Protection: All man-made structures consist of materials which will either erode or corrode if left exposed to the elements of wind, rain, sun, etc. Painting these materials protects them, gives them a longer life-span and makes them more economical to use.
Decoration: Nature provides a vast array of natural colour in the form of trees, grass, flowers, etc. which we take for granted in our exterior environment. Man-made building materials tend to be grey and dull and we therefore paint them to enhance our environment, make them distinct or different and increase their value.
Sanitation: Areas in the home such as kitchens and bathrooms require being more stringently clean than others as these areas are more susceptible to the spread of disease or germs. Painting these areas with smooth, easily washable paints is often the most practical solution.
Identification/ Information: A less obvious reason for painting is that of identification. By colour coding various items we can thus identify them more easily and may also use them as safety features as in “safety doors” in hotels, factories, etc. Roads are also painted to convey certain information.
Modify properties: Some articles characteristics may be altered by merely changing the colour or introducing some special effect by painting. Fuel storage tanks and fuel tankers are invariably painted silver or white to reflect heat, military aircraft and vehicles are camouflaged by painting etc
Painting may involve one or more of the above reasons and each job must be judged on its own criteria if total success is to be achieved by the painting process. When selecting paints for a certain job, always start with the primary objective of painting.