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.

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Galvanic action - An electrical process by which corrosive elements are leached from one metal substance and attracted to another.

Galvanic Anode - A metal which, when properly connected to metallic structures of different composition, will generate an electric current

Galvanic Corrosion - Corrosion associated with the current of a galvanic cell made up of dissimilar electrodes.

Galvanic Series - A list of metals arranged according to their relative corrosion potentials, in some specific environment.

Galvanized - Protected by a coating of zinc, either by immersion or electroplating.

Galvanized mesh - A material coated with zinc that is often used to make chain link.

Galvanizing - To coat a metal with a thin layer of zinc to prevent rust. Galvanized nails are ideal for installing skylights, windows and exterior doors because of their superior strengthand corrosion-resistance.

Gapped seam - A small space between adjacent strips of wallpaper. Causes include improperly prepared walls, excessive force during installation and improper factory trimming.

Garnet sandpaper - An orange-colored sandpaper that is popular for sanding wood by hand.

Gas Crazing - The fine checking, wrinkling or frosting, of a tung oil or varnish film under certain drying conditions. It is said to be caused by rapid absorption of oxygen on the surface or by the presence of impurities in the atmosphere. Also termed "gas checking"

Gate strike - A piece attached to either side of the fence and to either the post or the gate. It keeps the gate from swinging past its closure point and bending the hinges.

Gateleg table - A drop-leaf table supported by a gate-like leg that folds or swings out.

Gazebo - A freestanding structure intended to offer a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.

Gelled - A coating which has thickened to a jelly like consistency making it unusable.

General lighting - Lighting that provides overall brightness for an area.

Geometric patterns - Any pattern or design characterized by straight lines, triangles, circles, and so on.

Georgian - An architectural and decorative style popular in America during the late eighteenth century, with rooms characterized by the systematic use of paneling, other classically inspired woodwork and bold colors.

Ghosting - Non-uniform sheen of paint resulting in a shadowed effect. Usually caused by lack of a primer or sealer, or poor quality ones.

Gilsonite - An asphaltite, one of the purest natural bitumens. The specific gravity is 1.05 to 1.10. It is used in japan and other varnishes and for waterproofing.

Glass block - Building blocks made of translucent glass used for non-load-bearing walls to allow passage of light.

Glass cutter - Pencil-shaped metal tool, at one end of which is a wheel-shaped cutter used for scoring glass or glazed ceramic tile.

Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) - The temperature at which a material changes from a soft, rubbery state to a more brittle state.

Glaze - A paint or colorant mixed with a transparent medium and diluted with a thinner compatible with the medium.

Glazed tile - Ceramic or masonry tile with an impervious, glossy surface.

Glazier's points - Small wedges of metal most commonly used to hold a pane of glass in a window frame; also inserted between floorboards to silence squeaks.

Glazing - Glass or plastic, translucent or transparent, used in walls to permit vision and/or the passage of solar light and heat.

Glazing Compound - A putty used to set glass in window frames and to fill nail holes and cracks.

Gloss - A shiny finish that reflects the maximum amount of light.

Gloss Meter - A device for measuring degree of reflectance.

Gloss Retention - The ability of a coating to retain its original gloss.

Glossmeter - An instrument for measuring the luster or gloss of a finished surface.

Glossy finish - The appearance of sheen after a paint or finish dries.

Glycol Ether - A group of relatively slow evaporating, strong solvents commonly utilized in epoxy coatings.

Gothic revival - An architectural and decorative style popular in America during the mid-nineteenth century. It romanticized the design vocabulary of the medieval period, using elements such as pointed arches and trefoils (three-leaf motifs).

Gouache - Painting in opaque watercolour. The pigment have a gum binder, and the filler is invariably some form of opaque white (such as clay or barite) which gives a typical 'chalky' look even to dark hue.

Grain - The direction and arrangement of wood fibers in a piece of wood. Grain reflects the growth-ring pattern in the tree. The grain will look different in different woods and as a result of different sawing techniques.

Grain Raising - The objectionable roughness of wood caused by the application and absorption of stains or other materials. The roughness is due to the short broken fibers of wood which more or less stand up due to the swelling or raising action of the liquid coating.

Graining comb - A flexible steel or plastic device with random-sixed tines or teeth. It is dragged through wet glaze or paint to create striated or grained surfaces. A common hair comb makes a workable substitute.

Grape arbor - An arbor that provides gardening space for a crop of grapes, as well as shade and protection.

Gray silicone-carbide sandpaper - A sandpaper which contains zinc stearate, a soap-like lubricant, making it easier to sand finishes without using an additional lubricant.

Greek revival - An architectural and decorative style that drew inspiration from ancient Greek designs. Its dignified motifs, such as the Greek key and acanthus, and classical elements, such as pediments and columns, became popular in America as symbols that embodied the idea of democracy.

Green lumber - Often called garden-grade lumber because it is stacked outside in a lumberyard. Has a higher moisture content and is usually less expensive than kiln-dried or air-dried lumber. It is also easier to nail, but it will shrink as it dries, causing nails to loosen and gaps to appear between boards.

Grind - The dispersion of particles (usually pigments) in a coating. Usually measured in particle size.

Grit - A measure of the roughness of an abrasive paper. The lower the figure given for the grit size, the coarser the paper.

Grit Blasting - Abrasive blasting using grit as the blasting media.

Grit rating/Grit number - The coarseness or texture roughness of sandpaper. The higher the number, the finer the grit.

Groove - A channel cut into a piece of wood that runs with the grain.

Ground coating - An acrylic coating on the upper surface of the wallpaper substrate. The ground coating is usually an off-white or a colored surface.

Grout - The fine-particle cement filler in the seams between ceramic tiles. It is available either ready-mixed or as dry powder that is mixed with water, and comes in a wide range of colors to match or complement any tiles.

Gypsum - A mineral (calcium sulfate) that, after processing, forms the core of drywall panels.

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