AAA Painters
Glossary of Painting Terms
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AAA Painters
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The glossary of paint terms provides a quick reference to terms commonly used in painting applications.
LACQUER
Coating based on synthetic thermoplastic film-forming material that is dissolved in organic solvent. Dries by solvent evaporation.
LAITANCE
An accumulation of fine particles loosely bound to the surface of fresh concrete. It is caused by the upward movement of water. Must be removed from the surface to avoid loss of adhesion of a coating system.
LAP
Area where a coat of paint or other coating extends over an adjacent fresh coat. The painter’s objective is to make this juncture without visible lap marks.
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LAPPING
Color and sheen differences that occur when wet and dry layers overlap during spray, brush or roller application. Also known as "Lap Marks".
LATEX
A milky-white, fine dispersion of a solid resin in an aqueous medium. Also used to describe water-thinned paints, the principal vehicle of which is latex.
LATEX PAINT
Water-based paint made with a synthetic binder (latex), such as acrylic, vinyl acrylic, or styrene acrylic latex.
LAY-OFF
A process where a brush is used to smooth out paint that has been applied to a surface.
LEAD
A soft, malleable heavy metal. In the past, compounds of lead were used as a white pigment, and were used in primers to prevent tannin bleed-through.
LEVELING(or FLOW and LEVELING)
The ability of a coating to form a smooth film without brush marks.
LIGHT FASTNESS
The ability of a color or paint film to withstand exposure to sunlight without fading.
LIGHT REFLECTANCE VALUE (LRV)
The amount of light reflected from a painted surface.
LINSEED OIL
Drying oil obtained from flaxseed. It is darker and slower drying than most other drying oils. Once widely used in coatings, it now has limited use in oil-based house paint and oil wood finishes.
LIQUID SANDER, LIQUID SANDPAPER
Liquid chemical used to degloss a painted surface in order to improve adhesion of an applied coating.
LOW SHEEN FINISH
A paint that has a low luster appearance. Its gloss level is between eggshell and flat.
