Glossary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Term of the Day: Redwood A straight-grain weather-resistant wood used for outdoor building. Earth tones The natural colors of earth; browns and beiges. Edging Act of striping in or painting near the edge of a surface, such as the wall intersection at ceiling, doorway, or window. Effervescence An effect in the film caused by rapid solvent release. This boiling of solvent causes a pinholed or cratered appearance reducing gloss. Efflorescence Water soluble salts, deposited as moisture evaporates, on the exterior of brick or concrete. These are usually sodium salts that diffuse through the paint film from the substrate. Eggshell A thin, brittle semi-matte paint finish. Elcometer A trademark and brand name for a magnetic instrument for measuring dry film thickness of coatings applied to steel surfaces. Electrostatic Spray The spray application of paint where the particles are charged causing them to be electrically attracted to the grounded surface. Embossed paper Wallpaper with a raised, textured pattern. Embossed wallpapers are useful when installing over imperfect wall conditions, as they will camouflage contours on an uneven wall. Do not use a seam roller on embossed papers because it can flatten or burnish the raised effect and cause a shiny streak to appear. Embrittlement Severe loss of ductility of a metal or alloy. Emulsifier A material which when added to a mixture of dissimilar materials, such as oil and water, will produce a stable, homogenous emulsion. Emulsion A two phase liquid system in which small droplets of one liquid are immiscible in and are dispersed uniformly throughout a second liquid. Enamel Paint with finely ground pigments and a high binder content so that it dries to a hard gloss or semi-gloss finish. Ending point The point where the wallpaper stops at an obstacle. Examples include fireplaces, accent walls and kitchen cabinets. Epoxy A two-part compound used to fill holes in damaged wood. Once dry, epoxy patches are very strong and can be sanded, primed and painted. Epoxy adhesive Adhesive based on an epoxy (or epoxide) resin or several such resins. They are of limited use in furniture-making but come in handy for quick repairs. Epoxy Resin A synthetic resin produced by the reaction of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol. Epoxy resins may be used alone (unmodified) or modified with drying oils (epoxy esters) for coating vehicles. Erosion Deterioration of a surface by the abrasive action of moving materials - fluids or particles. This is accelerated by the presence of solid particles or gas bubbles in suspension. Ester Compounds formed by the reaction of alcohols and organic acids. Etching Scratching or roughening an existing wallpaper surface to prepare it for the application of a wallpaper-removing solution. The etching of the vinyl-coated surface allows the solution to penetrate through the wallpaper and dissolve the old adhesive to aid in the removal of the existing wallpaper. Evaporation Loss Solvents A solvent whose volatility is high. Used to reduce the flash-off time of a paint to combat sagging on cool days. Evaporation Rate The speed with which a solvent volatizes or evaporates. It is frequently expressed as the time required for 1 cc. of solvent to evaporate after being poured onto filter paper. Exposure The intensity, duration and variation in sun, wind and temperature that characterize any particular site. Extender Pigments Pigments used to provide texture, bulk or hardness to a coating. Also known as inert pigments. Magnesium silicate and diatomaceous silica are examples of extender pigments. Extenders Inert pigments used to extend or increase the bulk of a paint. Extenders are also used to adjust the consistency of a paint and to let down colored pigments of great tinting strength.. Extenders sometimes improve certain characteristics of a film. External Mix/Atomization Using air to break up a coating material after it has exited the spray gun nozzle.