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Answers to your questions from our Paint Experts, p 01

Here's a taste of some of the Paint Expert questions and answers to help you with your own projects.

Always make sure you read the product label and data sheet prior to application. If in doubt about any aspect of your project, please ask our Paint Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller.

 
 
 
 

Q&A   p. 01


Q. Have just finished painting some dark stained beams. I used Resene Sureseal as a first coat and two coats of Resene Zylone Sheen but still got some bleed through. What did I do wrong?

A. Usually Resene Sureseal will block stain migration into the Resene Zylone Sheen topcoats. Resene Sureseal will block most stains - in your case there must be a stain that is solvent soluble that is then solubilised by the topcoat. To resolve the bleed through, apply Resene StainLock and then topcoat in your chosen topcoat.

May 2013

Q. If using a metallic paint from your metallic paints range for an exterior part of the house as a special effect, is there any special application method to follow?

A. Spray application will give the best finish. You must also apply the correct undercoat colour which is matched to the metallic colour.

May 2013

Q. Further to EQC repairs to our garage concrete slab, the scope allows for our current unpainted slab to be painted with a two pack system. Can you kindly provide me with your specification sheet for your product regarding installation requirements and slab preparation etc?

A. We recommend Resene Aquapoxy.

May 2013

Q. What can be used to remove tannin stains from galvanised metal? The tannin comes from new hard wood exterior stairs onto the stringers.

A. If the galvanizing is unpainted you should be able to remove the tannin stains by wiping with a water solution containing 15% cloudy ammonia or a 10% solution of washing soda.

May 2013

Q. Is there a clear product to treat rust? Our outdoor dining chairs are black with a grey/blue sponge finish applied. They have previously been sprayed with matt polyurethane to prevent rust but this has broken down.

A. To prevent corrosion we use anti-corrosive pigments and this does not allow paint to be formulated as clear.

May 2013

Q. Is there a product that I can 'paint' my roof with as an interim measure following earthquake compounded ageing deterioration - simply to 'delay' eventual replacement? It’s a 20+ year butynol tile-type roof.

A. You can paint butynol but this is only to protect the material from weathering. If there are tears or breaks in the butynol layer we cannot offer a paint system that will give waterproofing. In the event the latter does not apply the following can be undertaken, wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash and prime with Resene Membrane Roofing Primer then apply two coats of Resene Summit Roof. It’s best to avoid dark colours but if you choose a dark colour then use the Resene CoolColour™ formulation of the colour which will give more heat reflection from the painted surface than the same colour made using conventional colorants.

May 2013

Q. We have a wrought iron fence - galvanised and powdercoated. It is 10 years old and the powdercoat is faded and chipped. What painting process should I apply? We do not wish to powdercoat again as it did not perform.

A. I advise against trying to undertake spot repairs. If possible strip the powdercoating prior to painting. Then apply Resene ArmourZinc 110 followed by Resene Galvo One and two coats of Resene Summit Roof in your selected colour.

May 2013

Q. We need a paint spec for a commercial kitchen floor. There is a fire damaged paint system on old concrete that needs to be replaced as part of insurance works.

A. Degrease using Altex P40 then diamond grind. For the paint system, seal prepared concrete with Resene Sureseal followed by Resene Aquapoxy for Flooring.

May 2013

Q. Is it best to roll on or spray paint Resene X-200 on a coarse plaster wall? I recently rolled a plaster wall and found that the old colour was bleeding through after two coats. The paint was applied with a 25mm synthetic wool sleeve.

A. We recommend rolling the first coat of Resene X-200 and then you can roll or spray subsequent coats. Rolling the first coat ensures that the first coat does gain maximum adhesion and penetration as spray application does not give the benefit of pressure as rolling does.

May 2013

Q. Newly painted walls look as if downward tears are forming - does it need a ‘curing’ period to become uniform colour?

A. What you describe is probably surfactant leaching – click here for details on what causes this and how to remedy.

May 2013

Q. We have a bathroom that has been painted a while ago. Over the years we have developed a mould problem. What is the correct procedure and products for mould ridding and repainting and future mould prevention?

A. Mould growth tends to occur when the conditions are damp, cold and poor ventilation. The only real solution to mould is to change the conditions so that the conditions do not provide the ideal climate for mould to grow. With bathrooms this is usually ventilation and heating. With your current situation, treat the mould areas with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, wash down with fresh water and then sand. Apply Resene Waterborne Primer Undercoat followed by two coats of Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel.

May 2013

Q. Can I use roof paint to paint wooden baseboards?

A. Depends upon the roof paint. You can use Resene Hi-Glo to paint appropriately primed substrate, including primed timbers.

May 2013

Q. My window frames are currently painted in Resene Decorator Alkyd Satin Interior (Resene Double Sea Fog). Can you please advise what current paint I can use to touch the frames up?

A. To achieve the same gloss level I would recommend staying with the product currently on the window frames.

May 2013

Q. What can/should I paint a birdbath/fountain in - keeping in mind that some of the paint will be submerged?

A. Assuming that it is a concrete bath use Resene Swimming Pool Paint. Normal waterborne paint will not waterproof and the concrete will need to be dry and clean. After application of the last coat of Resene Swimming Pool Paint leave to dry for at least 7 days then wash out the bath at least five times with water and discard the washing each time before refilling.

May 2013

Q. Can Resene Write-On Wall Paint be successfully used on glass? If so, is any special preparation required?

A. A smooth glass surface should generally be suitable as a substrate for erasable pens on its own.

May 2013

Q. Can I use an acrylic undercoat over a waterborne enamel?

A. Yes, if the waterborne enamel is more than one week old then sand prior to applying the acrylic undercoat.

May 2013

Q. Do you have a clear coating that can be applied to internal timber staircases that will comply with slip resistance factors of the NZ Building Code? We don’t want a sand/grit impregnated product, would prefer clear finish.

A.The only way to achieve wet slip resistance is to add an aggregate to the paint and with clears this does detract from the appearance.

May 2013

Q. Can you use Resene Waterborne Woodsman on previously oil stained weatherboards. It has been at least 10 years since they were oiled.

A. Yes, you can use either Resene Waterborne Woodsman or Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain. You will need to treat areas with mould or algal growth with Resene Moss & Mould Killer prior to application of the stain.

May 2013

Q. I painted our new cladding last year with Resene Sonyx 101 for the first and second coats and will be painting a third coat soon and may be keen to reduce gloss. Would it be ok to paint Resene Lumbersider or even Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen over the Resene Sonyx 101 or would it be best to stick with the same?

A. You can use Resene Lumbersider to overcoat the Resene Sonyx 101. You just need to ensure that the Resene Sonyx 101 paint is sound and clean and free of contamination. Scrub down the Resene Sonyx 101 paint with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, rinse with fresh water and allow to dry then apply the required number of coats of Resene Lumbersider.

May 2013

Q. What sealer undercoat paint can be used over Mulseal? Nothing seems to stick adequately to it and is always flaking off.

A. We recommend that you use Resene Membrane Roofing Primer for this application. However you cannot use the primer for immersed situations.

