The Scientific Process Behind Choosing a Building's Paint Colour

Author: Amit Joshi

After a building is constructed, the question of painting it comes into play. Depending on the local climatic conditions and selected designing elements; the architect and interior decorators will choose the right kind of paints to use. This is why the best paint companies in India produce a wide range of specialized coatings and enamels for different applications. Since the biggest paint suppliers in India also import a large quantity of architectural coatings and enamels across the world, quality is also a major factor of concern.

The different layers of architectural coatings each have a specific purpose and action in their application. The commonly used layers are:

(a) The base primer or binder that ensures that the coating is applied on a receptive and smooth surface and doesn't peel off after drying

(b) Water proofing or moisture retaining chemical agents as required to protect the building from regional atmospheric conditions

(c) The final colour enamel, which could be a single base colour, or a combination of designer shades which can be modified for textures

Paint companies circulate the kind of coating required according to the region of distribution. Dry and hot areas like in the West and Central states of India need the paints to retain moisture to prevent dry cracking and peeling. States to the East and South face a lot of heavy rains, so the paints must have water proofing agents to prevent the walls from damping up. Anti-fungal properties, anti-dust properties, and sunlight reflection properties are generally obtained by adding special chemicals to the paints.

Another key aspect of abiding to the scientific process for painting a building is to make sure that the application is done correctly. While the biggest paint suppliers in India can guarantee the quality of the coatings and enamels; how they are applied depends on the contractors and labourers involved. Here are certain key factors to look out for -

  • That the old layer of paint is properly scraped and removed from the surface before application of a new layer

  • That the walls are properly washed and dried before the painting process begins

  • That the paints are applied in the right sequence - primer, then special coating, then colour coating (or as required in individual cases)

  • That the painting is done in a smooth, uniform method and that the direction of the brush is uniform with each application

  • That no blank spots or uneven layers are left behind after the application is completed

While the paint companies in India usually include a detailed list of instructions and cautions on the labels of their products, it is the responsibility of the contractors and labourers to ensure that these instructions are followed. Since paints often include several different chemicals, certain types of coatings and enamels cannot be used with each other. For a proper scientific process when painting a building, make sure you hire the right people for the job.