Paint Ideas · Glossary

Glossary

Not sure what a certain term means? Find it here in our glossary. Simply browse through or navigate by choosing a letter.

Browse Alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Acrylic - A water-based plastic polymer that acts as the binder in acrylic paints.

Abrasion - Wearing away of a surface in service by action such as rubbing, scraping or erosion.

Abrasion resistance - The ability of a material to withstand mechanical action such as rubbing, scraping, or erosion that tends to progressively remove material from the surface.

Abrasive - Any material used to wear away, smooth or polish a surface; for example, sandpaper that is used to smooth wood.

Absorption (light) - The light energy (wavelengths) not reflected by an object or substance. The color of a substance depends on the wavelength reflected.

Abuse-resistant drywall - A heavy-duty type of drywall, available in 1/2- and 5/8-inch thicknesses, that has heavier paper than regular panels and a reinforced core.

Accelerated weathering - Tests designed to simulate, but at the same time intensify and accelerate, the destructive action of natural outdoor weathering.

Accelerator - A substance used in small proportions to increase the speed of a chemical reaction. Accelerators are used in paint to hasten the curing of a coating system.

Accent - In a room scheme, a small area of intense color that contrasts, either in hue or tone, with the lighter or more muted prevailing colors. Often provided by accessories and trimmings, accents add detail and draw the eye to various elements.

Accent light - A type of light that highlights an area to emphasize that aspect of a room's character.

Accent lighting - A type of lighting that highlights an area or object to emphasize that aspect of a room's character.

Accessible designs - Those that accommodate persons with physical disabilities.

Acetate - The plastic sheet material often used for making stencils.

Agglomerate - Clumps of pigment crystals which have formed loose clusters containing entrapped air. Usually undesirable in paint, as they tend to settle out and have poor optical properties.

Apron - bathtub - The front extension of a bathtub that runs from the rim to floor.

Air-entrained (concrete) - Concrete that has been mixed with an admixture that causes tiny bubbles of air to be held in the mixture as the concrete sets. Air-entrained concrete is more workable and less vulnerable to frost.

Amine - Materials often used as curing agents for epoxy coatings.

Asphalt - A bituminous compound, dark brown or black in color, used in the manufacture of asphalt roofing shingles.

Arch bead - A plastic or metal strip designed to finish curved drywall seams in arched doorways or windows.

Asphaltic concrete - A mixture of liquid asphalt and aggregate used as a paving material.

Actual dimension - The exact measurements of a piece of lumber after it has been cut, surfaced and dried. Example: A 2x4 's actual dimensions are 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches.

Alkali - An aqueous liquid which has a pH value of between 7 and 14. A base or caustic material.

Actual dimension (lumber) - The exact cross-sectional measurements of a piece of lumber after it has been cut, surfaced and dried.

Acid demand - The amount of acid required by a body of water to raise the pH to neutral (7).

Absorption (light) - The light energy (wavelengths) not reflected by an object or substance. The color of a substance depends on the wavelength reflected.

Aliphatic - A class of organic solvents which are composed of open chains of carbon atoms, derived from paraffin base crude oil. Aliphatics are relatively weak solvents. Among the typical aliphatic hydrocarbons are gasoline, mineral spirits, naphtha and kerosene.

Arts and crafts movement - A decorative style that began in England during the late nineteenth century, where it was known as the Aesthetic Movement. Lead by William Morris, the movement rejected industrialization and encouraged fine craftsmanship and simplicity in design.

Active - A state in which a metal tends to corrode; opposite of passive.

Air chamber - A vertical, air-filled pipe that prevents water hammer by absorbing pressure when water is shut off at a faucet.

Alizarin crimson - One of the basic pigments, alizarin crimson is synthetically derived from coal tar and ranges from scarlet to maroon.

American single roll - An increasingly uncommon unit of wallpaper, usually containing between 34 to 36 square feet. These rolls vary from 20.5 to 36 inches in width and from 4 to 7 yards in length.

Air-dried wood - Lumber that is stacked with spacers to allow air to circulate and is usually marked indicating its maximum moisture content at the time it leaves the mill.

Adhesive mastic - A pastelike cement used for applying floor and wall tiles; a waterproof caulking compound used in roofing.

Alligation - Fine cracks resembling alligator skin that appear in a primer-sealer coat. Alligation can result when there is grease, dirt or wax buildup on a wall surface, when the temperature is low, or when the product is not thoroughly mixed.

Active solvent - A liquid which can dissolve a paint binder when used alone.

Anaerobic - An absence of unreacted or free oxygen.

Anode - The positive terminal of an electrical source. In a corrosion cell, the anode is the electrode that has the greater tendency to go into solution. The point at which corrosion occurs.

Alkyd paints - Paints with artificial resins (alkyds) forming their binder; often imprecisely called oil-based paints. Alkyds have replaced the linseed oil formerly used as a binder in oil-based paint.

Amide - A functional group which can act as an epoxy resin curing agent.

Achromatic - Lacking color, black, gray or white.

Amphoteric - Possessing both basic and acidic properties.

Arbor - Garden structure that can support plants and serves as a transition between sections of a yard or as an architectural feature that complements the landscape.

Adhesive aeration - A condition where the adhesive is filled with miniature air bubbles. Mixing or whipping the adhesive in too vigorous a manner is usually the cause. These bubbles can cause small blisters to form beneath the wallpaper, especially when installing nonbreatha

Anionic surfactant - One which has a negative charge and migrates toward the anode or positive pole while in solution.

Additive - A substance added in a small amount, usually to a fluid, for a special purpose - such as to reduce friction, corrosion, etc.

