- Asked 5/26
- 2081 Kartik (new course) · 1.5 marks
- 2080 Bhadra · 2 marks
- 2076 Chaitra · 2 marks
- 2071 Chaitra · 2 marks
- 2069 Chaitra · 2 marks
Paint versus varnish
Short answer
Paint is an opaque coloured coating of pigment, base, vehicle, drier and thinner. Varnish is a transparent solution of resin in oil or spirit, applied to protect and show the natural grain.
Differentiate between paint and varnish.
Paint is a mixture of pigment, base, vehicle (oil), drier and thinner, applied as a coloured opaque coating. Varnish is a solution of resin in oil, turpentine or spirit, applied as a transparent coating.
| Point | Paint | Varnish |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Base, pigment, vehicle, drier, thinner | Resin, solvent (turpentine/spirit), drier |
| Appearance | Opaque, coloured film | Transparent or lightly tinted film |
| Purpose | Protect and decorate; hide the surface | Protect and show the natural grain and colour |
| Used on | Wood, metal, plaster, walls | Mostly wood, also painted surfaces and paintings |
| Pigment | Present | Absent (except in coloured varnish) |
| Coats | Priming, undercoat, finishing coat | Usually 2–3 coats, no primer |
| Durability | Generally longer lasting in weather | Less durable outdoors; fades in sun |
| Cost | Usually cheaper per area | Usually costlier |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
Related questions
- Paint, varnish and their purpose · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 9