Sabyasachi Wallpapers in India 2026: Explore the Paris-Calcutta Collection by Nilaya on paintnhardware.com

Discover the Sabyasachi Paris-Calcutta Wallpaper Collection by Nilaya

If you love interiors that feel layered, storied, and unmistakably luxurious, the Sabyasachi wallpaper collection by Nilaya deserves a closer look. The Paris-Calcutta chapter brings together old-world glamour, Indian heritage, botanical beauty, and vintage opulence in a way that turns walls into conversation pieces.

At Paint n Hardware, you can explore the Sabyasachi wallpaper collection by Nilaya and browse the available designs from this chapter through our Sabyasachi Paris-Calcutta search results page

Paint n Hardware is one of the trusted online stores to buy Sabyasachi wallpaper online in India , offering genuine products and delivery across the country.

Sabyasachi Wallpaper Price in India

The Sabyasachi wallpaper price in India varies depending on the design, finish, and collection. As a premium designer range by Nilaya, these wallpapers are positioned in the luxury segment and are typically priced higher than standard wallpapers.

You can Check Sabyasachi wallpaper price in India and available designs, where you can compare options and choose based on your interior style.

What makes the Paris-Calcutta collection special?

The Paris-Calcutta collection is inspired by a richly imagined world where the romance of the Seine meets the faded splendour of old Calcutta. The mood is nostalgic, artistic, and grand. You see this in the layered florals, paisleys, damasks, block-print effects, jewel tones, soft mica finishes, and heritage-inspired motifs that define the collection.

Rather than feeling like ordinary wallpaper, these designs create a complete decorative mood. They work beautifully in formal living rooms, elegant bedrooms, lounges, dressing areas, boutique spaces, and statement walls where texture, pattern, and storytelling matter.

Featured wallpaper designs from the Sabyasachi Paris-Calcutta range

1. Jamshed Jamavar

Sabyasachi wallpaper India

A richly ornamental wallpaper with paisley character and a distinctly vintage mood, Jamshed Jamavar is ideal for classic interiors that need depth and quiet drama. It pairs beautifully with antique furniture, framed art, mirrors, and warm lighting. For homeowners looking for a heritage-inspired Sabyasachi wallpaper design, this is one of the most striking choices in the collection.

2. Jamshed Jamavar Stripe

Sabyasachi Paris-Calcutta

This design brings rhythm and elegance through an elongated striped composition, making it especially useful for walls that need a more architectural, vertically balanced look. It has the same old-world richness as Jamavar, but with a slightly more structured feel.

3. India Paradise

Sabyasachi India Paradise

India Paradise is one of the most expressive wallpapers in the collection, featuring a lush, decorative world of florals and birds. It works beautifully as a feature wall in living rooms, bedrooms, and curated luxury spaces where warmth and personality are important. If you are searching for Sabyasachi floral wallpaper, this is a standout.

4. Persian Sanctuary

Sabyasachi Persian Sanctuary

Persian Sanctuary has a more regal, symmetrical presence, making it ideal for refined interiors. The pattern feels architectural and ornamental at the same time, which makes it especially effective behind consoles, sideboards, and formal seating arrangements.

5. Khadi

Khadi has a more restrained visual rhythm, but that is exactly what makes it so versatile. Its block-printed look and textural depth create understated luxury, making it suitable for homes that want a designer finish without overly elaborate patterning.

6. Vintage Kilim

For those drawn to layered geometry and textile-inspired surfaces, Vintage Kilim brings warmth, character, and a collected feel. It is particularly effective in studies, lounges, and heritage-style spaces where tactile richness matters.

7. The Company Paisley

This wallpaper combines delicate florals and paisley-inspired elegance with a softer, more romantic mood. It is an excellent choice for bedrooms, sitting rooms, or feminine luxury spaces where you want a gentle yet decorative backdrop.

8. Pashm

Pashm is subtle, graceful, and atmospheric. It creates a soft cocooning effect that works very well in bedrooms and intimate lounge spaces. If you prefer luxury wallpaper with a quieter design language, Pashm is worth considering.

9. Landour Damask

Landour Damask brings floral damask richness with a softer, stately expression. It suits classic and transitional interiors alike, especially where upholstered furniture, metallic accents, and layered decor are already part of the scheme.

10. Poppy Gilt

Poppy Gilt delivers warmth, glow, and a decorative block-print effect that instantly lifts a room. It is a strong choice for statement walls that need colour, pattern, and a distinctly premium feel.

Why choose Sabyasachi wallpaper for your home?

The Sabyasachi wallpaper collection by Nilaya appeals to homeowners, interior designers, and architects who want more than surface decoration. These wallpapers are designed for spaces that tell a story. They bring together:

• Heritage-inspired Indian design language
• Luxury finishes and sophisticated detailing
• Strong statement-wall potential
• Patterns suited to both classic and contemporary interiors
• A designer-led aesthetic that feels timeless rather than trend-driven

Whether you are planning a full-room treatment or a single feature wall, Sabyasachi wallpaper by Nilaya can add richness, intimacy, and visual depth in a way that paint alone often cannot.

Where to buy Sabyasachi wallpaper online in India

If you are looking to buy original Sabyasachi wallpaper online in India, you can explore the curated range on Paint n Hardware. Start with the main Sabyasachi wallpaper collection by Nilaya page, and then browse the available products from this chapter on the Sabyasachi Paris-Calcutta collection page .

This makes it easier to compare designs, review available options, and choose the wallpaper that best matches your room, furniture, lighting, and overall decor style.

Final thoughts

The Paris-Calcutta chapter is one of the most evocative expressions within the larger Sabyasachi wallpaper collection. It captures romance, nostalgia, craftsmanship, and decorative drama in a way that feels both Indian and international. If you want your walls to carry mood, memory, and personality, this is a collection worth exploring.

Browse the full Sabyasachi wallpaper collection by Nilaya and explore the latest Sabyasachi wallpaper price in India .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the price of Sabyasachi wallpaper in India?

The price depends on the design and collection. You can check the latest Sabyasachi wallpaper price in India on Paint n Hardware.

Where can I buy Sabyasachi wallpaper online?

You can buy original Sabyasachi wallpaper online in India from Paint n Hardware with delivery across India.

Is Sabyasachi wallpaper by Nilaya suitable for living rooms?

Yes, Sabyasachi wallpaper by Nilaya is ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, and feature walls where you want a rich, luxury interior look.

How does an Electric Demolition Hammer Work?

What is a demolition hammer? 

A demolition hammer is a machine that is used to break or fracture hard materials such as masonry, brick walls, concrete, tiled flooring etc. An electric demolition hammer uses power from a wall outlet or from a battery source to generate impact energy. The energy is directed to a chisel which in turn delivers the impact to the material to be demolished.