May 2013

Q. We have a house with painted kitchen worktops in need of a refresh. What paints can we use to make the surface more hard wearing?

A. Here the main substrate used for hardwearing kitchen surfaces is either Formica or Melteca. These are baked laminates and it is our experience that while paints can be applied to change the colour, they cannot upgrade the substrate to maintain the original wear properties of the original surface.

May 2013

Q. What paint should I use for previously painted interior windows and window frames? Enamel or acrylic?

A. You can use either waterborne or turps thinned enamels. Ensure there is no sign of mould (if there is treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer) then sand and prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat followed by two coats of enamel topcoats. Suggest either Resene Lustacryl (waterborne) or Resene Lusta-Glo (turps thinned).

May 2013

Q. I have a project with a block wall that requires a paint finish. The council are asking for compliance with E2 AS3 4.3 (Pigmented Acrylic Coating).

A. Three coats of Resene X-200 applied to achieve a minimum dry film thickness of 180 microns will meet the requirements.

May 2013

Q. Please advise how to deal with resin weeping. This is on a set of outdoor steps made of treated radiata and painted with Resene Lumbersider (two coats) over Resene Quick Dry. The resin is weeping and sticking to people's feet.

A. The remedy is to strip back to bare and prime with two coats of Resene Aluminium Wood Primer then apply the waterborne topcoats. Even if this is done there remains a need to choose as light as colour as possible as heat exacerbates the resin bleed.

May 2013

Q. I am painting my interior window frames, the existing paint was a Resene oil based paint. What prep do I need to do in order to put a Resene waterborne paint over the top? Sand and undercoat?

A. Ensure the surface is sound and free from all contaminates, sand using 180 grit sandpaper then prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat before applying two coats of Resene waterborne enamel.

May 2013

Q. I have varnished pine panels in the bathroom and I want to paint over them. What is the best procedure to do this so that the paint will last and not go mouldy?

A. Treat the varnished surfaces with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Leave for 24 hours then rinse down with fresh water to remove all residues. Apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer followed by Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat and then finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom in your selected colour. Ensure that the painted areas are well ventilated for at least 24 hours after application of the last coat of paint or if you have a dehumidifier run this for the same time. Good curing of the Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom is required to avoid marking of the paint (surfactant leaching) when first in contact with steam or condensation.

May 2013

Q. We have painted wallpaper that has marks where children’s stickers have been removed taking the paint off but not the wallpaper. Is there a way of 'filling' the marks without removing the wallpaper? I intend to repaint the entire room.

A. If the defect does not require filing of a significant depth then the easiest product would be to use Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal.

May 2013

Q. We have a ‘flaky’ concrete wall beside some backdoor steps. The paint is peeling, and there is quite a lot of pitting and loose surface cement. After sandblast/grind and wash what sealant is best?

A. We recommend Resene Sureseal (pigmented sealer). You need two coats for the worst affected areas.

May 2013

Q. We are back at school and ready to start painting our ground games. I was wondering if you can tell me is the ground temperature an issue when painting the ground? We are concerned that painting on the surface in summer will be too hot for the paint and it may cause blistering? Can you shed some light on this?

A. Where possible it's best to paint out of direct sunlight so that the paint doesn't dry too fast. A good idea might be to consider using a tarpaulin to create a shaded area - which will be good for the painters to keep out of the sun and help with the paint application by keeping the ground and paint cooler. We've never had any reported problems with these sorts of games, but most people do tend to paint earlier in the day to avoid the hottest part of the day and avoid painting onto overheated surfaces.

May 2013

Q. Do you have a product to enable painting over melamine?

A. You can paint over smooth surfaces like melamine using Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, then apply your chosen Resene topcoats. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is designed to stick to very smooth surfaces and then provide something for the topcoats to grip onto.

May 2013

Q. What sort of Resene undercoat paint do I use to cover permanent marker on a wall?

A. We recommend Resene StainLock. This product is designed to lock in the stain so it doesn’t affect the topcoats.

May 2013

Q. What product can I use as a glaze over a black wall paint? I am painting lounge walls black in a new house so want a flat glaze to roll over the top.

A. I would suggest that you use Resene Multishield+ Flat clear as the glaze if you wish to use one.

May 2013

Q. Is there a product that can be painted onto a Butynol deck surface?

A. We use Resene Membrane Roofing Primer as the tie coat/basecoat when coating Butynol. Then you could topcoat with a product such as Resene Non Skid Deck & Path or Resene Lumbersider.

May 2013

Q. We've stripped the paint from the timber (tanalised pine) exterior stairs as it was flaking off. Can you please recommend a durable non-slip paint system to recoat it with?

A. We recommend Resene Non Skid Deck & Path. This is a tough durable non-skid coating which is also easy to recoat in the future when required.

May 2013

Q. What would be the best type of paint to use when repainting a baby's cot?

A. We would recommend that you use Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat and then topcoat with Resene Enamacryl (gloss) or Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss) waterborne enamels. These are easy to wipe down and keep clean.

May 2013

Q. We are painting new weatherboards - should there be any gaps in the paint where the weatherboards overlap? I am concerned that water can get back up under the weatherboard in the gaps we still have.

A. What is the size of the gap? It is not normal practice to apply a sealant to fill the gap you are referring to but if the gaps are large then I suggest that you should contact your builder and seek advice. There is always some movement in timber weatherboard cladding but the design and installation of the cladding should be such that no water can enter through the weatherboard overlap. Water ingress usually is seen at mitred corners and this is why soakers are used.

May 2013

Q. Which Resene product complies with the requirements of CCANZ CP 01:2011 4.3.2 Pigmented standard or elastomeric high build acrylic coating, Pigmented standard or elastomeric high build acrylic coatings for exterior use?

A. Resene X-200 (standard acrylic) or Resene Flexicover elastomeric acrylic).

May 2013

Q. How do I prep bare aluminium (Bright Mill finish) to overcoat with Resene Lumbersider?

A. Wet sand with 400 grit wet and dry paper to degloss, prime with Resene Galvo One and then apply the Resene Lumbersider.

May 2013

Q. I plan to stain some ply with Resene Colorwood and clear coat it to give as water resistant a surface as I can get. Would Resene Uracryl 403 be suitable directly over the Resene Colorwood?

A. Yes you can use the Resene Uracryl 403 Clear over the Resene Colorwood stain. Just give the stain a couple of days to dry/cure before application of the Resene Uracryl 403. Or you could use Resene Polythane.

May 2013

Q. I want to paint my raw pine floor boards. I was thinking a decking paint as it has to withstand walking traffic. Can you advise me what to use?

A. Ensure the flooring is clean and free from containments such as mould, oil, grease and dust etc. Prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat followed by two coats of Resene Waterborne Sidewalk. The system will take up to seven days to develop full system properties but can be walked on in soft footwear after 24 hours.

May 2013

Q. I want to paint over vinyl wallpaper with Resene SpaceCote. Can you advise if a primer/sealer is necessary, and if so, what is best suited?

