Close Give Feedback
Resene Paints - home page
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram Follow us on YouTube

Answers to your questions from our Paint Experts, p 14

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. 14


Q. Is there an option for a decking stain with slip resistance coefficient to meet minimum NZBC requirements?

A. Our decking stains are designed to erode upon weathering and this means that we cannot incorporate additives to give increased wet slip resistance as there is no way to retain these in the stain film.

December 2015

Q. I want to repaint my garage door. It has faded from its dark green colour, and has pitting. Do you have tips on preparation etc?

A. If there is evidence of considerable film corrosion for the zinc base metal you will need to remove all of the colour coat to expose the base metal for painting. This is easiest accomplished using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc. Then apply two coats of Resene GP Metal Primer and finish with two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic paint.

December 2015

Q. How long does leftover Resene Lumbersider last? I am not sure what amount to buy - 4L might just be enough or 10L with lots left over.

A. Difficult to say with certainty but unopened cans if correctly stored can normally be kept for more than 5 years. Once the pail is used there is the possibility of bacterial contamination occurring exists and it is not possible to make any predictions on useable lifetime. Given that the repaint time for Resene Lumbersider is in excess of 5 years storage of used cans has its risks.

December 2015

Q. How can I remove a clear coat epoxy finish from my table?

A. Sanding would be my recommendation. Epoxies are often difficult to remove using modern paint strippers.

December 2015

Q. Our conservatory is so hot inside that we cannot comfortably use it on hot summer days. The roof is opaque acrylic plastic extruded panels about 8mm thick in a hollow box section. Can you recommend a Resene paint with heat reflective properties that we can paint on the exterior of the acrylic roof to help reduce the internal temperature? Would a silver paint reflect more heat than say Resene Spanish White?

A. White is the best for heat reflection. Any Resene exterior acrylic can be used after cleaning the roof down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. If there is mould or lichen present treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer following label directions. Complete kill and lichen detachment can require weeks to occur.

December 2015

Q. I have a wall behind our wood burner and it has been painted with semi-gloss enamel. Can I paint with a flat finish enamel over the top? It is opposite a large ranchslider so the semi-gloss is quite shiny.

A. Yes, clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner following label directions, sand to degloss using 220 grit sandpaper then apply the two coats of flat enamel.

December 2015

Q. I am painting ceramic planters. What product do I need before painting?

A. Clean down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions. Apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 24 hours then apply two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic.

December 2015

Q. I am painting the outside of my house with Resene paint and someone has used a bitumen substance on the LINEA® weatherboard and then painted the wall. The paint is falling off. I have removed all the paint and am just looking at this bitumen underneath. Any suggestions I could use to remove the bitumen or what can I paint over the bitumen to help my paint stick on better?

A. I cannot understand why someone would apply a bitumen based paint to LINEA® weatherboards but use Resene Membrane Roofing Primer to seal the bitumen.

December 2015

Q. We built our house 6 years ago and clad it in Shadowclad® with COLORSTEEL® flashings. We used Resene Woodsman CoolColour Iroko. North walls are starting to show fine cracking (0.5 mm max) and am wondering whether a paint finish might be best long term, probably one of the darker Resene Lumbersider paints. What do you think? Can Resene Lumbersider be done as a CoolColour to avoid the overheating?

A. As is the case with any ply cladding Shadowclad® will undergo surface checking upon weathering and this is what I suspect you are seeing. The rate of checking is related to colour, the darker the colour the faster checking will occur. Resene CoolColour™ technology will assist in reducing but not prevent the potential for surface checking. Resene CoolColour technology is available in a number of Resene paint lines including Resene Lumbersider. A solid paint finish will always extend the time for maintenance painting. In your case scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash. Then use a system of a coat of Resene Sureseal, on the north and western elevations a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then to all elevations two coats of Resene Lumbersider CoolColour. Brush all coats into the cracks.

December 2015

Q. Can you confirm that your Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is suitable to use on a COLORBOND® fence that is approx 7 years old? The surface has weathered but there is no oxidisation present. I will be overcoating with Resene Lumbersider. Also for sealing plasterboard and fibre cement sheeting what primer would you recommend, and is this primer suitable for new and old timber?

A. Resene exterior acrylics can be applied to COLORBOND® that has been subjected to exterior weathering for at least a month. We recommend application of Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer for plasterboard and Resene Concrete Primer for fibre cement. The timber primer depends upon the timber, the presence of anti-oxidants or tannins in the timber and the degree of weathering and breakdown of the timber.

December 2015

Q. My friend and son have recently got into painting and some of them are rather good. They have been using some Resene wall paints. Just wondering if this is ok to use on canvas or if we have to go and buy some acrylic or oil paints?