How does it work?

The basic premise for most роwеr tools is to harness the rotary power generated by a motor for useful applications such as cutting, drilling or as in this case hammering. For the purpose of demolition, a high torque motor is used with a thick and heavy armature winding and a heavily wound stator or field coil. The motor drives a reducing gear mechanism connected to a rotary crank shaft at a 90° angle to its axis. 

A Piston attached to the end of the crank shaft oscillates inside a cylinder. The piston has rubber O-Rings to create an air-tight seal with the cylinder. 

At the other end of the cylinder is a Anvil / impactor that holds the demolition chisel. This anvil is allowed a few millimeters of movement and is lodged inside the cylinder and sealed with rubber O-rings.

Between the piston and anvil is a Ram. The ram is also sealed with rubber O-rings so as to create a pneumatic seal inside the cylinder. The ram is free to oscillate between the piston and the anvil. The seals help create an air cushion between the piston and the ram. This air cushion insulates the piston from any recoil from the ram.

A typical part diagram for a 5kg Demolition Hammer

At the anvil end of the cylinder, air release holes are provided so that the air between the ram and the anvil is expelled when the ram is pushed towards the anvil. The ram thus oscillates along with the movement of the piston and impacts the anvil repeatedly to create a hammering action on the chisel lodged inside the anvil. 

The rotary power of the motor has thus been harnessed for the purpose of demolition. Using this simple mechanism a demolition hammer can execute many different types of jobs such as chipping, grooving, demolition, breaking etc. 

Demolition hammers are typically used to break masonry materials, asphalt etc. each application requiring a different impact energy. Demolition hammers are hence available in 

1. different configurations such as L-shaped, In-Line etc depending on the application. In-Line ones are best suited for breaking the floor, whereas L-shape ones are best suited for wall applications.  
2. different weights - 2Kg, 5Kg, 10Kg, 16Kg, 30Kg etc having different impact energies

At Shree Venkateshwara Traders, we have a range of demolition hammers for wide variety of applications from some of the world's most reputed tool brands. 

We also take great pride and specialize in the repair and service of these machines. We are authorised dealers and service partners for DeWalt, Stanley, Black + Decker & Makita.

Home Painting Equipment 2025

Many decades ago, a brush was the standard application tool in the home painting industry. The 2000's brought about a revolution with paint rollers becoming the preferred choice for applicators. At that time there was a lot of apprehension and hesitation initially regarding the usage of rollers, such as, won't there be a lot of material wastage, how do we maintain the rollers, wont they be very expensive and so on. But as the applicators began to use rollers, they realised that the labour savings, speed of application and quality of finish far outweighed any disadvantages rollers had. With the mass acceptance of rollers, production of rollers ramped up many folds and drove down the prices of rollers sharply. 

At the present time, rollers are not only used to paint walls but also to paint doors, grills, windows etc. The roller is now the universally accepted method of application. 

Just like 20 years ago, there is another paint application revolution quietly brewing. It brings with it not only huge savings in labour but also unmatched finish. It is now the decade of the airless paint sprayers. Just as with rollers, this method of application is a paradigm shift in the home painting industry. 

Asian Paints IN23 Airless Paint Sprayer

The pertinent questions as still the same. What about material wastage? How do we maintain and clean the equipment? Is it worth the investment? Again, the answers are the same. The savings in labour costs are 4X. The finish is such that, once the customer has experienced it, there is no looking back. The customer will now expect such a finish, and every painting contractor will have to match the upgraded customer expectations. There is an advantage to the contractor as well. The painting contractor can achieve the finish of 2 coats of roller finish in a single coat of spray finish, thus halving the labour required. 

The machines themselves have also undergone many iterations in terms of pricing and the product market fit in the context of Indian homes. Machines that ware presented in the market initially had a high cost-barrier, but now machines are very affordable and easy to maintain. Most companies provide on-site service for the machines along with standard warranties.

We are just at the beginning of this revolution and are about to witness yet another advancement in the paint industry. At Shree Venkateshwara Traders, we are at the cutting edge and have a wide range of offerings for you at in the airless paint sprayers segment. Come visit our store today!

We are also present online @ paintnhardware.com

Colours for Indian Homes in 2025

 After all the effort and the grind, it is now finally time to decorate your home and add the finishing touches to it. The home must reflect your personality and ooze your style. Colour is a supremely powerful medium to convey this. Colours influence our lifestyles and our everyday routines. According to psychology, color is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood, and even influence physiological reactions. Color can also affect our mood, alter our sleep schedule, change the way our food tastes and even influence our memories. 

As an effect, colours are the basis of visual appeal to any home. Colour in combination with other colours emphasize and reinforce a theme. Colour combinations are hence the foundation on which a lifestyle and themes can be built for a home. 

Colours should not only reflect your personality but also be appealing to others. Contemporary taste is influenced by many sources such as social media, mass media, personal experiences from travels and visiting new lands. Home decor and space design are hence heavily inspired and predisposed by international trends and fashions. 

Colour combinations can be categorised into interior and exterior. 

Interior walls can not only be adorned by solid colours, but there is a plethora of texture and patterns at the designer's disposal in the market today. Textures give the walls character and personality that can be both bespoke and a tribute to your personality. Textures as a medium are far more expressive than plain solid colours. A subtle texture on all the walls of a house brings them alive and a bold texture can be used on a feature wall to highlight a specific detail in the home.

Other options for interior walls are wallpapers that range from subtle textures to elaborate patterns. Wallpapers have also come a long way from just floral and damask patterns to exclusive designer motifs. Today, major designers and wallpaper manufacturers invest heavily into creating wallpapers for every season just as the apparel fashion industry does. Every season brings a new flavour and style that is as vibrant as you. 

Exterior walls are an opportunity for the homeowner to showcase himself without even inviting anyone into his home. The exterior walls are a huge canvas, and a little planning can give stunning results. In this space too, we not only have plain colours, but plenty of textures to play with. The choice of paint can be based on many factors such as finish, durability, water proofing and shade availability. 

A wide range of textures are available for exterior walls. From traditional scratch textures to more elaborate shaded textures to stone, concrete and granite finishes, exterior finishes are at the widest range in the history of the paint industry. 

At Shree Venkateshwara Traders, Bangalore, we endeavour to bring you the latest in the world of colours, textures, wallpapers and paints from a bouquet of brands, shade pallets and finishes. We bring you a wide range of paint formulae, and a host of colours & textures from major paint brands in the Indian market such as Asian Paints, MRF Vapocure Paints & ICA italian finishes.

