Gloss Paint

By tradition, gloss paints have been oil-based and include resin to give them a hard wearing quality. Some are still oil (solvent) based paints whilst water based gloss paints are now available.

• Liquid gloss needs an undercoat but gives the more traditional high gloss finish and is extremely hard wearing and resistant to dirt.
• Satinwood is a durable gloss paint that gives a more subtle sheen than the conventional shiny gloss effect, however, it is not usually as hard wearing.
• Eggshell is a paint that gives a flatter (but not entirely matt) finish. It is often used for smaller pieces of decoration such as architrave and skirting.
• Polyurethane gloss an oil-based paint with added polyurethane resin making it tougher, providing a really hard wearing surface to withstand greater abrasion than standard gloss.
• Silthane is a combination of silicone and polyurethane, this paint is claimed to give a stronger surface than polyurethane as the silicone gives extra protection, especially during the drying period when paint is most vulnerable.

non-drip (Thixotropic)

An alternative to ordinary gloss, non-drip paint is of a jelly-like consistency and is easier to use if not overloaded onto a brush and adequately 'laid off' on the surface. It is ideal if you have difficulty in painting without drips falling from the brush, as its consistency allows a 'blob' of paint to be picked up by the brush and then applied to the surface where it is spread out normally. Non-drip paint will produce runs if too much paint is applied and not adequately laid-off - this is especially true when painting in corners (such as at the bottom of panels in panel doors).

Manufacturers of non-drip paint often claim that they do not require an undercoat - however a better finish will generally be achieved if an undercoat is used. For exterior wood work, an undercoat is really essential to ensure a good 'weather resisting' finish.

Application of non-drip paints. Take all the normal preparatory precautions according to the surface before applying. Lightly brush out using random strokes and never overbrush as this can cause runs, thus defeating the object of using this type of paint. Do not stir the paint before or during application. The paint may look lumpy and unworkable in the can, but that is the nature of the paint. Stirring will only break down the consistency and ruin the finish. If a can has been stirred, leave it for a while and the paint will become jelly-like again. To strain out dirt particles within non-drip paint, thoroughly stir the paint until it becomes a free-running liquid, strain the paint and then leave it to gel again.