Any material, especially when it comes to interiors or exteriors of homes, such as roofing material, wall paint, furniture or flooring, needs to have a layer of coating that will prevent it from damage or corrosion and also give it a polished, shiny look.
The object that coating is applied on is known as a substrate. Coatings can cover the substrate completely, partially or in certain marked places. Coatings could be for a functional or for a decorative purpose.
Paints or lacquers, are coatings that help protect the substrate if they are applied on industrial pipes, or give the place a beautiful feel when applied on walls or furniture.
Certain coatings have a purely industrial purpose in order to change the properties of the substrate. For example, to give adhesion, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, or magnetism.
Coatings may be in liquid, solid or gaseous form but liquids are common for walls, furniture, or metal objects.
Whether you require coating on your walls and furniture for decorative or functional purposes, here are some tips that will ensure you get perfect coating every time, that will be high quality and durable.
1. Understand your materials
In case of walls or furniture, it is important to understand the material of your substrate and the coating that goes along with it. Instructions about the same can be easily obtained from your designer or carpenter. Online guides are also available to know what coating is required for wood, metal, and other surfaces. Using the wrong coating could give you bad results and even damage the substrate.
2. Priming is pivotal
It is possible that the surface of walls, if you are painting them, is not smooth. This will not allow paint to sit well on the wall. You will notice the cracks, uneven color or indentations on the wall once the paint has dried. Hence, it is important to first get a smooth surface to work upon. This can be achieved using a coat of primer in the beginning. Primers seal the patches or marks on the walls so that the paint does not sink inside them and look dull.
3. Removing older coatings
Before you take repainting your old furniture or hardware, it is necessary to strip the substrate of existing coating. Unless this is done, new coating and color will not sit properly on any surface.
Removing paint from metal, for example, requires certain chemicals. You can choose from a variety of chemical paint removers, make use of baking soda in hot water or use heat with soap. Chemical paint removers are the most effective products to remove paint from a surface.
4. Coating purposes
The coating you use on the substrate depends on your objective of adding that layer. Sealing, waterproofing, creating corrosion, friction, microbial or scratch resistance, insulation and fireproofing are common reasons where coating helps protect surfaces and increases the life of your walls, furniture, flooring, or hardware.
The various coatings that you choose can be applied using methods like spraying, rolling, or product dipping.
