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When the average consumer thinks of a 'coating', they likely
think of paint; especially when it comes to buildings and structures. But the
world of architectural coatings is much larger than just that off-white hue
you're painting on your kitchen wall.
(Credit: HGTV -->)
Coatings are any substances designed to provide a decorative
or protective layer to a surface. They can be used to enhance or change the
properties of a material, provide protection, or change appearance.
Most architectural coatings are composed of three parts: body,
binder (resin), and vehicle (solvent). The body is the solid-base portion of
the coating and determines the film's hardness and abrasion resistance. The
binder or resin is the film-forming component which affects properties like
gloss potential, durability, flexibility, and toughness. The vehicle or solvent
is the liquid portion that carries the body and binder, and adjusts its
viscosity and application characteristics.
I imagine if you went to a store clerk in an appliance or
home improvement store and asked for their selection of 'architectural coatings',
you'd get a pretty amusing look or response. But that's because these products
are identified primarily by their application. Paints, varnishes, sealers,
lacquers, stains, and primers are all different, and serve different surfaces
and functions.
In other words, the main question to ask yourself is: what
surface am I coating and why am I coating it?
Nothing beats a good
varnish on wood to both protect it and preserve its natural beauty. (Credit:
GHARexpert.com)
To address the first part of the question, coating products
will often be particularly designed for application to specific materials
(asphalt, glass, wood, concrete, etc.) or for applying to certain surfaces
(walls, floors, roofs, foundations, etc.). Cross-linking, evaporation,
coalescence, and fusion bonding are the processes that describe how a coating
adheres to a particular surface.
As for the second part of the question, coating products are
typically designed to serve one or more specific functions. Functions include aesthetics,
corrosion resistance, weather resistance, ESD control, heat resistance,
abrasion protection, and waterproofing.
Even after defining the application, the number of coating
types and individual chemistries can be overwhelming. That's where GlobalSpec's
Architectural
Coatings Selection Guide comes in. It discusses the most important factors
involved in architectural coating selection, including an overview of different
performance specifications and descriptions of product types and categories.
(Credit: Stately Kitsch)
Hopefully this type of overview can help
greenhorns and veterans alike, whether you're ordering materials for a large
construction project, sealing your back deck, or yes, just painting you kitchen
sand dollar white. Or oxford white. Or baby's breath white. Or ventian… well, one
of the other 151+ shades of white
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Re: Architectural Coatings - Beyond Painting
