S
Sable. Very high quality brush. Often used in signwriting and fine detailed work. Heraldic term for black.
Sadolin. Akzo Nobel stain and varnish brand.
Sander. A tool or machine used for smoothing surfaces.
Sandpaper. An abrasive paper used for smoothing surfaces.
Santex. Exterior wallcovering paint.A product of Akzo-Nobel.
Satin finish Paint finish with dull sheen akin to eggshell finish.
Schonox. Akzo Nobel paint brand.
Scraper. A stiff bladed knife, usually between 1 to 4 inches wide, used for general preparation work and paint stripping.
Scratch. Slang term for any type of abrasive paper.
Scrim Pole. A pole used to maneuvere wide wallcoverings when hanging.
Scumble. Removing parts of a coating (usually a scumble-stain), while still wet, to expose the previous coat. e.g. in Graining.
scraffito. See graffito below.
Seam roller. A small wooden or plastic(top quality: stainless steel) roller for use on wallpaper edges.
Selvedge. The protective edging on untrimmed wallpaper.
Semi-gloss. Less than a full gloss; eggshell type finish.
Semi-trimmed. Seemingly untrimmed wallpaper, which has been partially cut though by machine trimmer and which can be trimmed by knocking the edge firmly and sharply, thereby removing the selvedge.
Serpentine A greenish colored marble. One of the principal green marbles.
Sgraffito.This is a technique often used for wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface.
Shabby Chic A decorating style originating in the USA.
Shaker A minimalist style of furniture and decoration originating in the USA.
Shave Hook or Shaving Hook. A trianguler scraper used in paint stripping. There are variations on the plain triange shape of the blade, some being curved edged to assist in stripping mouldings. The blade is set at right angles to the handle.
Sherwin-Williams. Since its founding by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company has not only grown to be the largest producer of paints and coatings in the United States, but is among the largest producers in the world..
Siccative. Drying medium.
Siccative. Drying medium.
SignboardA board showing the name or logo of a shop or business.
Sikkens. Akzo Nobel speciality paint brand.
Silicate: Any one of a large family of substances chiefly used with titanium dioxide, the primary pigment, as an extender pigment. When used in moderation, these silicates (magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, etc.) are valuable in helping control gloss, aid brushability, and increase hold-out properties and overall exterior durability.
Silvering. Applying silver-leaf to the prepared surface.
Silver Leaf Very thin silver used in lettering and ornate gilding.
SilverfishSmall insects with fish-like bodies found in damp areas.
Skylight A window in roof or ceiling.
SkirtingA board running round the base of walls touching the floor.
Slasher In times gone by; the expert user of a large distemper brush.
Soffit. The underhang between exterior wall and fascia board. Eaves.
Softwood. Timber cut from pine trees.
Space stick. A made to measure width stick used primarily in paperhanging; a smaller version is made for treads and risers on stairs.
Spattering: Droplets of paint that spin or mist off the roller as paint is being applied. The application of droplets of paint to obtain a Spatter finish.
Spindle. The narrow posts supporting the handrail on a staircase.
Steel toe-caps. Safety footwear now mandatory on all building sites in the UK.
Steel wool. Wire wool abrasive.
Stencil. To produce a pattern or design thru a paper cut-out.
Stile. The vertical beam on a window or panel-door.
Stopper. Wood filler to match colour of the timber.
String. The boards running up both sides of the steps on a staircase.
Stripper. A chemical compound, in jelly or liquid form used to remove old or damaged paint.
Stucco. A coarse finishing material for walls and wood (mainly exterior), often to hide imperfections.
Sub Turps. Turpentine substitute or White Spirit.
Sugar Soap. A caustic soap used to remove grease and dirt from paintwork.
Surfactants. Surface-active agents, these are additives which reduce surface tension and thereby improve wetting (wetting agents), help disperse pigments, inhibit foam, or emulsify. Conventionally, they are classified as to their charge: anionic (negative); cationic (positive); nonionic (no charge); or amphoteric (both positive and negative).