glued to backing, used wet to give a very smooth finish
Woodstain
A wood finish which is absorbed into the outer surface to provide colour and protection