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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Thick-bed mortar - A layer of mortar more than 1/2-inch thick that is used to level an uneven surface for tiling.

Torchiere - A lamp designed to direct light upwards. Most of the light is thrown against the ceiling and reflected back.

Terra cotta tiles - Pavers that are available in a variety of earth tones.

Tone - A color to which gray has been added to change its value.

Thin set - A method of attaching tile to a substrate by means of a troweled-on adhesive.

Tarnish - Surface discoloration of a metal surface caused by a thin film of corrosion product.

Textured roller - A roller with a nap made from wire or plastic strands that leave a distinctive pattern in wet joint compound.

Thermoplastic - The property of softening when heated and hardening upon cooling, as contrasted to thermosetting.

Tannin - Water- or solvent-soluble colors/resins found in wood.

Tolerance - Variation from a specified limit.

Toluene - Sometimes called toluol. A solvent, like xylene, that softens glue enough so it can be scrubbed off with a coarse cloth or soft-bristle brush.

Track lighting - Lighting that utilizes a fixed band that supplies a current to movable light fixtures.

Titanium Dioxide - TiO2, A white pigment used in paints and enamels primarily to increase hiding power and give greatest brightness.

Top cap - A horizontal piece of lumber laid flat on top of the post and top rail, covering the end grain of the post and providing a flat surface wide enough to set objects on.

Tack rag - A piece of cheesecloth or other fabric treated with turpentine and varnish to create a sticky or tacky quality so the rag will pick up and hold all the dust that it touches.

Task lighting - Lighting that concentrates in specific areas for tasks such as preparing food, applying makeup, reading or doing crafts.

Texturing compounds - Substances that go into paints where a rough, grained or dimensional quality is desired.

Thermal expansion/contraction - The movement within a structure or wall in response to temperature changes.

Total run - The total horizontal distance the stairs cover from the face of the top riser to that of the bottom riser.

Total rise - The total vertical distance through which the stairs must cross, from finished floor to finished floor.

Transom - A window mounted above a door or another window. Transoms usually occur above head height.

Trellis - An open-framed garden structure on which plants and vines can grow.

Tertiary colors - A mix of a primary and secondary that produces a range of complex colors, such as blue-green, yellow-green and red-orange.

Tack - That property of cohesion between particles of a paint that can be described as the pulling power of the paint against the surface to which it is applied. Similar to stickiness or adhesion.

Tile nipper - Plier-type tool used to make irregular shaped cuts in tile.

Tempered hardboard - Solid or perforated hardboard panels impregnated with resin under high pressure to make them stronger and more resistant to moisture.

Timber - Lumber pieces, larger than a nominal 4x4, typically used as columns or beams.

Tile spacer - Anything used to create consistently sized grout joints.

Tempera paint - A mixture of pigments and a water-soluble glutinous emulsion binder, often made from an oil extracted from egg yolks.

Traditional style - A style of decoration or architecture that employs forms that have been repeated for generations without major changes.

Thin-set adhesive (mortar) - Any cement-based or organic adhesive applied in a thin layer (less than 1/2 inch) for setting tile.

Trash compactor - A mechanical device for squeezing trash into a compact bundle.

Tack free - That condition when a film of finishing material has reached the point that the surface can be touched lightly without a sensation of stickiness.

Transparent - A coating which light can penetrate; one which we look through and see the surface underneath.

Toner - An organic pigment which does not contain inorganic pigment or inorganic carrying base. It is usually a heavy metal salt of a water soluble dye.

Tooth - The coarse quality of a surface (or a coating on a surface) that improves the performance, appearance and longevity of paint.

Topcoat - Usually the final paint film applied to a surface.

Titanium white - The most common white pigment, titanium white is a brilliant white that is synthetically derived from the metal titanium.

Terebene dryer - A substance (prepared from oil of turpentine) that can be added to alkyd-based paints (most often house paints) to speed their drying.

Topping compound - A drying-type joint compound used for the middle (filler) and/or finish coats.

Toughness - The ability of a hard finish to resist bending, impacts, or distortion without cracking. The opposite of brittleness.

Translucent - A coating which admits some light; between opaque and transparent.

Tack cloth - A piece of cheese cloth or other lint-free cloth treated with turpentine and a small amount of varnish to produce a tacky surface that picks up and holds dust and lint.

Threshold - A wood or aluminum strip used on the bottom of doors to cover the gap between the sill and the floor; not often used on interior doors.

Touch up - Applying paint to small sections of a surface to obtain an even, unbroken coating film.

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