producing quality ground coats

Level 1 Diploma in Painting and Decorating

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Producing quality ground coats

Unit 120: Producing specialist decorative finishes



Producing quality ground coatsWhy is it important to have a quality ground coat when producing specialist decorative finishes?



Producing quality ground coatsPreparation processes

Surfaces used for specialist decorative effects need to be flat with no holes or dents. If not, the scumble will collect in the defects and spoil the overall effect.

You must make good the surface by:

• Wet or dry abrading the surface

• Filling any holes, dents or cracks

• Rubbing down and removing all traces of dust



Producing quality ground coatsAppropriate coatings to use as ground coats

Surface coatings that are used as ground coats can be either waterbourne or solventbourne depending on which system you are using for your decorative effect.

Vinyl silk emulsion and eggshell finishes are the most appropriate.

The ground coat is usually a tone lighter than the lightest part of the overall finish, so neutral colours would be the ideal choice for a ground coat.

What surface coating finish would be the least appropriate?



Producing quality ground coatsDefects in ground coats

If the surface has not been prepared properly before applying ground coats, you are likely to get a range of defects in your decorative effect.

• Bittiness

• Uneven colour

• Ropiness

• Sinking

• Brush marks



Producing quality ground coatsApplying ground coats

Make sure you apply the ground coat correctly to avoid any defects, such as brush marks, misses, runs, flashing and wet edges.

It is important that brush marks are not visible in your specialist finish so the effect looks as natural as possible.

Using a stipple brush or roller to apply the ground coat will help to achieve an even coating with no brush marks.



Any questions?

producing quality ground coats

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