A. Vinyl wallpapers can contain plasticisers which can become soluble when painted with waterborne paints. This can cause the paint to become sticky or tacky; however this does depend upon the vinyl coating composition used by the wallpaper manufacturer. To prevent this occurring we recommend application of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer prior to painting with the two coats of Resene SpaceCote.


Q. We are painting our plaster house (rough texture) with the same colour we painted it 8 years ago. Is there really the need to put on two coats? We are applying the first coat with a rough texture roller.

A. It is essential to achieve the correct dry film thickness of the new paint layer to ensure the durability of the new paint is achieved. Application of a single coat by brushing or rolling cannot guarantee to achieve the required dry film thickness of the new paint and for this reason two coats are always recommended. In your situation with a heavy texture two coats will be required to avoid misses in the applied paint film.

May 2013

Q. We are completely repainting the interior and exterior of a solid plaster house that has previously been painted with a limewash. We have trialled one room using Resene Quick Dry and an acrylic topcoat. We first prepped with aggressive scrubbing with sugar soap. After curing it is now obvious that the sealer has not bonded into the original limewash. It is just peeling off. On the underside there is an orange chalky residue on the sealer and the original orange is still attached to the wall. Is there a sealer that will go over the limewash and stick to it so normal acrylic can be applied?

A. Remove as much of the loose surface material by scrubbing with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, rinse clean with water and allow to dry then apply Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer. Waterborne primers/sealers cannot penetrate and bind loose friable cementitious or powdery surfaces. Resene Sureseal will penetrate and bind powdery surfaces - you may need two coats to achieve complete reinforcement of the surface.

May 2013

Q. I have been using tinted Resene Lumbersider to paint the outdoor panels of two conservatories to match the rest of the house. However one end panel of a conservatory appears to be a thin metal gauge, powdercoated white. The Resene Lumbersider will not attach to it. Can you help me with this please?

A. Clean down the area with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash and rinse clean with water, allow to dry and prime with Resene Vinyl Etch Primer then apply the Resene Lumbersider.

May 2013

Q. I need to match colours on a house that was painted 7 years ago. How can I find the colour matches?

A. Scrape off a small portion of the colour (in an inconspicuous area) and bring it into the Resene ColorShop. They can then measure the colour using a Resene ColorHelper which will tell them what the closest Resene colours are. The matched colour will be for colour and not gloss level, you will then need to decide on the closest gloss level. Our Resene ColorShop staff can assist with this. Before you take the flake it is best to wash down the area you are using for colour matching as if there is chalking of the paint this may give a false colour.

May 2013

Q. I'm painting a house that has recently had some windows re-puttied. I have left the putty for a fortnight to dry. I'm using a Resene waterborne enamel. Can I put it straight on to the putty?

A. No, you will need to prime the putties with Resene Enamel Undercoat first.

May 2013

Q. I want to paint the internal walls of the garage which are concrete block but I notice that there is a white high tide mark on some of the blocks (maybe lime seeping out). What can I use to get it ready for painting and what paint do you recommend to use?

A. The white material that you are seeing on the blockwork is efflorescence and occurs as a result of water containing dissolved salts (these are present in either the blocks or pointing), when the water evaporates on the surface it leaves the white deposit of the salts. With time the salts change chemically and can build up to a hard layer sometimes with a very crystalline structure. I assume that the exterior of the garage wall is not painted with a waterproofing system as this is the usual entry point for water.

To fix this the exterior of the wall needs to be waterproofed using a product like Resene X-200 prior to prep and painting of the interior wall. Once the exterior has been waterproofed then you can prep and paint the interior walls. Remove the efflorescence by thorough wire brushing then apply Resene Concrete Primer and two coats of any Resene waterborne enamel finish.

May 2013

Q. Would you please recommend a paint treatment (colour) for silver ‘Zincalume’ corrugated metal sheet cladding on walls and roof? The building is a farm barn located about six kilometres from the west coast. The material has just been applied and has a very shiny surface. I am concerned about proper paint adhesion.

.A. Clean down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash and then apply two coats (a third coat can be applied for increased corrosion protection) of Resene Summit Roof. Resene Summit Roof is self-priming when applied to Zincalume or galvanising that has been exposed for less than six months.

May 2013

Q. My house has just been cement rendered and I’m looking for a low sheen flexible paint and undercoat that will protect the render and prevent cracks from appearing.

A. The only product we have based on an elastomeric acrylic resin system is Resene Flexicover. Our recommended sealer/primer for new cement renders is Resene Limelock.

May 2013

Q. I have specified Resene Bandit from the Resene Metallics & Special Effects chart. The owner is going to do the painting work himself. My question is, can he apply this paint (which has a metallic effect) using a roller, as opposed to spraying?

A. For the best results, spray finish is recommended. The product can be rolled but I would suggest that a trial area is done first to establish if the rolled finish is acceptable. Application instructions are on the back of the Resene Metallics & Special Effects colour chart.

May 2013

Q. What do you recommend to bond Resene Lustacryl to glass i.e. putty edges? We taped the glass to get a clean sharp edge. We've tried using Resene Wood Primer and also Resene Quick Dry but it still lifts.

A. As a general class of coatings compared to traditional solventborne products, waterborne enamels have reduced glass adhesion and more so when immersed. The latter occurs at the paint glass interface with windows when water runs down the glass,and once adhesion is lost it does not recover. We recommend using a turps thinned enamel undercoat to prime new putties after the recommended putty curing time and extending the paint above the putty line to ensure adhesion of the paint system to the glass, then when applying the waterborne enamel ensure that the topcoats do not extend onto the glass. There is another issue with new windows and this is associated with oil residues originating from the putty. Waterborne paints, conventional and water borne enamels, are sensitive to oil on the surface and this will also affect adhesion.

May 2013

Q. I am currently renovating an old villa to include a new bathroom. The existing floors are exposed Rimu. Although the shower will be a contained unit, the floors will still be subject to water splash. Could you please advise of an appropriate waterproof applied coating for the floors - looking to retain the exposed timber look?

A. The only product I would recommend you use for this application is Resene Polythane. I would not recommend oiling bathroom floors if you are trying to achieve a long-term solution to water splashing onto the timber flooring.

May 2013

Q. How do I treat rusty nail heads in the soffit and rusty flashings above wooden window frames?

A. If the nail heads (steel nails) are sitting above the soffit lining then wash down with fresh water and sand with 220 wet and dry paper to remove loose rust, then prime with Resene Rust-Arrest prior to application of topcoats. If the nails are galvanised then the primer to use is Resene Galvo One. If the nails are below the surface then re-punch and prime using a small artist’s brush with the appropriate primer depending upon nail type, then refill the holes and topcoat. Flashings (usually galvanised) can be treated similarly. If the rusting has proceeded to red rusting then two coats of Resene Galvo-Prime will be required. With flashings the corrosion often emanates behind the flashing and the surface cannot be accessed for prep and painting. In this situation replacement of the flashing is the only remedy.

May 2013

Q. I have just put Resene TimberLock on our badly weathered cedar front door. What I want to know is can I sand it down again before painting? Do I need to use a solventborne undercoat or can I use a waterborne undercoat such as Resene Quick Dry? I will use Resene Enamacryl as the topcoat.