A. Many artists do use Resene paint for their artworks. Most commonly they use Resene Lumbersider, which comes as a product in cans and is also the product in most of our Resene testpots. The Resene Lumbersider is really popular as it is very durable and easy to work with and the testpots are a great alternative to more expensive artist paints. You can either use over primed canvases or you can prime the canvas yourself using Resene Quick Dry. If they decide to carry it on as a business they might like to be included in our online artist gallery.

December 2015

Q. Can testpots be mixed? i.e. red and blue to make a good purple etc.?

A. Yes they can be. Most of the solid colour testpots are Resene Lumbersider.

December 2015

Q. Can Resene Concrete Wax be used over existing polyurethane type coatings?

A. Sorry but no.

December 2015

Q. I was wondering if a wall painted with whiteboard paint can still be used as a screen for an overhead projector.

A. Yes it can be still used as a screen for an overhead projector but you end up with a gloss finish wall, not a flat finish wall (so a bit more reflection wise).

December 2015

Q. I'm doing a DIY project for my daughter for Christmas. I need paint to paint a dolls house we are making. I am wanting a cheap option.

A. Many customers have used Resene testpots to paint doll's houses. They come in 55/60ml sizes, a huge range of colours and metallics. You would only probably need a few of them to coat your doll's house and you could vary the colours if you wanted to highlight areas of the doll's house.

December 2015

Q. I'm painting a roof and assume CoolColour would be the most durable paint. What CoolColour colour matches the Karaka of your other paints?

A. Resene CoolColours do help reduce heat build-up. Another idea is to select a lighter colour, if that is an option. Lighter colours absorb less heat. Resene Karaka is available as a CoolColour. The CoolColour version of the colour uses different tinters to achieve the CoolColour effect but is matched to the same colour standard as the normal Karaka.

December 2015

Q. We have an old fibreglass runabout boat and I would like to freshen up the inside - floor/sides (it is mainly for aesthetic reasons because my husband thinks it is fine the way it is!). I want a single pot paint, and I want to brush it on (and I don't want to do heaps of preparation!) It needs to be fairly durable as it is walked on and hosed down frequently. I would prefer a paint that I could tint, or something in light grey. Which paint would you recommend?

A. The best option for a single pack system would be a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat followed by two coats of Resene Lustacryl. Surfaces will need to degreased then ideally sanded prior to priming to achieve good adhesion.

December 2015

Q. Can I paint an aluminium ranch slider and windows? Our house is 1940s with wooden joinery, and the ranch slider probably dates to 1980s. I think it's anodised.

A. Clean down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions then apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply 2 coats of Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel.

December 2015

Q. When painting the full house in a dark charcoal, i.e. Resene Baltic Sea, and living in Queensland will this increase the temperature of the home significantly? As opposed to using a lighter colour i.e. Resene Napa?

A. Dark colours do absorb more heat than paler colours. However it is difficult for me to comment on the effect of using a dark colour on the internal temperature of your property.

Resene CoolColours reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-CoolColour technology. CoolColour versions of a colour are not cool to touch but have a higher Total Solar Reflectance than the same colour made using non-CoolColour technology.

Avoid painting in direct sun or at the hottest time of the day as the paint can dry very quickly even with added Resene Hot Weather Additive.

December 2015

Q. I have a feature wall in Resene Hot Chile and I want to paint it a shade of white or grey. How easy will it be to cover this strong colour?

A. Suggest you apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat to be sure of coverage with two topcoats.

December 2015

Q. I am considering using Resene Write-On Wall Paint in our family room this summer. We are planning to redecorate the room in about two years' time and I would like to know whether Resene Write-On Wall Paint will affect future repainting of the wall. Is it possible to paint over Resene Write-On Wall Paint? Is any special preparation required before repainting?

A. The Resene Write-On Wall Paint surface will need to be thoroughly sanded prior to recoating with a new acrylic wall paint.

December 2015

Q. I have particle board flooring that I want to paint in a distressed manner. How do I get a smooth surface on the particle board to do that?

A. Depending upon the degree of surface roughness power sanding using a commercial sanding machine is recommended.

December 2015

Q. I am going to paint my kitchen cabinets/doors (solid wood). They are currently have a natural finish, so I gather just a clear varnish or clear coat is needing to be sanded back. What primer and paint would you recommend? I will be using a brush and/or roller.

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom. Please note that the Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is not designed to give opacity. After application of the topcoats it will take up to five days to achieve good adhesion and a month for full cure. Roller application is recommend to achieve the most uniform finish.

December 2015

Q. Our deck soffit is H3.1 treated ply sheeting. We have used Resene Woodsman Whitewash over two coats and the colour isn't very even. Some possibly due to our inexperience, but definitely some is due to the ply treatment leaching. Are we best to put on a third coat and hope the colour evens out; or are we able to now paint over the whitewash with a water based acrylic? If we paint it, do we need to prime it first?

