How to choose the colorful paint coating surface？

” Whether it’s exterior or interior construction, choosing the right paint gloss is crucial, not only for aesthetics but also for practical scrub resistance.”

The concept of gloss

The gloss of a paint film is an important characteristic for decorative coatings. While gloss is difficult to define precisely, it is generally considered to be the ability of a paint film surface to reflect incident light back into the mirror. The greater the amount of reflected light, the higher the gloss, which is referred to as specular gloss.

In addition, the ratio of the mirror’s reflected light intensity to the diffuse light intensity is also an indicator of gloss. The level of gloss is not only determined by the reflectivity, but also by the black paint film and the white paint film with the same reflectivity. Generally, the black one appears to have better gloss.

Determination of gloss

In China, gloss meters are commonly used to measure relative reflectivity at different angles to determine gloss. This involves projecting parallel light onto a surface at a specific angle α, and measuring the light reflected from the surface at the same angle α.

The reflected light intensity measured at different angles varies, and measurements are generally made at 45° or 60°. Based on the gloss meter’s results at 60°, coatings can be classified into the following grades:

High gloss: 70% or higher

Semi-gloss or medium gloss: 70-30%

Eggshell: 30-6%

Eggshell to matte: 6-2%

Matt: 2% or less

The gloss percentage here is not reflectivity, but a relative value. It is obtained by comparing the sample with a standard. The gloss of the standard is set at 100%, and the sample’s percentage is then measured. Because gloss is affected by subjective factors, using a single objective standard to evaluate it often does not align with subjective perception. This is why the results measured by a light meter can sometimes differ significantly from actual perception.

Tip: The higher the gloss, the more clearly any imperfections will show up. If you live in an older house with multiple interior repairs and paint jobs, or have many tall walls with plenty of natural light, you might want to use a flat or matte finish.

How to choose colorful paint topcoat ？

Water-based multi-color paints, when sprayed, can create multi-color patterns simultaneously, creating an interplay of colors that creates a decorative effect similar to natural granite or marble. They are primarily used on the exterior walls of high-end buildings. Combining decorative, safety, and cost-effectiveness, they have become a hot topic in the architectural coatings industry in recent years.

To maintain its pristine appearance and protect against water, dust, and UV rays, high-quality multi-color paint often requires a topcoat.

The topcoat used with multi-color paint primarily provides waterproofing, stain resistance, scrub resistance, and extends the overall lifespan of the coating system. Therefore, high-performance topcoats play a crucial role in multi-color paints.

Currently, topcoats on the market are primarily categorized as high-gloss and matte. Matte topcoats are preferred for their improved base layer smoothness, gloss uniformity, and light-resistance.

Topcoat Spraying Instructions:

Apply two coats of topcoat using a spray gun.
Allow 4-6 hours between coats at 23±2°C.