BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT PAINTS Paints, clear finishes and other coatings are applied on a surface to impart a thin layer of adhesive film for its protection, to give it color, seal its imperfections, smoothen its uneven areas, etc. Painting is done with brushes, rollers and spray guns. Some paints also come in aerosol spray cans for ready application. " Paint is composed of: ‘a, Pigment - the coloring element which may be opaque, white or colored; and b. Vehicle - the oils or resins that hold the pigment in suspension. Before the surface is painted or coated, it must be thoroughly cleaned, allowed to dry or cured. ‘Then, itis given a coat of primer, sealer, conditioner, o any curing agent appropriate for the surface to be painted. The sealer, primer or undercoating should be compatible or suited to the topcoat finish to be appl DESCRIPTION OF PAINTS AND COMPANION PRODUCTS Cil-base Paints - those paints where oil is used as the vehicle. They are slow drying and exude their particular odors during and even after the painting work is already finished. Paints under this group are thinned with turpentine and mineral spits. Alkyd Paints - resin is the vehicle used in paints under this group. They dry faster, give tough protective ‘covering and can be applied easily. The painted surface is easily cleaned by washing and almost odorless. Emutsion Paints - under this group, the elements present in the paint are emulsified in water instead of thinners. Emulsion paints can be used over damp areas, are easily applied and adhere satisfactorily on chalking surfaces. They are almost without ador, dry early and sometimes, one coat of the paint is enough. An example of emulsion paint is the latex paint where water is used as the thinner, Catalyzed coatings - paints which contain epoxy and polyurethane that set by chemical action and not thru the evaporation of solvents and thinners, These paints produce the toughest and most durable finishes. Enamel Paints - formulated by grinding or mixing of pigments with varnishes or lacquers which can ‘withstand weather and tear. Enamels are available for both interior and exterior applications giving gloss, semi-gloss or flat or eggshell finishes, Thinners - solvents added to paint where necessary, to make the pigment and vehicle attain the proper ‘spreading consistency and desired drying time, or when a thin coat of paint is desired. They are also used for cleaning the equipment and tools employed in painting and for removing spatters of paint on affected areas. Primer - the first coat of paint applied over the surface. it seals the pores of the material, thereby preventing uneven absorption of the topcoat paint. The primer coat also ensures better adhesion of the topcoat to the painted area. In addition, metal primers inhibit rustESTIMATING PAINTS Paints and other surface coatings are estimated using the formula: (Surface Area) x (No.of Coats) : (Gurtace Area) x (ie oreo) ntty of P coverageot Pala ‘Quantity of Paint Required ‘The surface area to be painted is computed from the measurements or scaled distances shown ‘on the project drawings. The calculations should be in square meters and the areas of openings such as windows, fixed glass panels, etc.; and those where the coating is of a different material, should be deducted from the gross surface area Generally, the number of coats required consists of one primer coat and one or two topcoats for previously unpainted surfaces. For repainting works, the number would depend upon the condition of the surface and the old coat of paint, among others. The coverage is the area which a given quantity of paint, usually 4 liters, can cover per coat applied. It is expressed as the number of square meters per 4 liters. The spreading rate is ordinarily indicated on paint containers but if the same is not shown, the information can be obtained from the manufacturer of the paint specified forthe job. The coverage of various kinds of paints Is among the information included in the brief specifications of paints and others coatings found on pages J.7 to J.10. It is noted that two values are given and these can be interpreted to mean that the lower coverage is used when estimating the Materials for rough surfaces or thick paint fim applied, while the higher spreading rate is employed in calculating for smooth surface materials of thin application of the paint. One can also opt to use the average of the two values for general estimating work When the coverage used in the formula is in number of square meters per Iter of paint, the result obtained is the quantity of paint required in liters, or the number of cans each containing 1 liter of paint ‘When itis in number of square meters per 4 liters, the enswer is the quantity of paint needed in 4 liters, or the number of cans each containing 4 Iters, Primer and topcoat paints are sold in 16-Iter, 4-Iter and the smaller ‘-liter cans. To avoid, confusion and to make it easy to convert the total quantity of paint required to its equivalent number of either 16-lter, 4liter, titer cans, or any combination thereof, itis desirable that the calculations should give the total quantity required in iters. To achieve this, the coverage given in square meters per 4 liters Should be converted to its equivalent spreading rate per iter by dividing both the given area and the {quantity of paint by 4. For example, coverage of 40 square meters per 4 ters of paint is converted thus: 40% ™ . 40 square meters per tliter coverage ters Primers and topcoat paints are usually ordered in 16viter and 4ter tin cans, while tinting colors ‘are generally purchased in ‘-liter and 1/4-Iter containers, When the computed quantily of primer and topcoat paints is considerable, it should be translated into 16-iter cans‘Sample Problem J-1 ‘The computed areas and the number of coats and coverage of paint to be used for @ painting job are as follows: ‘Area of masonry surfaces ; 750 Square meters Primer coat to be used 1 coat with coverage of 30 Sq. m. per 4 liters Topcoal tobe used: 1 Coat with coverage of 40 Sq. m. per 4 liters: ‘Area of wood surfaces : 900 Square meters Primer coat to be used 1 coat with coverage of 25 Sq. m. per 4 liters Topcoat to be used 1. coat with coverage of 35 Sq. m. per 4 liters From the data given above, estimate the quantity of primer and topcoat paints required, Solution - Paints required for masonry surfaces: ‘a. Converting the coverage of primer coat to ts equivalent rate per iter: 30(Sq.m) Coverage = 22'S4-™ _ 7.5 square meters per it e004 citers) SE ae 750 Primer required = 2°° = 100 ters required = = b. Converting the coverage of topcoat paint to its equivalent rate per liter overage = “0.8. Coverage = ites) 10 square meters per liter TopcoatPairtreauies= 752 7st Paints rogue for wood suc 25 (a.m) “a iters) Coverage = 25 square meters per liter 900 i yuired = 200-144 Primer Paint required = => = 144 ters b. Converting the coverage of topcoat paint to its equivalent rate per liter: Coverage = 35(S9-) 9.75 square meters per iter ‘ie ropcoteoed= 8.1028 2015 es ‘The next step is to determine how many cans each of 16 liters and/or 4 Iters would give the equivalent quantities of the computed paints required. by type of coating and kind of surface to be painled. The calculations that follow illustrate the procedures