deckend

Deckend is an adjective used in German to describe paints, coatings, and similar materials that obscure the substrate by providing high hiding power. A deckende Farbe or deckende Grundierung is intended to prevent underlying textures or colors from showing through after application. The term reflects the coating’s ability to cover the surface with a single or few layers.

Etymology and usage: deckend derives from the verb decken, meaning to cover. In German technical writing it is used to specify the opacity of a coating. In Dutch, a closely related concept is expressed with dekkend or dekkende, depending on the grammatical context, and the underlying idea is the same: the coating has strong covering power.

Applications: the concept is common in the paints and coatings industry, including interior wall paints, primers, and metal coatings. Deckende formulations are chosen when thorough concealment of the substrate is required, for example to hide previous colors, textures, or surface imperfections. Compatibility with subsequent layers and the desired finish (matte, satin, or gloss) are considered when selecting a deckend product.

Measurement and related terms: deckend is related to terms such as Deckkraft (opacity) and Deckvermögen (covering power). Opacity is typically described qualitatively (high, medium, low) or quantitatively via tests that assess how much light passes through the coating and how well the substrate is concealed.

See also: opacity, covering power, paint and coatings.