Paint terms glossary

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Cathedral ceiling: A vaulted ceiling with two sloped sides rising to a center ridge.
Coat: One full layer of paint over the whole surface. Two coats is typical for a color change.
Coverage rate: How many square feet one gallon covers in one coat, printed on the can. Most are 300–400; 350 is a common planning figure.
Cut-in: Painting the edges and corners with a brush where a roller cannot reach, before rolling the main wall.
Five-gallon bucket: A large container of paint, often cheaper per gallon, best for big jobs.
Gable: The triangular part of a wall under the ridge of a pitched roof. Its area is ½ × width × rise.
Mil: One thousandth of an inch (0.001 in), used to describe how thick a paint film is.
Paintable area: Wall area minus doors, windows and anything else you will not paint.
Primer: A first coat that seals a surface, helps paint stick and can reduce the number of top coats.
Quart: A quarter of a gallon. Often costs more per gallon than a full gallon.
Sheen: How glossy a paint is: flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Shinier paints are easier to wipe clean but show flaws more.
Trim: Baseboards, door and window casing, crown molding and other woodwork, usually painted in a different sheen.

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