A. I would not recommend sanding the Resene TimberLock. If asked I would have suggested sanding prior to application of the Resene TimberLock. If you do sand it then reapply a thin coat of TimberLock to the sanded surface. We recommend using Resene Wood Primer followed by Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat prior to applying the waterborne enamel topcoat. The Resene Quick Dry is recommended as an undercoat to achieve the best adhesion of the Resene Enamacryl to the surface.

May 2013

Q. I would like to spray paint my roof and bought your Resene Summit Roof Blue Zodiac for the job. Using an airless spray gun, what size nozzle do you recommend for the best results and what level of thinning with water do you recommend to facilitate easier spraying?

A. For spraying Resene Summit Roof metallic colours we recommend an airless spray unit capable of delivering more than two litres per minute, an LTX 517 tip with a 30 mesh manifold filter, no gun filter. When using a spray unit such as a Graco 395 there is usually no need to thin. When spraying roofs the golden rule is that you can only apply a waterborne paint if you can stand on the roof in bare feet for more than 15 minutes.

May 2013

Q. We have to repaint the outside of our house, it is peeling and flaking. Do we need to sand it right back to the wood before applying primer and paint?

A. You will need to sand flaking/peeling areas back to a sound base and feather to a sound edge. This may result in sanding back to bare timber but if sanding achieves a sound underlying paint layer than there is no need to sand back to bare timber. However if you have extensive failure on any walls then total removal may be the best option.

May 2013

Q. I have a trough roof to spray which has started flaking. What is your recommended system to spray finish this? There may be a couple of rust spots.

A. Resene Alumastic unless there is good fall on the roof.

May 2013

Q. I am not sure what type of paint - turps enamel or acrylic - was used on the walls in our toilet/bathroom. What would be the best sealer to use as I wish to repaint using a Resene low sheen acrylic?

A. Wet a rag with meths and then apply this to the painted surface and rub. You will have to be quick as meths rapidly evaporates. If the paint softens or dissolves (colour transfer to the rag) then the paint is a standard acrylic type.

If there is no reaction of the paint with meths then it is more than likely an alkyd type (turps thinned). If this is the outcome then wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to remove surface contaminants, sand with 220 grit sandpaper then apply Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat. If the paint tests as an acrylic then wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash as before and apply the Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat.

Then apply two coats of any Resene waterborne enamel finish. For low sheen use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

May 2013

Q. I am wanting to paint the internal walls of my Lockwood home. I am happy to keep the existing panelled look, only I want to paint them white. Given that it is varnished what would you recommend as the best method of preparing the surface? I assume I will need to wash (sugar soap or something similar) and sand? Then perhaps seal and paint.

A. Wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. You can use Sugar Soap but this is only really effective for removal of animal fats and grease. If you do use Sugar Soap make sure the surfaces are rinsed/well washed with fresh water to remove and residues. Apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer (this is the adhesion primer and only needs to be applied as a thin coat and is not designed to give high film build or coverage), followed by an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat. Then finish with two coats of any Resene waterborne enamel such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. The paint system will require at least five days cure time to develop adhesion and final system properties so care needs to be exercised to ensure the new paint is not damaged. For kitchens and bathrooms we recommend using one of the Resene SpaceCote Kitchen and Bathroom products.

While sanding of the original varnish is not required when applying the above paint system, a light sanding of the original varnish is always beneficial.

May 2013

Q. How should I prime my new cedar weatherboards?

A. Resene Wood Primer is recommended for priming new cedar weather boards. If waterborne primers are used there will be tannin bleed (dark brown) colour appear in the primer and this will continue to bleed through subsequent waterborne pigmented topcoats.

May 2013

Q. What paint or coating should I use to paint an old Formica benchtop which has been painted with oil based enamel but which now needs recoating?

A. Assuming the existing enamel is sound, sand with 220 grit sandpaper and prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat followed by two coats of a Resene waterborne enamel. We recommend that the topcoat is Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss waterborne enamel). In warmer weather we recommend adding Resene Hot Weather Additive to waterborne paint to aid application and reduce brush marking.

May 2013

Q. How long in time can plasterboard be left exposed before wallpapering? If it has been left to long can it be treated? What are the consequences if it is not treated?

A. In theory as long as the board is maintained in a dry state and protected from UV exposure the plasterboard can be left exposed for long periods. The usual situation that develops with aged plasterboard is the appearance of a colour change of the plasterboard paper to a yellow colour. If this is the case then seal with Resene Sureseal prior to application of a wall paint system. If the yellowing is not sealed using a solventborne pigmented sealer the staining of the acrylic paint is likely to occur.

May 2013

Q. Can I use enamel paint on plastered brick internal walls? If not what would be suitable to use?

A. You can use a turps thinned paint for this application but the plastered walls need to be sealed with Resene Sureseal prior to application of the enamel paint.

May 2013

Q. I have just bought an Initial Home and wonder if the golden varnish look can be painted out and if so will it last? I find the existing look with dark knots a bit heavy.

A. Based on the assumption that we are looking at interior varnished surfaces only then the following paint system can be used - clean down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash then apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer followed by Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat and finish with top coats of a Resene waterborne paint such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. The applied paint system will take up to 7 days to develop full cure and adhesion and during that time the painted areas should be well ventilated.

May 2013

Q. How do I paint skirting boards without getting paint on the carpet? Is there a tool or trick to this?

A. Using masking tape mask off the edge of the carpet and then using a large wallpaper straight edge depress the carpet and paint, then move the straight edge along the skirting. If you are careful you can use only the straight edge but when you move the edge along the carpet can spring up into the wet paint hence the suggestion to use both the masking tape and straight edge.

May 2013

Q. I have painted an 8ft wooden dinghy with Resene oil based primer, undercoat and Resene Super Gloss. How long should I wait for the paint to harden enough to withstand dragging across grass? There is no hurry to do this.

A. The curing (hardening) of alkyd enamel based primers, undercoats and topcoat enamels, such as you have used, is dependent upon temperature and an oxidation process. The alkyd enamel initially dries with the solvent evaporation over 6-12 hours and then an oxidation (oxygen reaction with the alkyd resin) process hardens the paint coating. As time goes by the hardness increases slowly.

To answer your question, under normal temperatures (14 - 18°C) I would suggest one week minimum. However the longer the better so if you gave it 2-4 weeks it will be harder and more resistant.

May 2013

Q. I am laying a new French Oak solid wood floor in the kitchen and living room in my beach house. The timber has a skip face finish which is very rustic. I want to keep the wood looking natural, not yellow and not shiny. What do you suggest I use? I wondered about a Danish oil type product?

A. Yellowing of timber is caused by two different things. The first is a chemical reaction between U.V. light and oxygen that reacts with the lignin within the timber causing yellowing. The second is that some polyurethanes have a yellow resin undertone and this of course also gives the yellow appearance. I think that what you have suggested would give you the natural look you are looking for by using Resene Danska Teak Oil.

