Covering capacity

The hiding power of a paint describes its ability to cover the substrate evenly and completely so that its original color, structure or texture is no longer visible. It is a decisive quality feature of paints and influences both the visual result and the efficiency of the coating process, as good hiding power reduces the number of coats required.

The hiding power depends on several factors, including the pigment concentration in the paint, the type of pigments and binders, the viscosity of the paint and the application technique. Paints with a high pigment content, such as white with titanium dioxide as a pigment, are characterized by particularly good opacity.

The properties of the substrate also play an important role. Light, smooth and even surfaces are easier to cover, while dark, highly absorbent or irregular substrates usually require pre-treatment, such as priming or several coats of paint. Proper substrate preparation, e.g. by cleaning, sanding or applying a primer, can improve the opacity of the paint.

The opacity of paints is divided into opacity classes according to DIN EN 13300. Class 1 stands for the highest opacity, while class 4 stands for low opacity. Paints with high opacity are ideal for covering color-intensive or high-contrast substrates quickly and efficiently, saving time and material in painting jobs.