Painting Fundamentals
This lesson introduces the language, materials and basic workflow used in residential, commercial and other construction painting projects.
What construction painters do
Construction painters protect and finish building surfaces. Work may include walls, ceilings, trim, doors, siding, masonry, concrete, structural steel and other approved substrates. The coating system should be selected for the surface and its expected exposure—not just for color.
Common terms
- Substrate: the material receiving the coating, such as drywall, wood, masonry or metal.
- Primer: a preparatory coating used to promote adhesion, seal or condition a surface, or address a specific substrate condition.
- Coverage rate: the area a stated volume of coating is expected to cover under specified conditions.
- Wet-film thickness (WFT): coating thickness measured before the film dries.
- Dry-film thickness (DFT): thickness remaining after the coating cures or dries as specified.
- Recoat time: the minimum or specified time before another coat may be applied under stated conditions.
- Sheen: the way a finish reflects light, often described as flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or gloss.
Basic project sequence
- Review drawings, scope, specifications and product data.
- Protect occupants, adjacent finishes, equipment and landscaping.
- Inspect the substrate and identify moisture, corrosion, cracks or loose material.
- Prepare and repair the surface using an approved method.
- Apply the specified primer where required.
- Apply finish coats within the manufacturer’s environmental and recoat limits.
- Inspect appearance, coverage, adhesion where specified, cleanliness and completed details.
- Document products, batch information, conditions, repairs and closeout items.
Tools and equipment
Common tools include brushes, rollers, extension poles, trays, masking materials, scrapers, sanding equipment, caulking tools, spray equipment, wet-film gauges, moisture meters and suitable access equipment. The correct selection depends on the coating, surface, job specification and safety assessment.
Student practice
- Identify five different substrates in a building.
- Explain the difference between primer and finish coat.
- Find the coverage rate and recoat time on a coating technical data sheet.
- Describe why a painter should inspect before preparing or coating a surface.