May 2013

Q. Wondering if after putting on wood stain it is still possible to paint at a later stage if we wanted to?

A. The answer is generally yes. If a Resene wood stain has been used then painting with a standard paint system can be undertaken. Stains that are film forming are more difficult to paint over with a solid paint finish as the adhesion of this stain type to the substrate is often poor and the best way is to remove these before painting with a solid paint finish. Removal of the film forming stain from rough sawn cladding is always difficult. Resene exterior wood stains are designed to 'fail' by erosion - the applied stain erodes off the cladding as a result of exposure to the weather.

Painting over our wood stains cannot be done until the stain has weathered usually for at least 12 months. Then stained cladding is best scrubbed down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to remove unbound pigments then primed with Resene Wood Primer and then overcoated with two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic paint. If dark colours are chosen then we recommend using the CoolColour™ version of the colour.

If the stained cladding has undergone extended weathering or is showing signs of greying of the timber, which occurs due to prolonged U.V. exposure of bare timber, then an additional coating step is required. After the wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash the cladding needs to be pretreated with Resene TimberLock prior to application of the Resene Wood Primer. Resene TimberLock reinforces the weathered timber to ensure adhesion of the subsequent paint system. In general the Resene TimberLock step is usually required for the most exposed elevations such as the north facing elevation.

May 2013

Q. I have painted the walls of the bathroom using Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. For the first time in painting I am not happy with the finish. The roller has left lagging marks which appear worse when you look down the wall. Looking front on it is okay.

A. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is a waterborne enamel paint and application can be different from conventional acrylic paints. Use of the correct roller sleeve is the first step to achieving an even finish - for Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen we only recommend a Resene No.1 sleeve. Roller technique also plays a part. Apply a good amount of paint to the wall, and do this for approx three roller widths then lay off from top to bottom with a 50% overlap. Avoid overworking the wet paint film as waterborne enamels dry much quicker than conventional acrylic paints. If rapid drying (lack of a wet edge is the technical term) then add Resene Hot Weather Additive to the paint as this will increase the open/working time of the wet paint.

You will need to sand the imperfections in the paint you already have applied before reapplying additional coats.

It may pay to visit your local Resene Colorshop and discuss application with a Resene staff member.

May 2013

Q. We have a new concrete slab for our laundry and sunroom. The concrete has rough surface like the footpaths. Can painting alone create a smooth surface without diamond grinding first?

A. Application of a standard decorative paint system will not fill the profile of rough concrete. You may want to consider using Rockcote MultiStop bedding compound to fair the surface prior to painting. MultiStop is a cement based powder which you mix with the required amount of water to make a plaster which you then trowel onto the surface and smooth off. You can apply Resene paint systems to the cured surface.

May 2013

Q. Where do I find info on the best time to paint? Late summer? Autumn? Spring?

A. Paint application is dictated by environmental conditions and not necessarily the season. However the majority of exterior painting jobs are undertaken over summer months.

Waterborne paints are now the predominant type of paint used for both exterior and interior painting. The environmental conditions that are required for successful application of waterborne paints are temperature and relative humidity. As long as the paint is applied within the stated boundaries for either of these there is no seasonal restriction on painting. Standard waterborne paints cannot be applied at temperatures less than 10°C or when temperatures are liable to drop below this during the drying (film formation stage) of the applied paint. This temperature limitation is to ensure that the film forms and dries with the required film properties, waterborne paints will dry at temperatures below the 10 degree cut off but film formation and final film properties are compromised.

Resene now has a selection of waterborne paints that can be applied at temperatures down to 2°C and still dry to give the required dry film properties and these are marketed as ‘Wintergrade’ versions.

Relative humidity is the other environmental factor that limits when waterborne paints can be applied. For film formation to occur as designed water must be lost from the wet waterborne paint, and as the relative humidity increases the rate of water loss to the atmosphere is reduced. We do not recommend application of any waterborne paint at a relative humidity of greater than 85% as application and drying above this affects film formation and subsequent film properties.

There is a relationship between temperature and humidity that also needs to be considered, especially when painting metal roofing and that is dew point. Dew point is the atmospheric temperature below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form. A safe rule of thumb is not to paint at or above 85% relative humidity especially during a period where the temperatures are expected to fall. Metal roofs are the classic situation where painting late in the day with waterborne paints can lead to the paint being washed from the surface due to dew formation on the roof. This occurs because the paint film cannot form in the required manner in time to reach a state of cure that develops water resistance. The dew point considerations can be presumed to be satisfied if a thin clearly defined film of water applied to the surface with a damp cloth evaporates within 15 minutes.

There is no seasonal restriction to paint application as long as the environmental conditions meet the requirements for the paint being used.

May 2013

Q. I have plywood with a bandsawn face. It was stained but mould has started to show through. I now wish to paint it, and paint it a dark colour, probably black. What spec do you recommend?

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, wash down and allow to dry then apply Resene TimberLock and then apply Resene Wood Primer. For topcoating you can use any Resene exterior acrylic paint but given your colour choice you will need to use the CoolColour™ formulation. The CoolColour formulation will not make the painted surface cool to touch but it will ensure maximum heat reflection from the black painted surface. Even so we cannot guarantee that there will be no dimensional changes of the cladding associated with your colour choice.

May 2013

Q. We have recently finished a house using timber weatherboards that have been painted. The weather boards have shrunk to a point where the undercoat is showing between the overlap of the boards. The suppliers of the weatherboards are questioning the micron reading of the paint. Could you please let me know what the micron reading tests on your paints would be?

A. The shrinkage has nothing to do with the paint thickness, this summer being so dry we have had a number of reports of the same phenomena. The shrinkage is due to changes in the moisture content of the boards. I suspect that the undercoat will be the factory applied primer and is exposed as the board dimension changes. Typically application of two coats of Resene exterior acrylic top coats at the correct application rate will give 70 microns dry film thickness of paint.

May 2013

Q. What product(s) and specification would you recommend for the renovation/refurbishment of sun/weather faded anodising on aluminium window joinery?

A. Clean down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. If there are signs of corrosion wet sand these areas with 400 wet and dry sandpaper taking care not to unduly scratch the surface. Rinse down with fresh water and allow to dry. There are two painting options: Single pack prime prepared aluminium with Resene Galvo One, undercoat with Resene Quick Dry primer, then apply two coats of Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl in your selected colour. If you want a metallic finish then use Resene Enamacryl Metallic as the topcoat finish (make sure you use a solid coloured basecoat under the metallic topcoats). Or for a two pack option - prepare as above then prime with Resene Armourcote 221 epoxy primer and follow this with two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 (gloss) or Resene Uracryl 402 (semi-gloss) in your selected colour.

May 2013

Q. What paint would you recommend to paint the top of a concrete water tank (the rest is buried)? The tank is approx 5 years old and has never been painted other than the light grey done by the manufacturer. It has worn away down to bare concrete in places.

A. Based on the assumption that the previous coating was a waterborne paint then a minimum of two rolled coats of Resene Thixalon 5 is recommended. Ensure that the old painted surface is free from mould, moss, lichen, grease etc and sound. If mould/moss is present treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, then scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. Ensure that run-off from application or washing down of either product does not enter the tank as this will result in contamination of the contents.