We also have a wide portfolio of wallpapers from Asian Paints Nilaya Wallpapers.   

You can also visit our online store for the latest in the Indian paint market. 

How to Paint Laminates

While it is not recommended to paint on laminates, the following system could work.

Step 1. Sand your laminates with 320 grit water emery paper. Make sure you remove all gloss on the laminate. You can use the following product for sanding : Matador 991A Softflex Waterproof Emery Sheets - Buy Online in India (paintnhardware.com)

Step 2. After sanding and wiping off excess dust, apply MRF Universal Primer Grey on the laminate with the recommended system. Here is the link for universal primer grey : MRF Universal Primer - Buy Online in India (paintnhardware.com)

Step 3. Allow the primer to cure for 6-8 hours. Apply 2 coats Asian Paints Enamel with the recommended system over the primer. 

Link for Glossy Enamel : Asian Paints Apcolite Enamel for Wood and Metal - Buy Online (paintnhardware.com)

Link for Satin Enamel : Asian Paints Apcolite Satin Enamel for Wood and Metal - Buy Online (paintnhardware.com)

Kindly remember that the above is only experimental and it is always better to test a small patch before you begin your project, as every laminate could be different and could react differently to the paint. 

Why use synthetic hair paint brushes ?

Paint brushes can be made from Natural or Synthetic hair. Natural hair comes from animals such as squirrels, sable, hogs etc. Synthetic hair is made from filaments of polymers such as polyester or nylon. Natural hair harvesting leads to animal cruelty and killing of animals such as squirrels. With quality synthetic hair available, there is no reason for use of natural hair. Synthetic hair is more durable, easy to maintain and brushes made from synthetic hair can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and cuts. The synthetic hair can be processed chemically to change its properties such as stiffness, abrosption and finish to make it suitable for a variety of paints like water, acrylic, oil etc.

Some manufacturers produce filaments specifically for making brushes having their own polymer formulae. The company Dupont manufatures bristles under the brands Tynex®, Orel®, Kulex®. These bristles have unique properties that have been built into the filaments such as abrasives to give better grip on the surface being painted, more stiffness where needed and hog hair replacement bristles for ecomonical brushes.These have revolutionized the painting industry where the quality of the paint was ever increasing, but the available brushes were not upto to the mark. But with the advent of synthetic bristles, brushes have also improved by leaps and bounds.

Brushes can now be manufactured keeping the needs of the professional painter in mind. Economical brushes for rough work, finish brushes for top class finishes and many more. Not only paint brushes, but artist brushes and makeup brushes have also benefitted from synthetic bristles. So, be kind to animals and use synthetic hair brushes.

This post is sponsered by Paint n Hardware.com

Why buy Asian Paints Advanced products ?

The Advanced range of paints from Asian Paints is a revolutionary advancement in paints. The advanced range of products add value to the already excellent 

Asian Paints range products.

The advanced products add features such as improved water repellency, washability, opacity and coverage, area coverage to the existing Asian paints products.

Let us look at what value the products bring to your money.

Apex Advanced

Waterproofing is a must for exterior walls and with Asian Paints Apex Advanced Weatherproof Emulsion you can do just that. It is a smooth water-based, modified acrylic, exterior wall finish with silicon additives and improved anti algal properties.

Value addition: Improved water repellency, improved anti-algal formula.

Tractor Emulsion Advanced

Tractor Emulsion Advanced comes with Superior Anti Fungal Shield and gives a smooth finish to the wall. It is a smart choice if you have been previously using distemper.

Value addition: Improved anti-algal formula, Smoother finish.

Apcolite Advanced Hi-gloss Enamel

Keep household stains at bay with Asian Paints Apcolite Advanced Hi-Gloss Enamel. The tough film it forms is highly resistant to household stains. The enamel offers high gloss and non-yellowing protection to the surface which ensures shades stay the same for a longer time.

Value addition: Higher gloss, non-yellowing, tougher film, low dirt pickup

Ace Advanced

Asian Paints Ace Advanced Exterior Emulsion is a water-based exterior wall finish with silicon additives and improved anti algal properties suitable for dry to moderately humid climatic conditions.

Value addition: Water Repellent, Anti-algal formula.

Apcolite Advanced Emulsion

Asian Paints Apcolite Advanced Emulsion is a heavy duty Emulsion that offers a rich matte finish which helps in hiding surface undulations. It ensures lower stain pick up & easy cleanability for different kinds of household stains. Apcolite Advanced Emulsion is designed to protect your walls against unwanted fungus that can cause considerable damage. The film is twice as strong to a regular emulsion which ensures a durable finish. This makes the paint resistance to wear and tear increasing the life of the paint. The tough film keeps your wall beautiful even after cleaning it multiple times.

Value Addition : Advanced stain guard, 2 times film strength, Burnish resistant

For a complete range of the Asian Paints Advanced products, visit our store : 

Shree Venkateshwara Traders

712, Modi Hospital Road, Mahalaxmipuram, Bangalore 560086

Paint tinting using automated machines

We provide paint colour mixing services of the highest quality using the latest in fluid dispensing technology. Automated machines dispense toners and pigments accurately. When coupled with a computer the machine can tint preset formulas stored on the hard drive of the computer or manually dispense customized formulas.

Our machines are capable of dispensing the following preset formulas:

Asian Paints Colour Spectra
Dulux Colour Guide
RAL
NCS
and Pantone


It is our top priority to provide accurate shade matching in any product, be it oil based or water based. With our paint mixing service, the shade you want is the shade you get !!

Drop by our store :

Shree Venkateshwara Traders

712, Modi Hospital Road, Mahalaxmipuram, Bangalore 560086

500m from the Rajajinagar Metro Station.

Click here for the Route from Rajajinagar Metro to Shree Venkateshwara Traders

How to Anchor Rods in Concrete and Stone

Anchoring rods in set cement concrete and stone require a material that can create a strong bond between the rods and the cement. Ordinary cement mixtures fail to bond to the rod strong enough to anchor them. A bonding and grouting solution is thus required.

Polyester resin based anchoring grouts are the answer to this problem. They form extremely tight and strong bonds between the rod and the substrate. These grouts set extremely fast and can be placed under water. The bond is thus both high strength and water proof.

Anchoring grouts are used for high strength corrosion resistant anchoring of bolts and bars from 10 - 51mm diameter into concrete, rock, masonry or brickwork where high speed of installation and early application of load is required.

Permanent installation of reinforcement starter bars, foundation bolts, base plates, balustrading, barriers and safety fences, railway tracks, tie-back anchors, reinforcement dowelling abutments,
ground anchors for towers, cranes, dock sills are typical applications for anchoring grouts.

