Adhesion - How well dry paint stays attached to the surface. The three main

factors impacting adhesion are local weather conditions, paint chemistry, and

surface preparation.

Aeration - Bubbles that form in paints during preparation which can affect the

application.

Atomize - When a paint gun turns paint into particles or mist.

Bare Substrate - A surface without a coat of paint.

Base - The initial layer in a multiple-part paint application.

Blast Cleaning - Surface preparation of steel by use of compression-propelled

abrasive materials.

Bleeding - Discoloration in a new coat of paint when the old application shows

through.

Blending - Merging two colors together so the difference is indiscernible. Also

called feathering.

Blistering - Bubbles under the surface of a paint coat. This can occur when your

local painters dont pay attention to humidity conditions.

Blushing - A milky look caused by moisture mixing into drying paint. Also called

grinning through. We want dry conditions to avoid blushing.

Bridging - When the base does not fill in a flaw or a scratch. We hate this, so our

Newton homeowners can count on us to handle the light carpentry repairs that

prevent this phenomenon.

Brittle - A dry paint coat lacking flexibility.

Checking - Small cracks marring the paint's surface. Also called crows feet or

crazing. Caused by the natural aging of the wooden siding.

Chipping - Removing paint and particles with a sharpened instrument. A service

we perform for every homeowner.

Cissing - Retraction of paint into indents causes the surface to show through.

Cissing only occurs when the home's surface is contaminated, so we pressure

wash, sand, and prime every home we touch anywhere in our service area. 

Color Match - Two colors with no visible difference.

Crocodiling - When wide, crossing cracks form in paint layers. Caused mainly by

application mistakes, such as applying an oil-based paint over a water-based

primer or applying a topcoat before the undercoat is dry.

Curdling - Partial drying of paint.

Delamination - Peeling of paint. Also called flake-off.

Grinding - Removing flaws by way of mechanical sanding.

Hardness - A paint’s resistance to damage.

Hiding Power - A paint’s ability to cover the surface or layer of paint underneath.

Also called opacity.

Hold-Out - A paint’s ability to resist the next coat soaking into it.

Jelling - When the paint dries before an application.

Lap - A section where an application extends over another coat.

Lifting - When moisture reaches and swells an undercoat, wrinkling the topcoat.

Livering - Thickening of paint that indicates it is jelling.

Mudcracking - Cracks formed by paint shrinking when it dries. Caused when a

painter applies the paint too thick to hide imperfections rather than preparing

the surface properly.

Masking - Using tape and other coverings to prevent paint from applying to

certain areas.

Nap - Paint roller fibers.

Overspray - Sprayed paint that does not hit the surface.

Peeling - Curling and detaching of paint from loss of adhesion.

Recoat Time - Time necessary before a second application.

Runs - Thin, downward ribbons of paint. They are also called sags. This is caused

either when a painter thins the paint too much before application or applies the

paint too thickly. Choosing the highest quality paints, treating them right, and

applying them correctly is the key to great results!

Spot Priming - Applying primer to small areas where the surface has become

exposed.

Substrate - The surface to be painted.

Touch-Dry - The point where paint no longer feels tacky to the touch.

Water Spotting - Spots caused by a paint's reaction to water when drying. It can

be caused by improper power washing or attempting to paint when prevailing

weather conditions are too wet.

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