A. If the variation is due of leaching of dye from the timber treatment then it is unlikely that application of a third coat of another waterborne paint will resolve the issue. Apply a coat of Resene StainLock then two coats of a Resene waterborne enamel for a solid paint finish.

December 2015

Q. I have a 25 year old cedar house. It has never been stained and the cedar varies between its original warm brown and a beautiful silver. One wall has no eave to protect it and some of the short boards are cupped and cracked. I have replaced them. I think this summer I might recoat that and the rest of the house with more oil. Is Resene Furniture and Decking Oil suitable for this or am I better to use another product like Wood-X?

A. Resene Furniture and Decking Oil contains a yellow UV absorber which can impact on the timber colour. Wood X is based on a no drying mineral oil and once used you will be committed to this oil type going forward and painting at a future time with a solid paint finish is not possible. My suggestion is Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

December 2015

Q. I am repainting exterior joinery on a 35 year old house. The joinery is a mix of rimu and cedar. Most of it I am sanding back to bare timber as I have some pretty good sanders. Should I be using Resene TimberLock on bare timber and which is the best primer to use? I have both Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and general purpose solventborne Resene Wood Primer. The finish coat is Resene Enamacryl. What's the best primer under and on top of the PAL eezee glazing compound on cedar sashes?

A. Due to the potential for tannin bleed when priming bare cedar the only primer we recommend is Resene Wood Primer (oil based). This is also what I would use for the rimu. The PAL putty you are going to use is a linseed oil based putty and must be left to skin over before coating (see the directions of the putty can). Our recommended primer for this type of putty is Resene Enamel Undercoat.

December 2015

Q. I have undercoated my French doors with acrylic undercoat paint. Can I put oil based topcoat on them (on the outside)?

A. Yes you can overcoat with an oil based enamel but for exterior exposure you can only use the gloss enamel.

December 2015

Q. I live on Cook Strait and want to paint my garage black and white - black boards and white windows. Everyone has said that the environment is too harsh to do this and the ply will just split. Are they right?

A. Ply cladding will check upon exterior weathering. The rate of checking is colour dependent - darker colours attract more heat and therefore increase the degree and rate of surface checking.

Resene CoolColour™ technology will reduce but not eliminate both the degree of and rate of surface checking if you apply a dark colour such as black. The CoolColour version of a colour reflects more infra-red radiation (heat) compared to the same colour made using non-CoolColour technology.

December 2015

Q. I am wanting to stain my driveway as have had half of the drive repaved when our retaining wall was replaced so have two different types of concrete and two very different colours. I want to tie them in a bit better by staining them one uniform colour. Now I'm not sure what to use as I don't want to change the texture of the drive at all as the drive is very steep so don't want it to have less grip. What would you recommend I use?

A. Resene Concrete Stain is the only product we can offer for this. However we cannot guarantee that you will achieve a uniform colour to both areas as the stain is only available in a limited range of colours and being semi-transparent the existing colour will influence the final colour. Suggest you visit a Resene ColorShop to view the colour range.

December 2015

Q. We have a 1926 house with an original chimney that runs up through my son's bedroom in the second floor. The bricks must be quite porous because my son's bedroom smells of smoke and flakes of black soot settle on the window sill etc. What Resene product could we use to seal the bricks? What Resene product would you recommend to paint over them?

A. You can saturate the bricks with Resene Sureseal then apply an interior wall paint for colour.

Are you sure that the soot ingress is through the bricks themselves as this would indicate quite large holes in the brickwork? Sealing to prevent smoke ingress and the resulting odour is extremely difficult to achieve with a paint system.

December 2015

Q. Over the weekend I have been applying Resene Sonyx 101 paint on the wood trim around my property and am getting very poor results with the finish. The paint is not holding a wet edge and subsequently I am getting banding and brushmarks in my painted finish. I have added 100ml of Resene Hot Weather Additive to 4 litres of paint even though the weather wasn't particularly warm. But this made no difference. The paint seems to be skinning in the pot after 10 mins. Can you help resolve this problem? This is the first time I have used this product. Is it the wrong product for the job?

A. Resene Sonyx 101 is one of our easiest products to apply and usually gives a very good brush applied finish. We recommend adding the Resene Hot Weather Additive for application under hot conditions and you have done this.

Waterborne paints dry rapidly under hot and windy conditions. To achieve a good finish under these conditions the trick is to use the right brush type, the Resene Hot Weather Additive and also apply a good wet coat, lay off and leave. Resene paints are often made at a higher solids content than others which means that the applied film does not have as much water to be lost before the film starts to set up.