The high strength of the cured resin permits strong anchors to be created. The ultimate bond strength developed depends upon:
Strength of host material
Length of resin bond to bar
Hole preparation and formation
Type and dimension of bar

Anchoring grouts are usually supplied as 2 pack products. A Polyester resin and a catalysed filler powder.

Method of Application

Hole preparation and formation
Optimum performance of anchoring grouts require rough sided, dust free holes. Uses of rotary percussive drills with air or water flushing is recommended.
Diamond drilled holes should be under-reamed unless necessary safety factors are incorporated.
Cast holes should preferably be inverse dovetail configuration.
If parallel sides holes are cast they should be rough to provide adequate keying.

Bar preparation
All bars should preferably be degreased and all flaky rust removed.

Mixing
A complete pack of resin and catalysed filler should be mixed in one operation. Mixing may be carried out mechanically. When a smooth, even consistency is achieved the grout is ready for
use and should be placed well within the gel time of the grout. Do not attempt to mix partial pack components.

Installation
Polyester resin grouts for vertical holes 
The grout should be poured steadily into the prepared holes. The anchor bar is then pressed into the hole to the required depth.
Slight agitation of the bar will assist in achieving a complete bond. The bar should then be left undisturbed in the required position until the resin is set.

Polyester resin grout for overhead and horizontal applications
The grout should be injected to the rear of the hole to avoid air entrapment.

Anchoring Grouts available :

Fosroc Lockfix S

Fosroc Lockfix P - overhead and horizontal 

Also available at our store :

 

Plug Active Ground Water Leaks

A common problem when excavating for a foundation, basement or  under ground water tank is ground water seeping or gushing into the dug out area. The water can flood the complete excavation and not allow any masonry or concrete to be laid. Many times, even after pumping out the water, it keeps flooding. The only way to get any construction activity done, is to plug the leakage of ground water.

To do this we need a fast setting cement mix that does not crack on setting. A variety of products for this purpose are available, each having the goal of instantly plugging any leakage. The settings times can vary from a minute to 20 minutes. Choosing a mix with the right balance of setting time and compressive strength is the key to successfully plugging the ground water leak.

How to use a plugging cement mix?

Once the problem spots are identified, press the plugging cement into the seeping water with light pressure. Apply as much of the plug cement required to plug the leak.
Plug all leaks until ground water stops seeping into the excavation.
After the plug cement is fully set, apply a bond slurry, created using a a latex based product, over the entire surface of the plug cement.
While the bond slurry is still wet, pour the concrete or apply the masonry.

Areas of application

This method can be used to plug leaks while excavating for a foundation, excavations for basements and under ground water tanks. 

Products

Fosroc Rendroc Plug

Also available at our store :

How to make a tabled lap joint using a router

Need to create a long board? You have pieces of lumber that are shorter and want to join them to create a longer piece and it is load bearing? You need to create an end to end joint, and also provide enough surface area for gluing. The best way to do this is create an overlap joint. One of the best lap joints is a tabled lap joint. A tabled lap joint combines the strength of interconnecting parts with the large glue surface of a half-lap joint.

Refer this article for more on end to end joints : http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/techniques/joinery/end-to-end

The techniques shown in the above link rely mainly on having a table saw and is meant for smaller work pieces. Now, if you do not own a table saw or that the pieces are really long, say 8 feet long and you want to create a piece that is say 14 feet long, it is not practical to use a table saw. The same joint can be accurately created using a router.

First off, measure and mark 1/4" + the width of your work piece on both the pieces by placing them next to each other and marking them simultaneously.

Fit a 16mm slot cutting bit in the router. Measure the offset from the end of the slot cutting bit to the guide on the router bottom plate. Mark the offset on the wood.

Note the "router offset"

Fix a fence on the router offset, so that the router does not cut beyond the joint.

Fence fixed on the router offset

Adjust the depth of the router to 1/3rd the thickness of the work piece. For a 1.5" board, adjust the depth to 1/2". You can use a 1/2" ply as a reference.
Starting at the end of the board, run the router throughout the area that has to be removed.

Sand the surface after routing to get a more even surface for the glue to adhere.

To create the dado, mark half the width of the work piece on the newly formed lap. Set the router depth to 2/3rd the thickness of the work piece. Now for the tricky part, the router does not have a level surface to sit on, the lap is lower than the work piece thickness. So, we use the 1/2" ply that we used to gauge the depth of the router bit to create a level surface and then run the router. This will create the tabled lap on one of the work pieces, repeat the same on the other piece.

Now, align the joint and trim the excess wood we left on originally. Generously apply wood glue on the surface of the lap and strongly secure the the joint.

The Finished Joint

You can buy the tools used in this tutorial @ http://www.paintnhardware.com/27-tools

Polymers in Construction Chemicals

Construction chemicals are the gift of modern chemistry to the civil construction and waterproofing industry. These chemicals make things that were previously thought impossible, possible. You can waterproof your roofs, construct terrace gardens, design swimming pools on the 10th floor, build retaining walls 100 feet deep, huge underground water tanks, fill gaps without using cement, all because of these chemicals and polymers.

There are a number of brands claiming market leadership in construction chemicals, but the bottom line is they all market various chemicals and additives under different names. The underlying chemicals are the same only varying in degrees of concentration, commercially termed as "solid content". Higher concentration of the active ingredient is indicated as a higher percentage of solid content.

The chemicals largely used are acrylic, latex, epoxy and polyurethane.

Acrylic is used where a UV resistant product is required. Typically acrylic is used in coatings for exterior walls and roofs. Binders used in plaster-crack-fillers are often acrylic polymers. Acrylic polymers bond well to cement and other porous substrates and have good film forming properties. Acrylic binders combined with polyester fibres create an even tougher film that is resistant to cracking with exposure to the elements. The acrylic polymer is also available as a solution that can be used as a binder along with white cement or ordinary Portland cement to create a waterproof coating that is used to coat bathroom floors before laying tiles.

Latex also know as SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) is available as a solution. It has excellent bonding with cement and porous surfaces and is often used as a bonding agent. It is not UV resistant and needs protection, as it quickly deteriorates on exposure to sunlight. The strong point for latex is bonding. Cement with aggregates, water and latex create a superb repair mortar that has universal applications in repairs such as spalled concrete, broken and cracked plaster. Repairs with latex modified mortars, just stick! To create a bond slurry, mix cement with water and latex and bond bore packing to pipes, screed to mother slab concrete, old concrete to new concrete.

Epoxy. Sets like stone. It is what is used in MSeal and other epoxy putties. Epoxy tile grouts seal tile joints permanently. They are acid resistant, water proof and have excellent strength bond strength. Epoxy is also used as a bonding agent to join old and new concrete slabs. Epoxy is the chemical used in adhesives such as Araldite and Loctite Tough.

