Manufacturing of paint: Paints and Paint Products

Paint manufacture Prior to this century whitewash or lime were the most common wall treatments. Both are still available today, and lime wash, in particular, is well worth experimenting with. It has a lovely soft, chalky finish and also has the huge advantage that it allows water to evaporate through it, making it ideal for old houses where it is vital that the walls breathe.

Nowadays most people use emulsion paints for their walls. These come in various types. The best known is vinyl matt, but there are others which have either been designed for a specific area, such as kitchens and bathrooms, or to produce a particular finish, such as vinyl silk or soft sheen

There are literally thousands of colors available, ranging from very brash, bright modern shades to more subtle, historic tones. Use paint charts to see how different colors work together. It is also possible to create your own colors by tinting emulsion with poster colors, artists' gouache, acrylics, powder pigments or universal stainers.

For other areas of the house, such as woodwork, oil-based paints should be used. Among these the best known is gloss, which produces a highly shiny finish. For a more muted satin sheen, there is eggshell (suitable for walls as well as woodwork), and finally flat or matt oil. All of these require an oil-based undercoat. To achieve a rich, high-gloss lacquer enamel is ideal. It can be used on metal or wood, although is much more expensive and rich than ordinary gloss, so is best reserved for small areas. Textured paints are useful for areas which are rough or uneven. They are very thick and can be difficult to remove when a change of decoration is required.

Glazes and washes add an extra dimension to a wall or woodwork, giving the color a richness, luminosity and depth not found in a simple flat paint. They can also be used to mimic wood, stone and marble. Three basic types of varnishes are available - gloss, mid-sheen and matt. All are made from polyurethane, and all produce the same transparent effect. A wash consists of nothing more than a thinned water-based paint, while a glaze is basically a thinned oil-based paint, which can be produced at home or bought ready-made.

There are many unusual or specialist paint finishes available. Among these are wood washes, primers specifically designed to- cover ceramic tiles or melamine, acrylic paints, and paints with unusual finishes, such as suede paint and pearlescent paint. Traditionally people mixed their own glaze, but it is now available pre-prepared. An oil-based glaze is the best method of achieving broken paint effects such as ragging, dragging and stippling to name but a few. The newer water-based glazes are easier to apply, but will never achieve the same opaque effect as oil-based glazes.

Last, but not least, don't forget about using stencils and stamps to create pattern on a surface. These can be used in any room in the house, and can be used to create both modern and traditional style interiors. Again, specially formulated products give the amateur decorator the ability to produce professional results.

To paint, you should know how to choose a paint brush and how to use paint pads. That will help you save paint and time.