Lay off and leave means to brush out and then go over the fresh paint with the brush to tip off. If there was drying in the paint pot then conditions were very hot as this can only occur if the paint can is exposed to direct sun on a very hot day.

December 2015

Q. I am looking for an odour free water soluble varnish for a bathroom surface please.

A. We have low VOC waterborne clear varnishes - Resene Aquaclear - but they are not completely odour free.

December 2015

Q. Do you have a product for removing oil based paint off concrete block walls?

A. This is not an easy task. We have Sea 2 Sky paint strippers but removal of paint from blockwork can be difficult as the paint is often absorbed into the block surface. The other possible methods are soda blasting or waterblasting with sand injection but the latter needs careful control to avoid exposure of aggregate.

December 2015

Q. I have been asked to paint a small caravan and after doing some research have come to the conclusion that a system using Resene Armourcote 221 with Resene Uracryl 403 is probably the best way to go. The substrate is a mix of new, bare aluminium and previously painted aluminium. Please could you let me know if the above system would be correct under normal circumstances? Please also advise if it is suitable over an old thermoplastic paint such as acrylic lacquer. I will be doing solvent tests and adhesion tests on the existing paint but would like to know if there are known compatibility issues with this sort of coating. I am not certain what it was previously painted with but it looks as though it is a DIY home job and suspect it is acrylic lacquer.

A. The system you have proposed can be applied over appropriately prepared substrates. In the case of an existing paint system it can be applied to any sound clean two pack paint system as long as the existing paint finish is sanded.

December 2015

Q. I have a large tongue and groove LOSP treated pine deck around my house. Age about 10 years. On the weather side of the house it is showing cracking and deterioration. Our local timber man recommended that I sand the edge back and treat it with Metalex. I did this and then painted it with Resene Enamel Undercoat in preparation for painting the whole deck with Resene Walk-on Flooring and Paving paint. The undercoat is peeling off the Metalex areas. I am looking to get a hard wearing long lasting finish for this high traffic area. What would be your recommended best approach for preparation and final finishing coat?

A. Decks need constant maintenance and even with the best prep and paint system there is no guarantee of a long term maintenance free system. End sealing and filling of nail holes is required to avoid moisture ingress to the deck timber and this can cause the film to crack/split. I have found that resin pockets within the decking timber are a real problem and this is further compounded by application of dark colours. If you are applying any decking colour then we recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour as this does increase heat reflection compared to the same colour made using non-CoolColour technology. This can help with reducing but not eliminating stress on the paint system and the underlying timber. Our recommendation has been to prime new LOSP treated timbers with Resene Wood Primer (solventborne primer) before applying waterborne topcoats.

December 2015

Q. Can I use Resene Lumbersider paint on plastic? I have an old toilet and the plastic cover on the cistern and the seat are degraded so wondered about simply painting them?

A. Yes, Resene Lumbersider will develop excellent adhesion when applied to PVC and polycarbonate plastics but not polyethylene or polypropylene.

December 2015

Q. I have stripped the front of my house to bare timber as some parts of the paint started to peel. The weatherboards are Rimu. The front of the house faces the west and gets full afternoon sun.

What sort of primer do you recommend? An oil based primer (Resene Wood Primer) or a water based primer (Resene Quick Dry)?

A. We recommend Resene Wood Primer.

January 2016

Q. We are sanding the house weatherboards and the paint is peeling along some edges, in places back to the wood and causing craters. Should we fill these and sand before painting?

A. I assume you mean there is a difference in the appearance where the paint has been sanded back to bare compared to the surrounding paint layers. You can use Resene Timber Surface Prep to smooth over these areas before topcoating.

January 2016

Q. We are planning to take up the carpet and paint the chipboard underneath. What is the best and easiest way to paint this to last in a busy family/pet household? What products should we use? Would applying a layer of resin or epoxy type stuff be a possibility to help it last against dog claws?

A. Prime the bare floor with Resene Quick Dry Primer Undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo. There is no paint system resistant to dog claws. Epoxies have poor scratch resistance so unfortunately no.

January 2016

Q. What can we use to remove white markings from our brickwork? My husband sprayed a cleaner over it three months ago but don't know if this has any bearing or not. We are painting the woodwork on the house in a fantastic looking Resene stain and it detracts from the appearance.

A. It is most likely efflorescence from the brick work. This can be difficult to totally remove especially if it is engrained in the surface. Wire brushing can work but not always to complete removal. Efflorescence is caused by water coming through or out of the brickwork and soluble salts are dissolved and when the water dries on the surface a white deposit is left which hardens and does not redissolve. Application of a saturation coat of Resene Solventborne Aquapel will help hold the salt migration but will not address the white if there is existing efflorescence. The other possible way is to treat the affected areas with CLR solution.