Polyurethane is another UV resistant polymer and is available as a single and a dual pack product. Polyurethane(PU) is highly elastic and has excellent bonding to most construction substrates. PU is used in sealants to seal construction joints and expansion joints. PU foams are used to fill, seal and insulate. PU foams are used to install door and window frames and as an insulating material in cold climates. PU foams are also used in bore packing, electrical duct insulation and sealing. PU coatings are also used to preserve wood and metal, also as an automotive finish.

Other chemicals such as polyester also find use in construction to anchor rods in concrete and as body fillers in automotive refinish.

These polymers have revolutionised the construction industry and have lead to more efficient and long lasting structures.

For a range of construction chemicals in India, visit www.paintnhardware.com

Also available at our store :

 

How to Stain Wood

Wood by itself is a thing of beauty. But in many situations, we need to dress up wood to meet the aesthetic and practical requirements of its design and environment of use. Staining wood is the first step in dressing it up. Make pine look like teak wood or wood look like green bamboo, there are innovative ways to achieve striking results.

There are many schools of practice on how to stain wood. Let us look at some traditional and modern methods each have their own pros n cons.

Traditionally in India, wood is stained using powder pigments. These powder pigments are often chalk powder based and it involves mixing of raw pigments such raw sienna, burnt sienna, burnt umber etc with porbander chalk powder. These are then mixed with dispensing media such as French polish, sanding sealers or solvents such as methylated spirit and applied on the wood using a cotton rag. This method hides most imperfections on the wood and is suitable to any type and colour of wood. Unfortunately, along with hiding the imperfections, it also hides the natural grain of the wood giving it a pasty appearance. This method is suitable only for hand polishing or French polish. The stain thus obtained cannot be coated over by melamine or PU as the solvents used to dispense the pigment are not compatible with these polymer coatings. More over, if coated over, the solvents used to stain the wood begin to evaporate and cause the polymer film to break and eventually peel off.

There is another method to stain wood using powder pigments that does not involve solvents. Pure pigments such as the oxides of iron available in yellow, red and black hues can be mixed with water and applied to stain the wood. The intensity of the stains thus created can be controlled by changing the dilution of the pigment. In such a method, a pre stain coating is recommended as the stain can turn out patchy when applied using a rag or a roller. Application of the water based stain thus created causes the wood grain to get slightly raised lending a rough surface. Pre wetting and sanding of the raised grain is recommended to avoid this problem. This method is compatible with all types of wood coatings. Due to the absence of heavy powder usage, the wood grain appears enhanced and clear. The only drawback to this method is control of the stain intensity. Different batches of the stain may turn out different if the proportions are not the same.

The method recommended by most experienced wood workers is staining using manufactured wood stains. These stains are available off the shelf in a variety of colours. They are available in water

based and solvent based varieties. The solvent based variety carries a fast evaporating solvent which flashes off in about 2-3 hours and is compatible with all types of wood coatings. The water based variety dries off slower but provides a more even finish. The water based stain also needs to be applied after pre wetting and sanding for a smooth finish. Both stains can be applied as is or after dilution with an appropriate solvent. To get an even stain, it is recommended to apply a coat of pre-stain before staining the wood.

Application of Stains

The first step to applying wood stain is applying the pre-stain.

What is pre-stain?
Pre stain is a coating used before staining of wood. It partially closes the grain of the wood and makes it less absorbent. The stain applied after pre stain spreads more evenly.

Is pre-stain available in India?
Pre-stain is not available readily off the shelf in India, but one can easily create a pre-stain using the following method:
Purchase a can of the appropriate sealer - it can be water based or solvent based. Some varieties of sealer are: Water based PU sealer, solvent based PU sealer, Melamine sealer, and for hand polish -

sanding sealer.
Thin it 100% using the appropriate solvent. For water based sealers, use water and for solvent based sealers such as PU Sealers, use PU thinner.
This is your pre-stain.
Apply it along the grains using a cotton rag or a roller.
After the application of the pre-stain, the wood stain can be applied using a clean cotton rag or a roller along the grains. More than one coat of stain can be applied to get a greater colour depth, but remember, more stain means lesser natural wood grain.
This completes the wood stain.

To complete the wood finish, wood sealer must be applied over the stain first. Never sand the wood stain. Sanding must be done only after application of the sealer. The sealer now applied must be applied as a sealer coat and not as a pre-stain i.e. the sealer must now be thicker in consistency and used with the intention of sealing the wood completely. More than one coat of sealer must be applied, sanding with emery grit 180 between coats and with emery grit 320 on the final coat. The wood can then be finished using the top coat.

Hope this helps you stain your wood to perfection.

For a huge range of wood stains and sealers, visit http://paintnhardware.com/20-wood-finishes

Also available at our store :

 

Melamine vs PU

Two of the most popular transparent/natural wood finishes are melamine and PU(Polyurethane). Melamine and PU are both synthetic hydrocarbon polymers which form a film over the wood surface that is coated, thus laminating it. The purpose of lamination is to preserve the wood by not allowing the moisture of the wood to escape, preventing it from damage from the elements and protecting it from wear and tear from use. Both finishes enhance the aesthetics of the wood by allowing light to refract inside the transparent layer formed by them. Both the finishes have a similar application procedure by spray. So, what is the difference between the two?

The main difference is in the life of the coatings and its resistance to the elements.

PU Finished Door

Melamine was a great improvement over wood polish as a transparent wood finish when it was introduced in the Indian market in the late 80s and the 90s and is popular to date due to its economy. But melamine has its limitations. The film formed by melamine is only moderately resistant to water. It deteriorates when exposed to sunlight. The film easily yellows and looses lustre. The film begins to crack at the wood joints over time.

With the advent of polyurethane (PU) in the late 90s, most of the shortcomings of melamine were covered. PU forms a tougher film than melamine. It is more scratch resistant. It is flexible and does not crack with the movement of the wood joints. It is UV resistant and can be used on woods that are used in exteriors, such as entrance doors and windows. It does not yellow easily and gives a high lustre. The lustre is also retained longer due to its UV resistance.

PU gives clear advantages over melamine as the application procedure remains the same for both and there is no new skill required to apply PU. Thus the work involved takes the same time and effort on part of the applicator.

Consider wood finishing as a one time investment as reworking of wood finishes takes up lot of resources, skill, time and money. Go for the best coating for your expensive teak or other exotic woods as it will not only preserve the wood but also enhance its aesthetics.

Some things to note when applying Melamine or PU

Melamine or melamatt polish as it is popularly known among the painting contractors is usually sprayed over French/hand polished surfaces, which is not the intended procedure of application.

