Dado Paper – Wall covering usually architectural, that covers the lower part of the wall and generally ends at the height of the chair rail.

Dead Flat – A film with no gloss.

Decorative Painting – Painting for appearance.

De-glosser - A liquid preparation used to remove the gloss of a painted surface, to slightly roughen or give “tooth” to the substrate. This lends improved adhesion to the coating being applied.

Degreaser – Chemical solution (compound) for grease removal.

Detergent – Cleaning agent.

Dew Point - The temperature at which water vapor in the air begins to condense.

DFT - Dried Film Thickness generally expressed in mils.

Diluent - A liquid that is included in a coating, or can be added primarily to reduce its viscosity. A diluent is not necessarily a solvent for the binder.

Dirt Pick up - Accumulation of dirt, dust and/or other debris on the paint film. Dirt pick-up may resemble mildew.

Discoloration – Color change.

Discontinuity – See Continuity

Discounting System – Pricing system in which the wholesale price is represented as a discount on the list or retail price.

Dispersion – Suspension of one substance in another.

Drag - Resistance on bristle encountered when paints are being applied. Excessive drag of a coating can be a serious fault.

Draw down – To spread a wet color sample from a thick to a thin film on a white background. This is done to observe the potential value or lightness range of a color.

Drier – Chemical which promotes oxidation or drying of oil base paints.

Drop Ceiling – Form of decoration in which the ceiling paper is brought down to a suitable depth on the walls of a room and is divided from the sidewall by a border or molding used to give a lowering effect to an otherwise high ceiling.

Drop Cloth – Large piece of fabric or plastic used to protect objects or floors from paint spills or drips.

Dry Dust Free - Drying stage of a coating at which airborne dust particles will not adhere to it.

Dry Spray - Over-spray or bounce-back producing a sandy finish due to the sprayed particles having partially dried before reaching the surface.

Dry Tack Free - Drying stage of a coating at which it is not sticky or tacky to the touch.

Dry to Re-coat - Drying stage of a coating at which another coat of paint can be applied without damaging the previous coat.

Dry to Sand - Drying stage of a sandable coating at which it can be sanded without the excess sticking to or clogging the sandpaper.

Dry to Touch - Drying stage of a coating at which it has hardened enough that it may be touched lightly without any of it adhering to the finger.

Dry-fall Coating - An extremely fast-drying paint commonly used to paint ventilation ducts, trusses, pipes and ceilings in commercial buildings, such as warehouses, retail stores and restaurants. Dry fall coatings are applied by airless spray. Dry fall means the paint completely dries before it reaches the floor.

Drying Oil – An oil which will harden upon exposure to are.

Drying Time - The interval between the application of a coating and when it is ready for service.

Drywall – Gypsum wallboard, formerly called plasterboard. Used in 90 percent or new wall construction. Surface is cream-colored manila paper.

Drywall compound - A highly extended paste used to make a continuous seam between pieces of drywall (Sheetrock); also used to repair cracks, holes and other defects. It is sanded smooth before painting.

Dull Finish – Almost a dead flat.

Dulling – Loss of gloss or sheen.

Durability - The degree to which a coating or caulk can withstand the destructive effects of the environment to which it is exposed. The term also refers to interior applications, including the ability to withstand scrubbing, abrasion, etc.

Dye – A material used for dyeing or staining, usually dissolved in oil. water or alcohol.

Dynel – Material used in roller covers.