January 2016

Q. What is the best way to apply Resene Uracryl 402 to a plywood floor? We have the Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer as an undercoat.

A. Use a Resene No. 5 roller sleeve.

January 2016

Q. I have a darkish blue paint colour (royal blue) to cover up with a white paint. Is there a product that will cover this without having to put lots of coats of white on to cover the dark paint?

A. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat before the two coats of topcoats.

January 2016

Q. I have a painted wooden window sill beside my shower that regularly gets wet. What is the best solution for prepping and painting said sill in order to prevent the wood rotting? The current paint is starting to crack and seemingly break down. The timber is solid not MDF.

A. Sand back to bare timber and prime with Resene Wood Primer, then a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo. If there are exposed ends ensure these are also painted with the complete system.

January 2016

Q. What would you recommend for coating a new building - Resene Forester or Resene Lumbersider - using pre-primed Shadowclad® (board and batten)? Our architect wants us to use a stain but I have concerns over the maintenance/re-stain frequency of such. Tthis is a beach property so want low maintenance but good looking outcome. What do you believe would deliver the best outcome? What is the durability like for both of those versus traditional stain finishes? Not wanting to have to revisit every two years!

A. Resene Lumbersider and Resene Forester can both be used. Resene Forester is a film forming system and not the same as a traditional stain finish. Stains usually require maintenance every third summer, a paint finish will go to an average 8-10 years.

January 2016

Q. We have had some work done on our wooden villa. The builder primed with an oil based primer and I now want to paint. We have a pail of the house colour which is a Resene Decorator Acrylic. Can I use this over an oil primer?

A. Yes Resene exterior acrylic paints can be applied over Resene oil based primers.

January 2016

Q. I am looking for a product to use on a weathered outdoor picnic table that has previously been painted. I have scraped most of the paint off. I would prefer a clear product to highlight the weathered look. Otherwise a good sealer to repaint.

A. Sorry, we do not recommend any clear varnish type coatings for exterior timber. Our suggestion would be to use Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain. You would need to remove all paint first.

January 2016

Q. I'm painting cedar rails on my deck. The current stain is seven years old and fading. What prep should I do or can I just paint over existing stain?

A. If the existing stain is non film forming and there no signs of flaking or peeling, scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label directions then you can re-stain. The exception will be if the existing stain is film forming or based on a mineral oil system. If it is a mineral wood oil you need to reapply the same product. If it is film forming a thorough sand is required to remove the stain film prior to re-staining.

January 2016

Q. We have recently bought a western red cedar weatherboard house all of which has been painted a horrible white paint. Can anyone give advice on how to remove this and get back to the original wood to varnish or oil?

A. If the weatherboards are dressed then stripping using a heat gun and a tungsten blade scraper or using a paint stripper are the two options. Complete removal back to the original timber may be difficult to achieve without traces of the original paint system remaining. After stripping a thorough sanding will be required. If the cladding is rough sawn then paint removal may be impossible to achieve. Using a paint stripper is the only option if this is the case.

January 2016

Q. We want to re-colour a Lockwood Hardiplank® house. The weatherboards are powder-coated aluminium substrate. What is required for this? I would have thought an etch primer would be needed first. But are etch primers solely for bare metal? There are no signs of corrosion.

A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions then apply two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic paint.

January 2016

Q. I want to paint the exterior of my house with the colour Resene Millbrook. The paint has an LRV rating of 18. Is this suitable for a plaster exterior, or will it get too hot and damage the plaster? My home is in Central Otago.

A. If you use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour you will get increased heat reflection. It all depends upon the LRV minimum placed on the cladding by the original supplier of the cladding system.

January 2016

Q. What product do you recommend as an oil based enamel for the external timber/weatherboard walls of a villa and external window trim? Would you recommend a waterborne enamel ahead of a solventborne paint? The house gets a lot of weather exposure due to it being 900 feet above sea level and coastal. If so what do you recommend? What about the window sashes and trim etc - same as weatherboard?

A. For a solventborne paint option we only recommend Resene Super Gloss for exterior exposure. This will chalk depending upon exposure conditions but can lose significant gloss within 18 months. Lower gloss levels chalk even quicker and for this reason we do not promote their use for exterior applications.

Enamels (solvent or water) are required for opening joinery due to their inherent block resistance, that is the painted surfaces do not fuse under pressure. We only recommend a full gloss solventborne enamel for sashes trims etc as lower gloss level solventborne enamels chalk very quickly upon weathering. Even so we expect Resene Super Gloss enamels to undergo significant chalking on the most exposed elevations within 18 months.

