Today's Technology And You

Today's
TECHNOLOGY AND YOU

Space-age paint insulates

Q: My house seems chilly in the winter and my air-conditioning costs are high in the summer. How effective is the new residential-type insulating ceramic-filled paint? Is it durable and washable? - H. G.

A: Insulating ceramic-filled paint has been used for years on commercial buildings and there are now new formulations for interior and exterior house paint. Using this paint can improve your comfort and lower your heating and cooling bills. It is extremely durable (some manufacturers offer a 10-year warranty) and it resists damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

You can roll, brush or spray it on your walls and you cannot distinguish it from ordinary interior wall paint or exterior house paint. When I remodeled my house, I painted all the walls with it. I also applied an extra heavy exterior coat to my uninsulated garage door to add insulation.

Ceramic-filled paint has tiny micro-sized ceramic particles (borosilicate) suspended in it. These particles have a unique combination of thermal properties. First, they reflect heat. In the winter, your body heat bounces back off the walls painted with ceramic-filled paint for a warm feeling. Second, the ceramic particles dissipate heat like a dark cast iron radiator.

This same type of ceramic particles is used in the heat shield tiles on the space shuttles to block reentry heat. These thermal properties make this paint a good insulator for house walls too. Since ceramic particles block radiant heat, it is difficult to give this paint a typical R-value rating.

New insulating ceramic-filled and no-stain paints

On the exterior of your house, ceramic-filled paint is effective year-round, but it is particularly effective at blocking the summer sun's heat. This can reduce the cooling load on your air conditioner during the peak afternoon heat and it protects the walls from thermal shock and stresses.

Many of the paint manufacturers use the original technology of hollow ceramic micro-spheres (a handful of the dry spheres feels like flour) in water-based acrylic for easy cleanup. In the paint can, the spheres are suspended making it look and feel like ordinary paint. As the paint dries on your wall, these spheres pack tightly together to form an insulating barrier.

Newer-technology ceramic-filled paints use a combination of hollow micro-spheres and flat platelets. When you roll on the paint, the tiny platelets move toward the surface to create a heat

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

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reflecting (not visually reflective) and heat dissipating surface. The micro-spheres pack together underneath to create an insulating barrier.

Ceramic-filled paint is applied much thicker, up to 15 mils (thousandths of an inch), than ordinary wall paint. The thicker it is, the greater the insulating effect. This heavy coat often covers small cracks, imperfections and reduces noise indoors. At 15 mils, you could wash it every week for years without wearing through it.

Several of the paint manufacturers make a thicker light-colored ceramic-filled roof paint. If you have a problem with second floor bedrooms overheating in the summer, use this paint on the roof. It can sometimes be a low-cost alternative to expensive roof repairs too. Tough ceramic-filled stucco is available and is good for attractive repairs.

Keeping your interior walls bright and clean can reduce the need for switching on lamps. There are several new types of no-stain, scrubbable flat and satin interior wall paints available (EverClean, Silken Touch, Accolade, etc.). Some of these paints can last up to 10 years without losing their like-new appearance.

One no-stain paint technology uses much smaller latex particles than ordinary wall paint. These tiny particles form a more non-porous surface. Dirt and splatters do not soak in and are easily wiped off. Another technology uses microscopic particles of slick Teflon (like on your skillets) in the paint to repel stains and dirt.

Write for or instant download (www.dulley.com) Utility Bills Update No. 588 - a buyer's guide of 12 ceramic and no-stain, washable paints, prices, application instructions, warranties and coverage. Please include $2 (with checks payable to Jim Dulley) and a business-size SASE. Mail to: Jim Dulley, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. For instant download, go to http://www.dulley.com.

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