Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?

A: In general, you can expect a gallon of paint to cover about 400 square feet. However, if you are painting unpainted or highly textured surfaces your coverage may be closer to 350 square feet per gallon.

Q: How can I tell if paint is latex or oil base?

A: The easiest way to find out is to place a little nail polish remover on a small cotton swab and rub the surface in an inconspicuous place. If paint comes off its latex, if it doesnt its an oil base.

Q: What is the difference between flat, satin and semi-gloss paint?

A: Flat paint has no visible sheen to it and is not washable. Satin paint has a smooth, velvety shine to it and is more washable than flat paint. Semi-gloss paint has the highest sheen and reflects the most light of any paint finish. It is a great choice for kitchens and baths as the finish can stand up to water and frequent cleaning better than other finishes.

Q: Can paint be applied directly over semi-gloss or gloss?

A: No, the surface must be cleaned of any gunk and lightly sanded in order to remove any shine for the paint to adhere correctly.

Q: Can you use latex paint over an oil base?

A: Yes, if the oil base is flat, the latex paint will adhere. But, if the oil base has a sheen you will need to lightly sand and prime the surface so the new paint will adhere correctly.

Q: Can you apply oil base paint over latex?

A: Yes, both interior and exterior surfaces can be painted with an oil base provided the area is clean and dry before you apply the paint.

Q: Whats better for painting exterior surfaces oil base or latex paint?

A: Latex paints are typically less expensive, tend to flex with heat and cold fluctuations, retain their color longer and don't crack as much so many people prefer them for exterior work.

Q: Do I always have to use a primer on a previously painted surface?

A: No, not always. If you are putting latex over an existing latex coat or an oil over and oil base coat, just make sure you remove any grease stains or other impurities and lightly sand the surface. You only need a primer when using latex over oil or vice versa and  when no primer has ever been applied.

Q. Does latex paint pose a threat to those who suffer from latex allergies?

A: No, both the American Coatings Association (ACA) and the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) have released statements which categorically state that latex paint does not pose a threat. Click on the links to read their statements: ACA, NPCA.

Q. How can a homeowner determine whether his or her house contains lead-based paint?

A: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency have published brochures to educate consumers about old lead paint. The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) has combined these brochures into one easy-to-use publication, Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home and Keep It Clean: An Insiders Guide to Lead-Safe Painting and Home Improvement, in both English and Spanish. To download this brochure click HERE.

Q. What is paint made of?

A: Paint is composed of a pigment, a binder and a carrier. The pigment gives it color; the binder or resin makes the pigment stick to the painted surface where it forms solid layer; and the carrier or solvent keeps the paint in liquid form and evaporates once the paint is applied to a surface.

Q. What are coatings?

A: A coating is a material applied onto or impregnated into a substance for protective, decorative, or functional purposes. Such materials include, but are not limited to, paints, varnishes, sealers, and stains.

Q. Why are coatings used?

A: They are used to primarily protect a surface from the environment and to improve the appeal of an asset such as a home or automobile. For example,  an automobile is painted for both visual appeal and to prevent rusting.

Q. What types of companies are included in the U.S. paint and coatings industry?

A: The American Coatings Association (ACA) says the U.S. paint and coatings industry consists of approximately 800 companies. These include manufacturers of architectural coatings (i.e., house paint) and a diverse collection of other coatings, comprised of industrial coatings that include product coatings applied as part of the original manufacturing process, and special purpose coatings for ships, offshore oil and gas rigs, and highway and traffic markings. Suppliers and distributors of the raw materials that go into paint and coatings production are also part of the industry.

Q. Can you tell me more about architectural coatings?

A: The ACA defines architectural coatings as paints and coatings applied on-site to new and existing residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. Some architectural coatings include:

• Exterior waterborne (latex) paint
• Interior waterborne (latex) paint
• Exterior solvent-borne (oil) paint
• Interior solvent-borne (oil) paint
• Architectural lacquers
• Do-it-yourself wood and furniture finishes

Architectural coatings reach consumers, contractors, builders and the government via retail or wholesale distribution channels and outlets. Most architectural coatings today are water-based. Water-based paints first became popular in the 1950s. They were non-flammable and easy to clean off brushes, rollers and the painters themselves especially compared to organic solvent-based (oil) paints.