A study of melamine shows that for all intents and purposes, as in PU, was not originally developed as a wood coating. It is a product of innovation and adaptation that these products are used as wood coatings. The adaptation requires a specific application procedure for the product to perform as a wood coating. These application procedures are grossly ignored by applicators and contractors.

A damaged French Polished door

Applicators apply generous coats of French polish and NC Based Sanding sealers as a preparation for the final coating by melamine or PU. They do this as their skill set for colour matching of wood is based on French polish techniques.

The melamine and PU films often fail as the solvents in the French polish and NC sealers are not compatible with solvents used in PU and melamine coatings. Also, the solvents in the French polish applied under transparent coatings are exposed to light and begin to evaporate and cause blisters in the polymer film formed over it.

It is thus highly recommended that application of French polish be avoided when any such coatings are applied. Wood coated by French polish has its own charm and should not be over coated by polymer coatings.

There are much simpler and compatible colour matching techniques for melamine and PU using wood stains, which we shall discuss in another post.

For a huge range of wood finishes visit http://paintnhardware.com/20-wood-finishes

Also available at our store :

Why it is worth investing in quality paint for mild steel fabricated structures

Mild steel fabrications such as entrance gates, safety grills, rolling shutters, collapsible gates, sliding doors etc are known and used for their strength amd durability. They take a short time to be fabricated and can be quickly installed.
They however have a high initial cost and are meant to last a lifetime.

Mild steel has an achilles heel though and it is rust and corrosion. Expose to water, sunlight, dust and pollution cause the structure to corrode and loose its strength and its lifespan quickly shortens. The high initial cost comes to no avail.

It is wise thus to preserve the mild steel structure using anti corrosive paints and coatings.

Normal enamels and metal primers available in the market such as redoxide and zinc chromate primers are prepared using alkyd based binders. These binders typically have a lifespan of 1-2 years on exposure to the elements. The binder being the main film forming and barrier forming medium in the paint heavily influences the life of the paint. Due to the  inferior quality binder, the regular enamels begin flaking and chip off in a short span of time, leaving a small area of mild steel exposed. Smaller areas of exposed mild steel corrode much faster and begin to rust. Rust being more voluminous than mild steel causes the paint in the area around the corroded spot to chip off, causing even more rust, snowballing into a much more serious problem.

To save your invested time and money, it is hence worth investing in a good quality coating for your metal structure. It is also worth following best practices while applying the coating.

To coat any mild steel structure, the following is the best coating procedure.

Start off by removing any corrosion or rust using a rust remover and if necessary use a wire brush. Pay special attention to weld joints and corners as these are the most stressed and are prone to rust. Apply a coat of epoxy based metal primer generously over the surface. Zinc phosphate based epoxy primers are the best ones as the zinc phosphate acts as an active rust inhibitor. Allow the primer to fully cure. Fill dents, crevasses and holes using a polyester based putty, commonly known as a body filler. Give ample time for the putty to set. Apply another coat of the zinc phosphate primer. Allow to cure. To finish the coating aesthetically and to build resistance to deterioration of the coating from exposure to UV, apply a polyurethane based enamel as the final coat. Apply 2 coats of the PU coating, typically using spray equipment.

The above treatment will provide an extremely durable finish and a long life to the mild steel structure.

Special care must also be taken to protect parts that are sunken in the ground. 2-3 coats of the epoxy zinc phosphate primer must be applied before installation. The primer coat must not be damaged during the installation.

Thickness of the coatings on parts that are exposed to hand and foot traffic must be built up using an intermediate hi-build coating to resist wear and tear.

For a wide range of industrial paints and paints meant for mild steel, visit our site : www.paintnhardware.com
Also available at our store :

Cement Based Powder Tile Grouts Vs Epoxy Tile Grouts

Tile joint fillers also known as grout are traditionally white cement based powders that are used to fill gaps between tiles and other gaps in bathrooms and flooring. It is common practice even today to use white cement dyed with mineral based powder pigments (known commonly as oxide powders) to fill tile joints in bathrooms, flooring and terraces. While this fills the joints, it is not very long lasting. Being a cement based compound, it is not waterproof. It is absorbent and as a result carries moisture, leading to fungal/algal growth. This is what gives that ugly black/green stain to the tile joints. Also being a lime based product, it is not resistant to common cleaning agents such as acids and bathroom cleaners. This leads to erosion of the grout and ultimately water leakages through the joints.

To cover some shortcomings such as quick discolouration and uniform colour matching, many powder based cement grouts are available. These powder based cement grouts don't do much more that the above. They have no great resistance to cleaning agents and also are not waterproof. Some powder grouts do have additives to enable wide-tile-joint filling where normal grouts tend to crack. SBR based additives are also available to enhance the waterproofing capabilities of powder grouts, but they do nothing to enhance the resistance to cleaning agents.

Epoxy grouts cover all the above shortcomings. They work well as waterproof and chemical resistant tile joint fillers. They also work well on wide tile joints. They have a smooth glossy finish and never loose colour.

Epoxy grouts are supplied as 2 part or 3 part packs. They consist mainly of a resin and a hardner. 2 pack epoxies usually have a coloured resin and 3 part epoxies have clear resins and hardners and a third pigmented powder component used as an opaque filler. 2 part epoxies are easier to use in that they are easier to mix and apply. 3 part epoxies are cumbersome to mix and cause some amount of wastage.

Unlike powder grouts which have to be mixed with water to get a paste like consistency to apply. Epoxy grouts are ready to use once all its components are mixed. The mixed epoxy has a pot life of 25-45 minutes. It is prudent to be cautious while deciding on the quantity of material to be mixed. Mix only so much that can be used within its pot life. The immediate tack free time is about 10-15 minutes after application. The excess grout must be cleaned up before about 20 minutes from application. The only drawback for epoxy grouts is that it can leave behind a mess if not cleaned up properly in time. Epoxy grouts are usually applied using spacers between tiles so as to provide larger surface area for the grout to bond to the substrate. Spacers of 3mm minimum are recommended. Epoxy grout needs a dust and moisture free substrate.

Most bathroom leakages can be arrested using epoxy grouts. Epoxy grouts applied in a contrasting colour to the tiles form a beautiful grid pattern that is both modern and minimalist in design.

Epoxy grouts, as discussed above, out-perform on most criteria and are the future in tile laying.

For Commercially available Epoxy Grouts refer to "Bathroom leakage repairs - Waterproofing Tile Joints using Epoxy Grouts".

What is the Difference Between Duco NC Lacquer and PU?