May 2013

Q. I am researching painting a wall for use with a projector.

A. We recommend application of Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Silver Sand for this application.

May 2013

Q. What primer should I use on the lead edging of an external lead light window pane before I re-putty it into its wooden frame? The putty has failed to adhere to the lead edging and is falling out from an external lead light window on the west side of our villa after three years. The lead light was restored and mounted in the wooden window frame. The frame had been stripped and primed with Resene Wood Primer and topcoated with Resene Super Gloss enamel, colour Resene Double Pearl Lusta. However I cannot comment if the lead edging was primed before the putty was placed - it looks like it was not.

A. Suggest you use Resene Galvo One for priming. It is my understanding that there is a black polish applied to the lead when lead lights are manufactured, which may be another cause of the adhesion failure you have experienced. We would suggest that you wipe down the edges to be primed with a cloth and turps prior to priming; replace the cloth at regular intervals.

May 2013

Q. I am building another house with Shadowclad® plywood. What’s the best Resene paint/stain system to use for the colour Resene Double Gravel?

A. When Shadowclad® is used for non bracing elements there is no restriction on colour or type of paint finish used. However the manufacturer's requirement for Shadowclad® used for bracing elements is that a solid paint finish must be used with the colour having a minimum LRV (light reflectance value) of 40%. The LRV is used to control colour so as to avoid painting with dark colours that will attract heat, despite the fact that LRV is a measurement of reflection of visible light and not infra-red, the latter being the heat component of incident radiation for the sun.

TSR (total solar reflectance) is the measurement used for heat reflectance of a colour. There is no direct relationship between LRV and TSR but we can use TSR to determine if a colour with a LRV of less than 40 can be used for Shadowclad® bracing elements. We calculate the TSR of 10 ‘hot/conventionally tinted’ colours with an average LRV of 40 and then compare this value with the TSR of a CoolColour™. In the case of an LRV cut off of 40 the average TSR of the hot colours is 36, so any colour with a TSR of 36 or greater can be used to paint the Shadowclad® without introducing additional heat related issues.

The LRV of Resene Double Gravel is 9 with a TSR value of 8.2 (hot) and a corresponding value of 27.8 for the CoolColour™ version of the colour. While there is a significant increase in heat reflection for the CoolColour™ version it does not meet or exceed the required value of 36 and hence cannot be used to meet the requirements for painting bracing elements.

May 2013

Q. I've just completed painting some new cedar joinery. I primed the new cedar with solventborne Resene Wood Primer, undercoated with Resene Quick Dry Primer, and finished with two topcoats of Resene Enamacryl Gloss. The end result looks OK, but I was not fully prepared for the amount of ‘crawling/cissing’ by the waterborne coats over the wood primer. On close inspection of datasheet D40 this paint behaviour is duly noted, and was mitigated by wiping down with turps. Would I have been better using an acrylic primer direct?

A. We do not recommend using any waterborne primer for priming bare Cedar. Application of waterborne paints to Cedar results in the extraction of orange brown coloured materials (tannins) from the timber which continues to appear in subsequent waterborne paint layers. The tannins have low solubility in organic solvents and hence the recommendation to prime with Resene Wood Primer.

The data sheet uses the term 'may' with respect to the crawling/cissing of water borne paints over freshly applied Resene Wood Primer. The cissing issue occurs either when the primer has not achieved a certain level of cure or when applied under cooler conditions and high humidity and will only rarely be an issue. Application at elevated wet film thicknesses can retard the cure of the primer which requires air (oxygen) for curing. The surface of the primer under those conditions becomes hydrophobic due to uncured oil components of the primer. We rarely hear of issues with cissing.

More often than not the Resene Wood Primer is mainly used for exterior priming. For interior applications you can use Resene Enamel Undercoat (turps thinned) instead of the Resene Wood Primer.

May 2013

Q. I have previously treated sooty mould on my Cedar board and batten with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and it came up a treat. Now I would like to oil it to waterproof it a bit and stop the mould coming back. What is the best product to use? I don't want the oil to be coloured as I would like the cedar to silver off.

A. Timber will always be susceptible to mould attack as this nature’s way of recycling the dead plant material. Application of natural oils does not deliver long term control of mould growth and most oils for timbers contain a strong fungicide/mould package to prevent mould growth. The efficacy of this inhibition of mould growth is mainly determined by environment. Oiling cedar with linseed oil was a common practice in the past but this oil is a prime nutrient source for mould and while initially looking great soon developed a black coloration due to mould growth.

The oils do weather from the surface and need regular maintenance to maintain any sort of control of bio growth. If you want to use an oil then my suggestion is to use a mineral oil based product such as Wood-X - this is available as a clear and does contain mould inhibitors but the oil itself is not a food source for mould growth as it is a mineral and not a plant based oil.

Wood-X is made by Resene and available from Herman Pacific – see www.hermpac.co.nz. The other option is to treat your cladding with Resene Deep Clean twice a year (spring and autumn),and as long as the cladding is subject to rain washing the Resene Deep Clean will help to kill mould and the residues are washed off with rain.

May 2013

Q. I used your pigmented sealer and found it very thin and hard to use on a ceiling without dripping. It was much thinner than other products I have used.

A. The definition ‘pigmented sealer’ is a generic term and does not imply that the product offered by different brands will all have the same in-can properties, particularly viscosity. Resene Sureseal is formulated as a solventborne paint to seal and consolidate concrete and plaster and in particular old powdery/friable cementitious substrates and bind gypsum based stopping and plasters to then produce a surface suitable for application of waterborne and other paint types. To achieve the above the product is deliberately formulated at low viscosity to ensure penetration into a substrate surface and then bind.

Resene Sureseal is superb as a sealer over water stained substrates; it will however not seal oil based surface stains. Resene Sureseal is not designed to give one coat coverage, and we do find some users of the product try to achieve this by applying high wet film thicknesses of the product which then causes runs - this is made worse when applying the product to substrates with reduced porosity. For roller application a Resene No.5 (mohair) sleeve is recommended. The product viscosity being low does lead to an increased level of roller spatter than other highly filled flat turps thinned sealers but this is not often reported as an issue with roller application of the product.

Resene Sureseal has been a very popular product for over three decades and has features that cannot be achieved using other technologies including waterborne sealers.

May 2013

Q. Our house has a rendered finish in limewash and we were planning to seal it then topcoat in Resene AquaShield. The surface is currently flaking. What is the best sealer to use – we were thinking of using Resene Limelock?

A. Resene Sureseal is the best sealer for the bare render. Resene Limelock cannot bind and consolidate loose friable plaster type surfaces. Resene Limelock is designed for fresh plaster (unpainted). You will need to remove all of the flaking paint before applying the sealer.


Q. For the Resene Wood Primer, why isn't ‘spraying’ one of the application methods?

A. Resene Wood Primer can be spray applied but it is designed for brush/roller application as the solvent mix used for the product is what we describe as slow which means that spray application can lead to sagging or runs due to the slow release of solvents from the wet paint film.

