Flat oil paints have good application properties. They are often supplied under the so-called painters line of materials. Oleoresinous finishes are fairly easy to apply. They dry rapidly to a hard finish, provided the proportion of oil is not too high. Oleoresinous enamels have better alkali resistance than gloss paints or alkyd enamels, but they have poorer colour retention than the latter.
Alkyds are the most widely used resin in coatings.
Finish coats of all degrees of gloss should have good hiding power. Hence, they can be used over almost all surfaces except fresh plaster. There are a few medium-gloss finishes on the market that act as their own sealer, but because they cost more than normal sealers it is often more economical to use the two separate materials. The colour retention of alkyds is very good. They should not be used where they will be exposed to fairly strong alkali, and they are generally not so easy to apply as latex finishes.