Duco is a brand owned by Akzo Nobel (formerly ICI) and represents a Nitro Cellulose (NC) Based lacquer available in transparent and opaques. NC lacquers were widely used in the automobile industry to finish vehicle bodies to get a tough weather resistant, glossy film with performance far superior to the then prevalent enamels. But there were a few drawbacks to NC. NC Lacquers are highly viscous and take large amounts of thinner to thin to a sprayable consistency. Nitrocellulose on exposure to sunlight deteriorates, loses gloss and turns yellow. It is also notorious to apply on edges and often begin to peel off at the edges. The NC paints needed to be periodically buffed to remove the yellowed top layer. This leads to reduction of the paint film thickness. NC lacquers are also sensitive to ambient temperature and humidity during application. The temperature and humidity are known to adversely affect the gloss of the finish.

With the advent of Polyurethane coatings, NC began losing popularity as the preferred choice for vehicle body painting. PU as polyurethane is popularly known, has far better technical specifications to NC. PU is colour fast in sunlight and does not deteriorate even on prolonged exposure. PU forms a tougher film than NC due to extensive cross-linking introduced in the polymer. PU does not chip or peel off like NC. No buffing is required to maintain colour and gloss. PU can also be applied in a wide range of atmospheric conditions as compared to NC. PU is also easier to tint and match than NC due to the clarity of its binder and lower viscosity. PU can also be tinted to metallic shades. PU is also available in matt finishes.

Both NC and PU are used to coat wood and metal. These materials are also in wide use in home decor. PU is now the leading coating in the automotive industry and is fast gaining popularity in the decorative segment as well.

With green standards fast becoming the norm, PU is also available in water based variants that can be used to coat wood. They have a comparable performance to Solvent based PUs and are much easier to apply. They don't require elaborate spray equipment and also do not pose a health hazard as they can be brushed on.

For a wide range of lacquers and coatings, visit our online store.

Also available at our store :

How to get that Ultimate, Professional Super Glossy Finish for your Car

Ever wonder how The Fast and The Furious are always riding in beautiful, shiny cars, with that bright bling and showroom car finish?

How do they get that ride to be so damn Glossy!!!!! 

How is that black so Black and that metallic so deep???!!

Well, wonder no more, cause here is a step by step guide to that ultimate race car finish. Get that eye-popping gloss and deep colour by following the guide to the Ultimate Professional Super Glossy Finish for your car.

Be prepared for blood, sweat and elbow grease!

Before we flag off, lets look at why you need to put in those hours on your ride.

When the car leaves the showroom for the very first time and is the pride of your life, you see your dreams reflecting off the hood and into the orbit of your fantasies. Scenes of clouds drifting off the car, over the windscreen and over your head give you that high of flying in the open skies.

Those dream slowly loose their sheen as the clear coat of your car begins to loose its gloss.

The rigors of life begin to take a toll on your car. The mud and dust, hail storms and sunny parking lots, that unruly biker, all give your car's paint a really tough time. You take pity on the poor thing and one Sunday, decide to give it a much deserved bath. You use that shampoo that gives you super soft hair and massage it on to the hood as you would on your head. A generous splash of water and a towel down with a cotton/ semi cotton (or who knows what material) cloth in circular motion will get it dry.

The shampoo just killed its sheen and the cloth just made more swirl marks on the paint. Your showroom finish is long gone.

But... is there no anti-ageing Serum you ask???

We have just the prescription for you.

First off, give your car a nice pressure wash using water. No commercial detergents. Make sure all the mud and grime are washed off. Next, wipe your car using a clean, washed, 100% cotton cloth or a chamnois cloth. Wait for it to completely dry. Now, park the car in shade and wait for it to cool off. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation.

Personal safety first. Wear gloves and a mask before the next steps.

Here is the opportunity to introduce you to the trade secrets of the professional car finishers. That dead clear coat can be brought to life by rubbing, buffing and polishing it. How? you ask... The answer is, using specialty rubbing compounds and finishing waxes.

Rubbing compounds and waxes are available in a number of brands and avatars. After a lot of Indian market research, I have found that the ultimate rubbing compound is Meguiar's Diamond Cut 2.0 and the best wax out there is Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow Wax.

How do we use them?

On the cool car surface, apply the rubbing compound (Meguiar's Diamond Cut 2.0 is a liquid) with a microfibre cloth. Using a polisher and a wool pad, buff the surface. The speed setting on the polisher must be medium. Work one area at a time. If you do not have access to a polisher, buffing can be done using the microfiber cloth itself. After the buffing is complete, using the used area of the microfiber cloth, wipe off the dust caused by buffing. You will now have lesser swirl marks on the clear coat than before and an enhanced gloss will have developed.

How to maintain this gloss? The gloss thus developed can be protected using a wax polish.

Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow Wax is a Carnauba Wax mixed with other high grade ingredients. It adds richness and depth of colour and provides ultimate high gloss protection to any cleaned and polished paint surface. Shake the bottle well. Apply the wax one section at a time. If you are applying the wax by hand, use a 100% cotton terry cloth or sponge applicator. Use light pressure. Spread the wax evenly over the surface using overlapping strokes to ensure complete coverage. Allow the wax to dry to a haze. Now, wipe off excess with a soft cleaning cloth. Turn to clean side of the cloth for a final wipe.

Your car will now be the envy of your neighbors!

After Care 

• Never use commercial detergents and shampoos on your car. 
• Do not use pressure while wiping the car.
• Always use a soft microfiber or cotton cloth for wiping the car.
• Regular re-waxing will maintain the gloss for a long time.
• Your car will again be your pride and joy!

What is Duco Paint? How is it applied?

Duco is a brand marketed by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI now merged with Akzo Nobel) under which it sells its popular Automotive paints. The Duco brand represents a range of products meant for auto painting and refinishing. The topcoat or the finish coat available under the brand Duco is a Nitro Cellulose (NC) Lacquer. Due to its wide spread use and popularity, the name "Duco" has been genericized to refer to Nitro Cellulose (NC) Lacquers.

Duco was vastly popular as an automotive finish before the advent of Polyurethane paints. Now a days Duco has found a new life as a high quality finish for interiors and other architectural projects. 

NC Lacquers typically are a clear or coloured wood/metal finish that dry by solvent evaporation and produce a hard, durable finish.  (Read more about Lacquers in general here)

Duco being an NC Lacquer has the following properties :

• Fast Drying
• High Solid content 
• Excellent Water Barrier
• Excellent Self Leveling properties
• Takes very well to buffing to give a high sheen 
• Smooth and Hard finish

 Areas of Application :

• Automobile body
• Plywood and MDF
• Sheet Metal
• MS angles and flats
• Architectural and Industrial metal structures

The different surfaces require different preparations. Let us look at the application methods for each of the surfaces mentioned above.