Waterborne enamels have better exterior chalk resistance and we do recommend Resene Enamacryl (gloss waterborne enamel) and Resene Lustacyl (semi-gloss waterborne enamel) for exterior trim work. The only down side to this product is that due to rapid drying of the applied wet paint film you get more brush marking. Also adhesion to glass is not as good as Resene Super Gloss which can be an issue when overlapping over putty lines. New linseed oil putties (cured to a surface hard state) must always be primed with a solventborne undercoat if topcoating with a waterborne enamel finish.

January 2016

Q. I specifically requested that the painter use a Resene colour to paint a new built-in wardrobe. As another painting company is painting the rest of the house I requested the painter reconfirm the actual paint colour used. I was told that Resene Quarter Parchment was used, made by another company. From looking at the Resene website I feel that this paint formula does not match Resene Quarter Parchment at full strength. I would appreciate you letting me know if the painter used the correct Resene paint colour and strength, and if not whether it matches a Resene colour.

A. What you have experienced is an altogether common event. However choosing colours from a web site is always difficult as the colour reproduction of a screen is often poor. Suggest you obtain a Resene testpot of the Resene colour to check colour variation.

The only way to get the correct Resene colour is to use a Resene paint and Resene colour tinters. If the painter has used another product then they cannot get the exact same Resene colour because they have the incorrect paint and they won't have the same tinters or the correct Resene colour formulation.

If you have asked for a Resene colour/product on your project then you should be able to request that the painter uses what you asked for and does not substitute another product. If you asked specifically for Resene when the job was quoted then any extra product or labour cost would normally be paid for by the painter if they have not used the product you had requested.

January 2016

Q. Can you tell me which paint is best in a residential family situation for an easy to clean option?

A. The best option is Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen (for walls) which is a durable waterborne enamel which can be used in general areas and also wet areas such as bathrooms. We do have other options for walls, but Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is the best for cleaning and durability. Trims wise, most people opt for Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel, unless you want a gloss finish in which case Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel.

We also have solventborne versions of these, but find most decorators prefer the easy water wash up of the waterborne enamels instead.

For ceilings we have Resene SpaceCote Flat, which is a flat version of the Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and means you can wipe off fly spots without damaging the paint. It is suitable for general areas and wet areas (e.g. bathrooms). Or you can use standard Resene Ceiling Paint for general living areas if you're not planning to wipe your ceiling and then use the Resene SpaceCote Flat for bathroom/kitchen areas.

Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, Resene SpaceCote Flat and Resene Lustacryl also come in a kitchen and bathroom version with anti-bacterial silver and MoulDefender for extra protection in these areas.

January 2016

Q. I have painted lots of large terracotta plant pots with multiple layers of spray paint, starting with spray primer, then different fluorescent colours using spray cans. I have sprayed three or four coats of clear gloss on the top of them.

However two pots have already started peeling right back to the terracotta in just a fortnight. My final three large pots are just finished. I was hoping to paint Resene Clearcoat UVS over the top of all of them as it seems a lot more hard wearing. However it says that you cannot paint it over solvent based paints. I have read every bit of the small print on the clear gloss sealer spray and it doesn't mention what type it is although judging by the strong smell it must be a solvent. I've spent weeks on this project and my pots look stunning and I just want to protect them but don't know what will happen due to the paints that are underneath. Can you let me know what you think before I make a big mistake?

A. To the best of my understanding all solventborne spray cans are based on resins which have reduced chalk resistance when exposed to weathering. If clear coated with Resene Clearcoat UVS there is a chance that the Resene Clearcoat UVS may delaminate off the spray paint base.

January 2016

Q. I have something that is powdercoated in Appliance White. Can you tell me the matching Resene paint colour as I want to paint my walls to match?

A. We have a colour match on file for this colour using Resene paints and tinters. It's not a standard Resene colour but is made to match the sample of this colour our Colour Lab has. This is available for tinting at Resene ColorShops and Resene resellers.

Just be aware that different finishes can look a little different because of the sheen level and texture. Normally we recommend choosing a complementary colour rather than an identical colour, as even the exact same colour can look different when it is in a different finish.

January 2016

Q. I have a new smooth aluminium entry door. I don't like the colour. Is there any way I can change to a dark grey or charcoal colour?

A. Prime with Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 48 hours before applying a Resene waterborne enamel such as Resene Lustacryl. Note that the Resene Lustacryl will take at least five days to develop reasonable adhesion and full cure will take four weeks. In the early stages care will be required not to damage the new paintwork.

January 2016

Q. What products do you normally recommend for a home's interior?

A. If it's for an interior then the products we normally recommend are:
Interior walls (non wet areas – e.g. not bathrooms, kitchens, laundries) – Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel (or you could use Resene Zylone Sheen waterborne low sheen paint), trims and joinery – Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel, ceilings – Resene SpaceCote Flat waterborne enamel or Resene Ceiling Paint.