May 2013

Q. Can I use Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path on glazed light coloured outdoor tiles?

A. The challenge is to achieve adhesion of a paint system to glazed tiles. The tiles and grouting will need to be clean and free of mould/algae (treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer if required). Apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave for at least 48 hours before applying the two coats of Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path. This is the best system we have for this application but we cannot guarantee that adhesion will be achieved. You will need to check if the tiles and grout have ever been treated with a silicone based sealer: if so then painting is not an option. may finishes here

May 2013

Q. I would like some advice on removing mould from treated unpainted weatherboards. They are new and have been air drying.

A. The staining you see is probably fungal and opposed to mould growth and is referred to as sap staining; it occurs when the fungi colonise the soft tissues of timber. The fungi can penetrate deeply into the timber. What is the level of timber treatment as treatment used for exterior timber should control both fungal and mould growth?

Treatment with Resene Moss & Mould Killer should be effective in killing the fungi growth present on the timber surface but discolouration arising from the fungi may not be totally removed. After application of the Resene Moss & Mould Killer, leave for 48 hours then rinse off with fresh water, allow to dry and if you are then going to apply a pigmented paint system we recommend application of Resene TimberLock followed by Resene Wood Primer before application of a Resene exterior acrylic paint. The combination of Resene TimberLock and Resene Wood Primer will give the best possible protection to the timber substrate going forward.

June 2013

Q. Is it possible to whitewash the interior walls of an older style Lockwood?

A. You have two options, the first is to strip the varnish back to bare timber than apply a wood stain, such as Resene Colorwood, followed by additional coats of a polyurethane varnish – such as Resene Aquaclear or Resene Qristal Clear Polyurethanes.

The second is to lightly sand the old varnish and apply Resene Colorwood Whitewash - this is a film forming stain with a low level of white pigmentation. If you would like to try this option, it’s best to get a buy a testpot of it and try an area before committing to a complete repaint.

June 2013

Q. I am due to paint a corrugated iron roof with a dark blue colour. As it is a 15 year COLORSTEEL® steel roof will it be ok just to spray it with your normal acrylic roof paint or will I have to apply an etch primer or similar first? The roof is in very good condition and we shall be waterblasting it. The reason I am asking is because I am concerned about the adhesion of the new paint to the COLORSTEEL® paint system. Some years ago when I painted a COLORSTEEL® roof the paint system did not adhere correctly.

A. If you have a standard COLORSTEEL® coated roof then as long as the roof coating is clean, sound, and weathered you can apply either Resene Hi-Glo or Resene Summit Roof without the need for an adhesion primer. Both products have adhesion promoters as part of the formulation.

June 2013

Q. I have a set of aluminium metal doors (ranchsliders) that are a terrible colour. Can I paint them with some sort of metal paint to cover them for a while until I replace them?

A. Yes you can. Wash the metal down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, rinse off with clean water and lightly wet sand using 400 wet and dry paper, wash down with water and wipe clean then prime with Resene Galvo One followed by two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

June 2013

Q. I am looking for a method of hand painting a large aircraft and obtaining as near to a high gloss finish like a spray paint job would look. I can't use spray equipment due to the desire to have no overspray. The aircraft is in a museum and can't easily be moved or shrouded. I understand there are roller methods followed by a very light soft brush barely touching the paint. The brush is used to remove or burst the air bubbles. Do you know of such a method?

A. There are certain sleeve types that can give a rolled finish with very little orange peel but they’re only used for waterborne paints. You are correct: you can roll on a paint then lightly tip off with a brush to remove entrained air. What we seek to do is to select a roller sleeve for the paint type being used to avoid entrained air and tipping off then can attenuate some of the roller stipple to give a finish with minimal orange peel appearance.

June 2013

Q. I would like to paint the inside walls of a Lockwood house but finding it hard to get a primer that will stay on without sanding the gloss finish back to bare timber.

A. Our recommended adhesion primer for an old interior varnished surface is Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer.

July 2013

Q. We are renewing a bathroom - with new linings on wall and ceilings, fully insulated. I want to paint in a deep red like Resene Pohutukawa but my husband is keen to use the best paint for the job i.e. in terms of mould resistance etc. We have been told that a deep colour probably can’t be mixed in a mould resistant paint - is this correct and what would be the best paint for the job?

A. We can add Resene Mould Defender to any of the interior wall paints to boost protection against mould. However mould really only appears in areas that are usually dark, have poor air movement and are damp which are often the standard conditions that exist in many bathrooms. Generally for a bathroom you would use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom (walls), Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom (trim and joinery) and Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom (ceilings). If you want to use a dark colour just use the normal variant - Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, Resene Lustacryl or Resene SpaceCote Flat and ask your Resene ColorShop staff to add in the extra Resene MoulDefender to your paint.

July 2013

Q. We live by the sea and would like to paint our ecoply north facing house black with white trim. Our painter says we can’t because it will take in the salt and the sun will cause it to expand and crack. What do you think?

A. Painting of timber based weatherboards with dark colours will always increase the possibility of heat related issues such as warping and cupping. Using the Resene CoolColour™ version of black applied over a white primer will improve the heat reflection from the painted surface but we cannot guarantee that this will eliminate all heat related changes to the timber.

July 2013

Q. We are planning to paint one colour through an open plan living area. Should we use one paint type or change it to suit through the different areas?

A. You can do either. If you choose Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen on your walls, Resene SpaceCote Flat on your ceilings and Resene Lustacryl for your trims and joinery you can use them throughout your home’s interior. Or you could opt to use these products in wet areas and in general living areas and bedrooms use Resene Zylone Sheen for walls and Resene Ceiling Paint for the ceiling.

July 2013

Q.I have a bathroom that has some varnished Rimu tongue and groove on lower walls and ceiling. What should I do to bring this back to a new look? It has a blackish residue on it, I guess it might be a mould.

A. The black material is definitely mould, treat all areas with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, leave for 24 hours and then wash down with fresh water. The difficult area to achieve kill will be the grooves of the tongue and groove. The following is given based on the assumption that you are happy with a pigmented paint finish. Thoroughly sand the surface to de-gloss and provide a mechanical key for subsequent paint coats and apply two coats of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Room Velvet. The presence of mould is indicative of poor ventilation and a cold damp environment. Ensure that during and post painting that the painted area is well ventilated for at least 48 hours after application of the last coat of paint.

July 2013

Q. Is Resene Sonyx 101 the best paint for an existing high traffic area concrete surface?

A. Resene Sonyx 101 is formulated for application to non-traffic areas such as cladding and walls. For high traffic surfaces our best recommendation would be a two component finish such as Resene Uracyl 403 applied over a two pack epoxy basecoat.

August 2013

Q. What is the difference with the solventborne enamel paint today compared to 10 years ago when I last used the product?

A. Advances in paint technology are usually made in small increments and some of these advances are not immediately obvious to an end user. There have been few if any changes to the resin technology used to produce solventborne enamels, Resene have recently introduced a number of lower odour enamel products. The lower odour formulations contain the same level of solvent but the solvents used for the lower odour formulations have a very low aromatic content. Aromatic hydrocarbon solvents carry a higher level of potential health risk to end users so the move to a lower odour version based on very low aromatic content solvents is a positive move.
There are a large range of resins used to formulate waterborne paints, resin selection is determined by the end properties required for the paint. Over the last 10 years there has been an increase in the availability of waterborne enamels to the market. These paints offer nearly all of the benefits of a traditional solventborne enamel but without the solvent levels of traditional enamels.

