Painting Perfection
Brush up on your paint facts.
Before you actually buy the paint, as you stand at the paint counter with eight tiny colour swatches of near identical colours in hand, remember this one important piece of advice – paint chips are printed and not painted so they will never be the same as the finished colour on your much larger walls.
The more you understand about a particular paint colour, the more educated you become about whether it enhances your colour scheme or throws the whole look off balance. Always invest a few dollars buying the test pot first – it can save you thousands of dollars (and tears) not to have to repaint an entire house. Paint at least two coats on the largest board you have available and look at it in natural light, as well as inside (particularly for internal colours as this is near to how you will actually see them in the home and in relation to carpets, tiles, etc). Always wait until the paint has completely dried before making any rash decisions as paint dries darker than it looks when it is wet.
Purchasing and Priming
When buying paint people are often unsure of the quantity they need to purchase. The general rule of thumb is to allow between 10 and 14 sq. metres per litre. Always ensure that all surfaces are carefully prepped before priming, and select a good quality primer. Viscosity High Build Undercoat or maxiprep gives better coverage than a standard paint coat as the formula allows more of the product to adhere to the wall surface. The undercoat can also be tinted to further enhance the amount of final coverage achieved.
Paints consist of a tone colour (base) that is tinted with a measured quantity of colourants (tints) to a recipe or formula unique to each paint colour and manufacturer. When choosing a paint colour it pays to know how much tint will be added to the tone. If the amount is too small then the opacity of the paint will be compromised, and may require several additional coats to achieve the amount of coverage necessary. If too much tint is added to the tone it can interfere with the paint’s film forming properties, durability and can increase the risk of future fading. Paint brands such as Solver Paints and Wattyl, offer a Builder’s Range of colours. These ranges identify specific selections of colours proven to provide coverage without the need for excessive coats above standard application – a great advantage for the novice painter.
Maintaining your Paintwork
Although exterior paint generally last between 7 to 10 years, due to the uniquely harsh Queensland climate, often this can be even less than the manufacturer promotes. Thankfully the quality of tints has improved greatly in recent years and many now include UV filters. With so many exterior products on the market, Solver Duroguard self-priming paint is a favourite for many painters as there is no need for an undercoat and coverage for most colours can be achieved in only two coats. The preferred method of paint application for most painters is a synthetic roller with a thickness of 12mm. The roller needs to be primed regularly with paint to ensure coverage is smooth and even.