Then for wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundries – Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel, ceilings in wet areas – Resene SpaceCote Flat waterborne enamel and trims in wet areas – Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel.

January 2016

Q. When using Resene Summit Roof Semi-Gloss do you need to prime existing COLORSTEEL® or COLORBOND® with Resene Galvo One? Are there any special requirements applying Resene Summit Roof Semi-Gloss by spray?

A. If the existing COLORSTEEL® is sound and just chalked there is no need for priming. Priming is only required if the factory applied coating is showing signs of delamination.

From an equipment perspective the spray tip selection remains the same as Resene Summit Roof (satin) but now there is a requirement for a minimum spraying pressure and guidelines on when to use Resene Summit Roof Spray Additive. This is a new additive formulation and while extending open time the new additive has other functions which cannot be achieved by addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive. The addition rate of the dedicated spraying thinner is up to a maximum of 2% by volume, that is 200ml per 10 litre of paint (this must not be exceeded). The same requirements apply to application of Resene Summit Roof Metallic paints, Aluminium and MIOX bases.

January 2016

Q. We have a Lockwood style home and we want to paint the interior. We would like to paint white but still see the grain of the wood behind resulting in a whitewash kind of look. Do you have anything in your range that can achieve this look?

A. We recommend Resene Colorwood Whitewash. Clean down the surfaces to be painted using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand to provide a profile for the new paint. Apply the Resene Colorwood Whitewash using a speed brush, usually one coat is sufficient. If the depth of blonding is acceptable then apply two coats of Resene Aquaclear in your preferred gloss level. Note that the boards may shrink and this will expose the original varnish line.

January 2016

Q. I have heard about a metallic coat that can be applied to paperfaced plasterboard walls and magnets will stick to it. Can you help?

A. We recommend Resene Magnetic Magic.

January 2016

Q. Is your Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer suitable for painting external block walls and then back filling with soil?

A. Sorry but no, you will need to apply a bituminous waterproofing membrane.

January 2016

Q. We have a new fibre glass exterior door which we are painting on the inside as well. What products do I need please? I wish to paint the door a bright red.

A. Prepare by washing with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions. Then apply a prime coat of Resene Armourcote 221 and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 403.

January 2016

Q. I was wondering what Resene products you would recommend for painting a melamine cabinet that I would like to finish in a Resene Crackle finish. The cabinet is intended for a child's room.

A. Apply an adhesion coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer then allow to cure for 48 hours before applying the Resene Crackle finish following label directions.

January 2016

Q. Do you supply paint that works on plastics? We want to paint a kayak.

A. It depends upon the plastic. Resene waterborne paints will adhere to uPVCc but not polyethylene or polypropylene.

January 2016

Q. I have a five year old house so the paint is still pretty good, but I want to refresh the look. I have done a bit of painting but not much. I am not painting the ceiling but am painting the trims and walls. I would prefer not to tape up twice if I can avoid it. Would it be a suitable strategy to paint the trims first (semi-gloss) then once dry tape up and paint the walls? For any semi-gloss that has made it onto the walls the low sheen will cover this?

A. It is normal practice to paint the walls first but there are no rules on the order required. Two coats of any Resene paint should give coverage so you can paint over any gloss level if required.

January 2016

Q. I have previously used the Resene X-200 membrane paint on the external flat top of a concrete garage roof. We are now looking to convert an internal garage into a rumpus room. The base of the room is a concrete slab which isn't sealed. The slab is sitting on clay (which gets some natural water run-through from the hill) so has rising damp. The scrap carpet we have currently sitting on that slab has patches of mould from being there the last two years. Do you think the Resene X-200 product, if painted on the floor concrete slab (and covered with a carpet etc) will provide ongoing protection from the rising damp to prevent water vapour ingress or do you think it will fail due to the consistent nature of the damp?

A. Resene X-200 is not suitable as a damp proof coating. Our best product would be Resene Aquapoxy (three coats) applied to the floor after treating the mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. However while this is our best recommendation we cannot guarantee that this will hold back moisture and the hydrostatic water pressure cannot be established.

January 2016

Q. I have an old exterior deck with some boards that need replacing. The deck is looking very weather worn and I cannot afford to replace it. I have waterblasted it which brings it up to the bare wood. What do you suggest as a treatment?

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, then scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label directions. If you want to stain then I would recommend the application of two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

January 2016

Q. What is the recommended recoating period for Resene Lumbersider? What is the difference between a Maintenance schedule five year system and a Maintenance schedule ten year system?