Resene has continued to focus on formulating environmentally sustainable paints with volatile organic compound (VOC) levels that meet the requirements of Environmental Choice Approval.

August 2013

Q. Could you please advise the best way to prep existing door jambs and window sills that have been painted in an oil based enamel? We have sanded and de-glossed it is that enough? We have replaced all trim/mouldings and skirtings and would prefer to repaint in a waterborne enamel but are not sure about the older oil based enamel.

A. Sanding is the usual prep for recoating old enamel paints, dust off or wipe down after sanding with a damp cloth, allow to dry then prime the prepared enamel paint with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then apply two coats of the waterborne enamel topcoat.

August 2013

Q. I am stripping back around windows of a 1940s building where waterbased paint has been applied over old oil stain (and/or varnish). It needs an oil based sealer, because even after sanding the grain contains oil residues. I expect it to be Rimu, but old stains mask colour a bit and I’m uncertain whether there is any Totara. Is there a test we can use to check it?

A. Apart from colour difference there is no easy way to distinguish the two timbers. However Totara is usually very dark across the whole timber piece whereas Rimu has more grain and is orange red.

August 2013

Q. I want to paint my kitchen ceiling a light colour as the room is very dark. At present the ceiling forms the upstairs floor and comprises exposed dark stained beams and the varnished underneath of floorboards. Will your standard ceiling paint cover this?

A. You will need to apply Resene Sureseal to the dark stained beams and also prime the varnished areas with Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer prior to applying two coats of our Resene Ceiling Paint.

August 2013

Q. I'm keen to replace our wallpaper with paint. House was built in 1996. Paper is vinyl coated. I figured I'd start small and do the bathroom first. What's the best way to remove the wallpaper? What paint system should then be applied?

A. A wallpaper steamer is the easiest way to remove wallpaper, but if the paper was originally hung using a PVA type wall for adhesive then removal will be very difficult. Once you have removed the paper then wipe the walls down with a sponge and warm water to remove residual paste. You may have to change the water on a regular basis. Then to paint, prime the bare substrate with Resene Sureseal, apply Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and then two coats of Resene Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel. Once painting is completed ensure that the area is warm and well-ventilated and avoid steam contact with the new paint system for at least 48 hours.

August 2013

Q. Are Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen and Bathroom D314K and Resene SpaceCote Flat D314 washable, please?

A. Using the paint industry definition of washable all of the products you refer to are washable. It is accepted that the lower the gloss level of a paint the more difficult it will be to remove markings. Resene SpaceCote Flat is a waterborne enamel and does have better washability than a conventional acrylic paint formulated as a flat finish.

August 2013

Q. I'm going to be painting a mural on DD Plywood. I was wondering if you could recommend to me what type of undercoat/stain I might need to treat the plywood, and then what type of paints I might need to use for the mural itself. The mural will be fastened onto the outside of the building and will be exposed to rain, etc.

A. Plywood with face grades A, B, and C are recommended for paint finishes. If you are committed to using D faced ply for painting then there exists a possibility of failure of the applied paint system due to the substrate. Our standard waterborne paint system for ply is to prime all sides with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat (envelope prime, that is both sides and cut edges) followed by two coats of a Resene exterior acrylic paint, such as Resene Lumbersider. All ply grades undergo a degree of checking when subject to weathering (even when painted): this is the development of fine surface cracking which is more pronounced with dark coloured topcoats and is also related to the ply grade used.

August 2013

Q. We had a first topcoat of Resene roof paint applied around 2pm Friday. The section of roof that is south facing did not dry before it got cold and started to rain overnight. This morning the paint is still wet (can wipe it off with my fingers) and has completely washed off in places. The question is, will it eventually dry out and retain any durability, or are we better to waterblast it completely off and start again?

A. This is an application issue. If the painted area is waterblasted to remove loss or uncured paint then there is no re-application issue as long as the paint is applied under conditions that meet the film forming requirements of the paint.

August 2013

Q. I would like to paint my solar water collector. It is thin aluminium plate. It requires a black paint that is high temperature tolerant and can absorb heat from the sun’s rays. What would you suggest?

A. The only product we have for this would be Resene Vinyl Etch Black.

August 2013

Q. I have used your Resene Madam M and I was wondering if I misjudged how the colour would appear on the walls. Three coats were needed to get desired effect. Is that normal?

A. Two coats of most Resene colours will achieve hiding; however with colours within the colour space of Resene Madam M an additional coat will be required.

August 2013

Q. Can I paint waterbased over oil base on an interior ceiling?

A. Yes but it is standard practice to sand the old oil based paint first to provide a mechanical key for the new waterborne paint.

August 2013

Q. We are building a new house. The paint specified for the internal doors, skirtings and architraves is Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss enamel. Our builder has suggested that we change the paint system to Resene Lusta-Glo as they believe it would give a superior finish.

A. The faster dry of a waterborne enamel such as Resene Lustacryl compared to a solventborne product such as Resene Lusta Glo does make it more difficult to achieve a brush mark free finish when applying the waterborne enamel compared to application of Resene Lusta-Glo. Waterborne enamels are often preferred as they dry faster and have very low solvent levels.

August 2013

Q. We have a problem with peeling paint on Matai garage doors. Garage will be stripped back to bare timber later this year and repainted in white colour. We need advice as to primer/sealer and topcoat finishes to bring these doors and trims back to their former glory with some degree of longevity.

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat is our only recommendation priming for Matai. If the doors are constructed in a manner that two painted surfaces do not come into contact, then for the best long term paint system apply a second coat of Resene Quick Dry and follow this with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101. If two painted surfaces do contact replace Resene Sonyx 101 with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

August 2013

Q. I had a mouldy bathroom ceiling that I just scrubbed clean on the weekend - I thought I had heard about a paint product for wet areas that has properties in it to stop mould. Could you please advise?

A. You will need to treat the bathroom walls and ceiling with Resene Moss & Mould Killer to kill mould and mould spores. If this is not done the mould will re grow as the active material in anti-mould paints function to inhibit mould growth rather than kill. If the existing paint is an old alkyd you will need to sand to provide a mechanical key for the new paint system. Prime with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom paint, which has both mould and anti-bacterial additives.

August 2013

Q. I need to overpaint a COLORBOND® roof. The surface has gone chalky, but no rust. What is the best procedure and product?

A. Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash, rinse clean with fresh water and allow to dry. Then apply two coats of Resene Summit Roof in your selected colour.

August 2013

Q. I have a caravan pop top that needs painting. It has an aluminium skin. Do you have a paint that will work on that?

A. The best paint system we have is to prime the aluminium with Resene Armourcote 221 then apply two coats of any Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat.

August 2013

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Always make sure you read the product label and data sheet prior to application. If in doubt about any aspect of your project, please ask our Paint Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller.

 

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