4 ms·

Why Are Barns Red?

• pg 16y ago
  Because initially iron oxide was the cheapest pigment. White paint, which might seem the default choice chromatically, was more expensive to make. http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=1888 http://www.osv.org/explore_learn/document_viewer.php?DocID=1...
  • projectileboy 16y ago
    Maybe I'm being obtuse, but I didn't glean from the link why folks simply didn't opt for no pigment (which I assume results in some sort of unappealing gray or brown). Do you know why?
    • pg 16y ago
      Because the pigment is what protects what's under paint from UV light. With no pigment you have in effect varnish. Also, without some kind of pigment you might have to use excessive amounts of binder to get a sufficiently thick coat.
      • projectileboy 16y ago
        Ahh... I was ignorant; I assumed the pigment provided only color. Thanks.