Paint adhesion testing is the process of determining if certain paints will adhere to a surface exceptionally well. It is an important process for commercial painters and even home painters, but not something many people understand. Before hiring commercial painters or taking on a home project, learn a little bit about paint adhesion and why testing it is important.

What is Paint Adhesion?

When you spread paint on a surface, you want it to apply smoothly and cover the wall perfectly. You also want it to last. Paint adhesion is how well the paint sticks to the surface and stays there.

Why is Paint Adhesion Important?

There are many different types of surfaces that people want to paint. Surfaces include wood, metal, plastic and concrete. Some paints adhere to these surfaces better than others. Paint companies even develop paint that will work specifically for a certain surface.

When paint adheres well to a surface, it will look smooth for a long time. Paint that doesn't adhere well will eventually bubble, crack, and peel from the surface. You will have to repaint it to fix the problems.

What Factors Affect Paint Adhesion?

In order for paint to adhere well to a surface, three things need to happen. First, the surface needs to absorb the paint. It is how close the paint gets to the surface. You want the paint and surface to become very intimate. Second, the paint must work its way into all of the cracks, crevices, and holes of the surface. The deeper it gets into these crevices, the better. This is why many painters rough up a surface before painting. Finally the paint should create a chemical reaction with the surface. Some paints are designed with an extra chemical that will react with a specific surface and creating a tight bond.

If the paint does at least one of these things with the surface it is on, then it will have good paint adhesion.

How is Paint Adhesion Tested?

Paint adhesion tests are performed either in a lab or with an at-home kit. Common tests include cutting lines into the painted surface to see how well the paint stays. You might apply tape to the cut areas and rip it off quickly to see if the tape pulls paint off the surface. More technical testing involves adding weight to the paint at increasing amounts until the paint pulls from the surface.

Now that you know about paint adhesion, you can talk to a commercial painter like Pro-Guard Painters to make sure you're getting the best paint. You'll also know what to buy if you decide to buy paint and do your own work at home.