This Is Why Your Paint Failed

We have been using paint since the cave man days. As time has passed the technology to paint and coat surfaces has continued to evolve. So what is paint made of? How does it work? Why does paint look a little funny when rolled onto a surface and has not dried yet? What is a paint and primer combo? If you do not understand these elements of paint it is not a question of if your paint will fail but when.

The Evolution Of Paint

We have come a long way from grinding unique and rare colored rocks into powder and transforming it into paint. Some dyes and colors even came from catching thousands of snails and letting them rot in the sun until they could turn it into a dye. By the 1800’s though paint technology reached a point where you could walk into a store and purchase paint at just about any color you wanted.

Paint is made of 3 components: Pigment, Resin, and Solvent

Pigment

The pigment is the color or dye of the paint. Different pigments are mixed into a base. Some pigments like a red will be made from synthetic materials while a white is made from titanium dioxide. If you read our blog on undertones you can understand that an off white with a blue undertone is simply a paint whose pigment is primarily titanium dioxide with small amounts of synthetic blue materials to slightly tint the paint. When paint is made at the lab it will be tested to make sure the color, gloss and hiding properties of the paint are up to the standard.

Resins

Resins are the binder that holds pigment particles together. This ensures the paint does not crack or flake and adheres properly to the surface it is being applied to. A resin can be an acrylic, alkyd, epoxy, urethane, polysilxane and each one of these has different purposes for the surface it is being applied to. A lower cost paint for example will be formulated with PVA (Poly Vinyl Acetate) as a binder which works fine for drywall but not for metal.

Solvent

The solvent is the carrier for the pigment and resin. The solvent is what keeps the paint wet and consistent in the can then dries and evaporates once applied to the wall. When you paint your walls with a roller you may have noticed before the paint dries completely it almost looks like it is separating or the coat was uneven. That is just the solvent evaporating so that all that is left is the protective adhesive resin and the consistent pigment on your wall. Solvents can be water based or oil based and the amount of solvent will determine how fast your paint dries. When you see a product that says quick dry it has a low amount of solvents which allows you to apply another coat usually within an hour.

Bonus: What is paint and primer?

People think that you need to have a primer in your paint so that it is a higher quality. People also think that if your paint has a primer in it you do not need to prime before hand. Is this true? Well what is primer? Primer is just paint with out the pigment. You apply a base coat of primer (binding resins and solvent) to the surface so that the coat of paint has something to apply to. So what is paint and primer? It is a paint with a lower amount of solvent and higher amount of pigment and resin. This gives the paint a thicker and more consistent finish. So what is added to make a paint and primer in one different than a paint? Nothing at all, it is just slightly less watered down. One painting company started marketing their product as a paint and primer in one and everybody liked it so much every other company does it now too. Basically all a paint and primer in one means is that it will be a thicker paint than a contractor paint. This does not mean you do not have to prime beforehand it also does not mean you will only need one coat. All a paint and primer in one product means is that the paint will be thicker and less watered down which definetly has it’s uses in certain cases and can mean you are over paying in other cases.

In Conclusion

Understanding the chemical components of paint is necessary knowledge to ensure adhesion, consistent color, proper finish and long lasting durability. It also will save you money by not having the wrong products applied to surfaces and having to a hire a second contractor to come to it properly. The Proud Paintbrush takes pride in the fact we have the knowledge and expertise to make sure your house is painted properly in an affordable way. Give us a call when your ready to step up the look of your house!