Anti-corrosive coating - A paint made with neutral or slightly alkaline pigments and a water resisting vehicle to be used as a primer on steel and other metals to prevent or retard corrosion.

Air cap (air nozzle) - The structure at the front of a spray nozzle which directs compressed air against the paint to form and shape an atomized cloud of droplets.

Adulteration - Any admixture of less value than the accepted standard, or the partial substitution of one substance for another without acknowledgment.

Aeration cell - An oxygen concentration cell; an electrolytic cell resulting from differences in dissolved oxygen at two points.

Apron tile - Trim or facing on the side or in front of a countertop edge.

Arc - Any portion of a circle, such as those found in an archway or curved wall.

Antioxidant - A material which, when added to a varnish or an oil, retards or prevents oxidation and drying.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) - A plastic formulation (typically black in color) used for some rigid pond shells, also for drainpipe in plumbing systems.

Apron - window - The piece of trim around the interior side of a window that sits below the window stool and supports it.

Alternating rolls - The technique of working with two separate rolls of wallpaper to minimize waste while installing a drop-match patterned design.

Antiquing - Any technique used to make a painted surface look old; usually refers to a thin glaze that is applied to a surface, allowing the undercoat to show through.

Architectural grade lumber - The best-looking and most expensive grade of lumber.

Angle of view - Angle between the axis of observation and perpendicular to the specimen surface.

Accordion folding - A folding technique used for a booked strip of wallpaper. The paper is folded back and forth to keep pasted sides together and allow relaxing or expanding time. This fold also makes long strips easier to manage during the installation.

Aging - Allowing to stand undisturbed for a period in order to develop certain characteristics. Some materials improve upon aging, others have a tendency to lose their value.

Allowance - wallpaper - The 2 to 3 inches of material for trimming included at the top or bottom of a strip of wallpaper.

Anchoring - Mechanical bonding of a coating to a rough surface, as contrasted with adhesion, which is chemical bonding.

Air entrapment - The inclusion of air bubbles in liquid paint or a paint film.

Alligatored finish - Any finished surface that shows numerous cracks caused by aging and drying.

Available lighting conditions - The ambient light in a room, including natural light and artificial light. Imperfections in the wall surface or wallpaper are more evident as the ambient light increases.

Ambient temperature - Room temperature or the existing temperature of the surroundings.

Artificial break - The point where the wallpaper or border ends against a decorative wood strip, spindle or other object. This lets the wallpaper or border end without an obvious mismatch.

Anhydrous - Containing no water.

Aggregates - Crushed stone, gravel or other material used with cement and water to form concrete.

Attic - The space between the rafters and the ceiling joists.

Adhesive volatility - The evaporation time associated with a particular adhesive. Volatility increases during the hot summer months, especially if you are working on new construction and there is no air conditioning.

Art nouveau - A late-nineteenth-century decorative style that was based on natural forms. It was the first style to reject historical references and create its own design vocabulary, which included stylized curved details.

Artist's acrylics - Paints that contain pigments suspended in acrylic resin, similar to latex paint but of much higher quality.

Analogous colors - Any three colors located next to one another on the color wheel.

Aqueous - Pertaining to water; an aqueous solution is a water solution.

Activator - The curing agent of a two compound coating system.

Aluminum - A lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal used for vertical and horizontal siding.

Atomize - To break a liquid into a mist or droplets. Spray guns atomize paint by forcing the paint through a small orifice under high pressure and through air stream interaction.

Air gap - The distance between the outlet of a faucet and the overflow level of the fixture.

Aniline dye - A synthetic tinting medium made from coal-tar products, which can be dissolved in water or alcohol and used to change the color of wood.

Acrylic varnish - A coating that contains the same medium used to make water-soluble paints and glazes.

Actual dimensions - masonry - The measured dimensions of a masonry unit.

Ambient lighting - General illumination that surrounds a room. There is no visible source of the light.

Angle of incidence - Angle between the axis of an impinging light beam and a line perpendicular to the specimen surface.

Aluminum oxide - A long-life grit for abrasive wheels and sandpapers.

Artist's oils - The tube or oil-stick paint associated with fine-art paintings. They consist of pigments suspended in linseed oil, and come in a wide range of saturated colors.

Adhesive viscosity - The internal friction of an adhesive that restricts its tendency to flow or spread. The viscosity controls the amount of adhesive you can spread at a given thickness. Adhesive viscosity also affects drying time.

Aluminum-oxide sandpaper - A tan-colored sandpaper that is commonly used on sanding belts and disks.

Apron - furniture - The board between the tops of a table's legs that supports the top or, in the case of a chair, the seat. Also called the "skirt."

Adhesive wrinkles - Wrinkles or ridges that occur immediately following the installation of wallpaper, caused by further expansion of the paper. Inadequate booking time is often a cause. Adhesive wrinkles normally dry out within 24 to 48 hours. Wrinkled wallpaper should generally be removed and reinstalled rather than fixed.

Actual length (rafters) - Length of a rafter after half the thickness of the ridgeboard has been subtracted.

Air barrier tape - A moisture-proof tape that covers the joint and sticks to the substrate. Duct tape or contractor's tape work well.

Air-dried lumber - Lumber that is dried by being exposed to air, rather than an oven or kiln.

Acrylic resin - An aqueous dispersion of acrylic resins, water-white in color, very transparent, and resistant to discoloration, moisture, alcohol acids, alkalis and mineral oils. Usually made by polymerization of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.

Awning window - A window with a single framed-glass panel. It is hinged at the top to swing out when it is open.

Art deco - A decorative style that was based on geometric forms. It was popular during the 1920s and 1930s.

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