Application method for Sheet Metal and MS Structures :
Materials Required

• Compressor capable of delivering 30-40 psi pressure consistently.
• A good quality spray gun - preferably HVLP type.
• Safety Equipment - Mask, Glasses, Gloves and Overalls.
• Degreaser solvent
• Degreaser Cloth
• Duco Oil Primer / MRF Etch Primer
• Tak Cloths - to remove sanding dust.
• Duco Primer Surfacer - Grey / White - depending on the top coat colour you choose. For Lighter coloured top coats, use Primer Surfacer White and for darker topcoats, use Primer Surfacer Grey.
• Duco Soft Cut Putty 
• Water Emery (Latex paper backed) of grits 220 and 320
• Sanding block
• Duco NC Lacquer
• Duco Thinner
• Rubbing Compund - 3M 1Step is highly recommended.
• Cotton Waste

Application

• Scrap off any loose particles, dirt and old paint from the metal surface to bare metal.
• If the base metal is galvanized, an etch primer is recommended.
• For bare sheet metal, a coat of Duco Oil Primer thinned with a General Purpose thinner in the ratio 5:1 must be applied and allowed to dry overnight. The Duco Oil Primer has excellent adhesion, corrosion resistance and is air drying.
• Apply 2 coats of Duco Primer Surfacer (PS) thinned with Duco Thinner in the ratio 1:1.5 with a flash off interval of 15 minutes between coats.
• Rectify any minor dents and scratches using Duco Soft Cut Putty and a putty knife.
• Wet sand with water emery of grit 220 followed by 320 to level any imperfections.
• Apply a coat of Primer Surfacer on the puttied areas.
• Choose a colour!
• Apply 2 coats of Duco NC Lacquer thinned with Duco Thinner in the ratio 1:2 of the selected colour. Allow flash off interval of 15 minutes between coats.
• Leave to dry overnight.
• Wet sand flat (remove gloss) carefully with emery grits 600/800and apply one mist coat thinned 1:3 with Duco Thinner.
• Allow to dry overnight and polish the surface using 3M 1Step Rubbing compound. 
• For a higher gloss polish use 3M Premium Liquid Wax.

Application for wood and MDF surfaces follows the same procedure as above except for priming using Duco Oil Primer. The Duco Primer Surfacer is applied directly onto the wooden surface.

The finish thus obtained is long lasting and durable.

Duco has the following limitations :

• Requires elaborate equipment to apply - compressor and spray guns are the basic requirements.
• Colour stability on exposure to sunlight is average - easily yellows.
• Attention to surface preparation is required before application - needs a skilled workman.
• Duco is sensitive to the atmospheric conditions during application - A change in temperature can affect the finish.
• Being solvent based, it is not environmentally friendly and precautions must be taken against the health hazards during application. At minimum a respirator mask, gloves and glasses are required. Body overalls are highly recommended. An exhaust system must be in place to extract the solvent flashing off the surface.

 A range of Duco Products is available for delivery across India @ paintnhardware.com

Also available at our store :

A Study of Paint Rollers

Introduction to Paint Rollers - A brief history of how the paint roller evolved in India

 

Micro fiber Roller - European Handle

The evolution of the roller has followed the path of evolution of paint in India. Not too closely though. There have been times when the paint technology was far ahead and the roller lagged far behind. As time progressed and paint graduated from lime wash to distempers and emulsions, the transition of brush to roller was a slow one. This was partly due to unavailability of certain roller products and technologies but majorly due to habits of painters and their reluctance to invest in their trade. Painters were usually part time. The finish of emulsions were not up to the mark due to the use of brushes. To counter this, painters began using cheap foam rollers on wet paint after brush application. The finish was better but still not satisfactory and the paint jobs took longer to complete. This system worked for many years until painters began experiencing problems with application of high sheen emulsions. Around the same time, painters also began facing problems with manpower. The modern cloth roller thus began finding acceptance and quickly replaced the brush as a tool of application. This roller not only provided uniform deposition of paint but also reduced the time taken to paint. After some initial resistance - again due to the painters habit and reluctance to invest in trade - the cloth roller is widely used today. 

Variety of Rollers

. Cloth Vs Foam - Cloth rollers are mats of woven or knitted fiber pasted onto plastic tubes and mounted on to handles. The pasting is done in a spiral fashion so as not to leave any marks on the painted surface. Foam rollers are pieces of foam, cut in uniform cylindrical shapes and mounted onto handles.

. A wide variety of sizes are also available. Width x Diameter - 2 " x 1", 4" x 1", 6" x 1", 6" x 2", 7" x 2", 8" x 2", 9" x 2".

Polyester Roller - Cage Handle

. A Wide variety of materials area also available in cloth rollers : Polyester, Acrylic, Micro Fibre, Poly Amide, Natural Hair and Blends of the above. The material is either warp knitted or woven.

Criteria to choosing a roller

With so much variety there is often a confusion as to which roller to choose. The following criteria will make the choice objective :

. Foam Vs Cloth :

 Low density foam rollers pick up a large amount of material and splatter paint onto the surface and are not suitable for application of paint. This leads to a lot of wastage. They can only be used to remove excess paint or smoothen unevenly applied paint. High density foam rollers pick up less material and cause less splatter when placed onto the surface to be painted. They can be used to apply paint. The problem with foam rollers is that they tend to break after usage. They are also very difficult to clean, as the material is absorbed into the entire thickness of the foam.

Cloth rollers on the other hand provide uniform paint deposition and splatter free painting. They are easy to clean as paint is absorbed only into the mat of the material which is on an average only about 0.5" in thickness.

. Pile / Nap of a Cloth Roller :

The roller pile is the length of the fiber. The longer the fiber, the more material it can hold. Also a larger pile will help the roller cover larger surface undulations. But a longer fiber also means a rougher finish. Rollers meant for rough surfaces such as rough plastered exterior walls have a larger pile.

. Material of a Cloth Roller :

Polyester is the cheapest material but has low paint pickup.

Acrylic is a bit more expensive and has better paint pickup.

Micro Fibre is a bit higher in cost and has excellent paint pickup.

Polyamide fibre has equivalent paint pickup and cost to micro fiber but has much longer life.

. Woven Vs Knitted

Woven fibers pickup more material than knitted fibers and also deposit material more uniformly.

. Handles - Cage Style Vs European Style

Cage handles are more expensive than european style handles but have better grip on the roller.

. Lint Free Rollers do not leave behind any fiber on the painted surface. These are generally more expensive.

Considering the finish required, the surface being painted and the paint being used, a suitable roller can be chosen using the above criteria.

A variety of paint rollers available in the Indian market can be bought here..

Happy Painting!!