But cleaner air emerged as a more compelling reason to use water-based paint in the environmentally conscious 1970s. As paint dries, the liquid portion evaporates. If the liquid is an organic solvent, the result is the emission of volatile organic compounds, which react with sunlight to form smog. Increasingly stringent clean-air regulations have resulted in improvements in water-borne technology and ever-increasing use of water as the liquid medium in paints and coatings. This development, plus ease of clean-up, accounts for the popularity of water-based coatings in the consumer market.

Q. What are industrial coatings?

A: The ACA defines industrial coatings as coatings that are factory-applied to manufactured goods as part of the production process. They are also known as OEM coatings (for Original Equipment Manufacture). Industrial coatings decorate and protect virtually all of our manufactured goods. Some OEM coatings include:

• Automotive finish Truck and bus finishes
• Other transportation finishes (aircraft, railroad, etc.)
• Wood furniture and fixture finishes
• Metal decorating finishes (can, container coatings)
• Wood composition board flat-stock finishes
• Paper and paperboard coatings (not ink)
• Appliance finishes
• Sheet, strip and coil coatings on metals
• Machinery and equipment finishes
• Electrical insulating varnishes
• Metal furniture and fixtures finishes
• Magnet wire coatings

A good example of OEM coatings is the U.S. auto, truck and bus industry. Without that low-cost protection of paints and coatings, a car body would rust after less than one winters driving in most parts of the country.

Industrial coatings also provide sealants against leaching in food and beverage cans. Nearly 100 billion beverage cans are shipped each year in the United States and every one of them requires a coating inside, to form a barrier to prevent the contents from reacting with the cans metal.

Q. Can you tell me more about special purpose coatings?

A: The ACA defines special purpose coatings to  include marine paints, high performance maintenance coatings, automotive refinish paints, traffic and highway markings, and aerosol (spray) paints. Coatings in this category are used, primarily, where durability is a key objective. Some special purpose coatings include:

• Industrial maintenance paints (interior, exterior)
• Aerosol (spray) paints
• Marine coatings (off-shore structures, marine refinishing coatings)
• Roof coatings
• Metallic paints (aluminum, zinc bronze, etc.)
• Multi-color paints
• Automobile refinishing coatings
• Traffic paints

Marine Coatings: The marine coatings market consists mainly of coatings used to protect new and existing commercial ships; offshore oil and gas rigs and equipment; and pleasure craft.

High Performance Maintenance Coatings: High performance maintenance coatings are formulated to meet performance requirements in specific environments. These coatings are used in a range of industries to combat, largely, the corrosion of exposed steel found in structures, tanks, pipes, industrial equipment and tank linings. Some of the largest consumers of high performance maintenance coatings include: on-shore oil and gas exploration; production and transmission operations; petrochemical plants and refineries; public utilities; and food and beverage processing plants.

Highway and Traffic Markings: Roughly 90 percent of these paints and coatings used for roadways and are purchased by state highway departments and city and county road authorities; the remaining 10 percent are for parking areas and airports. Traffic paints are specially formulated to dry quickly, in order to reduce roadway delays and exposure of highway workers to traffic. They are designed for high visibility, durability and adhesion.

Aerosol Paints: Coatings packaged in aerosol cans are used mostly for appliance touch-up, corrosion inhibition, and hobbies and crafts. The typical aerosol can holds about 10-12 ounces net weight of liquid, usually at a very low-solids level to facilitate spraying. Common propellants for aerosol paints are based on hydrocarbon gases like n-butane, isobutane and propane. Chlorofluorocarbon propellants were used at one time, but were phased-out in 1978, due to their harmful effect on the ozone layer.