ILLUMINATION AND VISIBILITY White and light-tinted coatings applied to ceilings and  walls  reflect  both  natural  and  artificial  light  and help brighten rooms and increase visibility. On the other  hand,  darker  colors  reduce  the  amount  of reflected  light.  Flat  coatings  diffuse,  soften,  and evenly  distribute  illumination,  whereas  gloss  finishes reflect more like mirrors and may create glare. Color contrasts  improve  visibility  of  the  painted  surface, especially  when  paint  is  applied  in  distinctive  patterns. For  example,  white  on  black,  white  on  orange,  or yellow on black can be seen at greater distances than single colors or other combinations of colors. IDENTIFICATION  AND  SAFETY Certain  colors  are  used  as  standard  means  of identifying  objects  and  promoting  safety.  For example,  fire  protection  equipment  is  painted  red. Containers  for  kerosene,  gasoline,  solvents,  and  other flammable liquids should be painted a brilliant yellow and marked with large black letters to identify their contents. The colors of signal lights and painted signs help  control  traffic  safely  by  providing  directions  and other  travel  information. TYPES OF COATINGS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Upon completing this section, you should be able to identify the types of structural coatings and finishes, and the general characteristics of each. As  a  Builder,  you  must  consider  many  factors when  selecting  a  coating  for  a  particular  job.  One important factor is the type of coating, which depends on  the  composition  and  properties  of  the  ingredients. Paint  is  composed  of  various  ingredients,  such  as pigment, nonvolatile vehicle, or binder, and solvent, or thinner. Other coatings may contain only a single ingredient. PAINT In this section, we’ll cover the basic components of   paint—pigment,   vehicles,   and   solvents—and explain  the  characteristics  of  different  types  of  paint. Composition Paint   is   composed   of   two   basic   ingredients: pigment and a vehicle. A thinner may be added to change  the  application  characteristics  of  the  liquid. PIGMENT.—  Pigments  are  insoluble  solids, ground  finely  enough  to  remain  suspended  in  the vehicle  for  a  considerable  time  after  thorough  stirring or shaking. Opaque pigments give the paint its hiding, or covering, capacity and contribute other properties (white  lead,  zinc  oxide,  and  titanium  dioxide  are examples).  Color  pigments  give  the  paint  its  color. These  may  be  inorganic,  such  as  chrome  green, chrome  yellow,  and  iron  oxide,  or  organic,  such  as toluidine red and phthalocyanine blue. Transparent or extender pigments contribute bulk and also control the application properties, durability, and resistance to abrasion  of  the  coating.  There  are  other  special- purpose  pigments,  such  as  those  enabling  paint  to resist  heat,  control  corrosion,  or  reflect  light. VEHICLES,  OR  BINDERS.—  The vehicle, or binder, of paint is the material holding the pigment together and causing paint to adhere to a surface. In general,  paint  durability  is  determined  by  the resistance of the binder to the exposure conditions. Linseed oil, once the most common binder, has been replaced,  mainly  by  the  synthetic  alkyd  resins.  These result from the reaction of glycerol phthalate and an oil and may be made with almost any property desired. Other synthetic resins, used either by themselves or mixed with oil, include phenolic resin, vinyl, epoxy, urethane, polyester, and chlorinated rubber. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. When using these  materials,  it  is  particularly  important  that  you exactly  follow  the  manufacturers’  instructions. SOLVENTS,   OR   THINNERS.—   The  only purpose  of  a  solvent,  or  thinner,  is  to  adjust  the consistency of the material so that it can be applied readily to the surface. The solvent then evaporates, contributing  nothing  further  to  the  film.  For  this reason,  the  cheapest  suitable  solvent  should  be  used. This solvent is likely to be naphtha or mineral spirits. Although turpentine is sometimes used, it contributes little that other solvents do not and costs much more. NOTE Synthetic  resins  usually  require  a  special solvent. It is important the correct one be used; otherwise,  the  paint  may  be  spoiled  entirely. Types Paints,  by  far,  comprise  the  largest  family   of structural  coatings  you  will  be  using  to  finish products, both interior and exterior. In the following 8-2