Cornice

A decorative moulding used between a wall and ceiling line.


Corrosion

General oxidation of steel, causing rusting.


Covering Power:

Referred to by many when expressing their views relating perhaps to the hiding power, (see Opacity), coverage, (see spreading rate).


Cracking

The splitting of a paint or varnish coating due to ageing, (see Hairline cracking, Checking, Crazing).


Crackle finish

Special finishing paint formulated to shrink and form cracks in the dry film exposing the underneath  colour.

Usually applied to furniture to leaving a distressed finish.
Results similar appearance to mud cracking.


Cratering

Caused by rain falling onto a semi dry paint film or aeration of a paint coating during application.


Crawling

Paint shrinking during drying forming an uneven film mainly due to surface contamination Creepage
High surface tension paints applied to a substrate with lower surface tension. For example, paint on steel with oil on the surface


Crazing

Non-uniform cracks which, unlike checking, can be quite deep.


Creepage

See Crawling


Creosote

An oily fluid distilled from coal tar for