A. Recoating is dependent upon exposure conditions. Application of a maintenance coat is only required when there is significant chalking of the paint finish. The rate of the onset of chalking is determined by the elevation (north and west elevations are the first to show chalking) and gloss level of the paint. Typically the higher the gloss level the longer the time to the onset of chalking. Colour also plays a part, the darker the colour the quicker the chalking onset but with a darker colour the more visually noticeable is the surface chalk.

January 2016

Q. Do I have to paint the skirting with enamel if I want to paint it the same colour as the walls or could I use the interior waterborne paint?

A. If you use a waterborne enamel wall paint you can use the same waterborne enamel for skirtings. Conventional wall paints such as Resene Zylone Sheen are relatively soft and will be more easily damaged if used to paint skirtings.

January 2016

Q. I have a clear poly-carbonate covered awning covering a garden seat setting. Is there a Resene non-oil based paint I can use on the underside (non-weather exposed) to cut down the sunlight and generated heat please?

A. Any Resene waterborne paint will achieve excellent adhesion of poly carbonate but this will give a totally opaque paint finish not semi-transparent paint film.

January 2016

Q. We have purchased 20L of Resene Half Mondo instead of Resene Quarter Mondo. The shop suggested we add 10L of white to make the Resene Quarter Mondo. Can you confirm this is correct ?

A. The only way to adjust the colour is by addition of an equal volume of white. I suggest that you do a bulk adjustment to ensure a uniform colour.

January 2016

Q. Can I paint my driveway in a suitable textured paint in the colour Resene Pravda?

A. The only possible product would be Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path. The coating will cope with light vehicular traffic.

January 2016

Q. I bought a new house and it has wooden interior doors that are not painted and are plain wood with possible varnish. Is there a way we can paint these without having to sand them? i.e. is there a special type of priming paint needed/available?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl. The paint system will take at least seven days to achieve good adhesion and continue to cure with final film properties being achieved after a total of four weeks. To avoid brush marking apply the Resene Lustacryl by roller. In summer addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive is required to achieve a reasonable open time.

January 2016

Q. I have a household steel wheelbarrow leaning up against a fence showing the underneath to all. This is not pretty. What paint would I need to use? I intend to paint it black. The wheelbarrow bottom has small bits of rust where it has been scratched.

A. Use a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc to remove all loose corrosion then spot prime corroded areas with Resene Rust-Arrest. Apply a full coat of the same product to all areas. Then for a decorative effect only apply two coats any Resene exterior acrylic paint in selected colour.

January 2016

Q. We really like the idea of the new Resene CoolColours. We understand that they dry a shade or two lighter than the non-CoolColour version of the colour?

A. The Resene CoolColour™ versions of Resene colours are formulated to match the same colour standard as the normal colour.

January 2016

Q. I am painting our bedroom. It has a base of light pink wallpaper from the 1970s which is in great condition. I had planned to use a wallpaper sealant but when I went to buy it I realised it was an oil-based enamel. I've got a young baby and have to paint it myself and didn't like the idea of doing that while breastfeeding because of the VOCs. The lady at the counter said some people wing it and paint straight over. I have done about a square metre of paint straight over which has been there for about six months and is fine. Can I take a risk and just use my acrylic or is it going to be a huge disaster?

A. If you have applied the wall paint direct to the wallpaper and there has been no stickiness develop then you could proceed with the same approach. Application of waterborne paints to some vinyl wall papers result in plasticisers from the paper being released into the paint and this causes the paint to remain soft and sticky.

January 2016

Q. My house exterior is black stained ply and batten and I wish to paint with acrylic light coloured paint. What primer should I use?

A. Scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label directions then apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and finish with two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic. If using dark colours we strongly recommend application of the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour.

January 2016

Q. We had a professional painter paint the ceiling of our new bathroom three years ago. Now the paint is cracking and peeling away. He insisted on using a non Resene undercoat directly onto the new paperfaced plasterboard and painted over this with the Resene acrylic paint for wet areas that I provided. Can you please advise what I need to do to prepare the surface and what products I'll need to repaint the ceiling?

A. Scrape or sand back areas of failed paint back to bare substrate, taking care not to unduly damage the substrate. Prime bare areas with Resene Sureseal. Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then finish with two coats of a Resene Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel. Allow the new paint to cure with good ventilation for at least 48 hours before espousing the new paint to steam or condensation.

January 2016

Q. I want to paint our brick fireplace the same colour as our trim (Resene Quarter Black White). Will it work to add Resene Hot Weather Additive to the trim paint? Or do I need a different sort of paint? Also, what sort of sealer/primer would I use first on the brick?

A. When the fire is at full heat can you maintain hand contact on the surfaces to be painted? If it is too hot to maintain contact then normal Resene decorative paint finishes are unsuitable.

Resene Hot Weather Additive does not change the properties of a dry paint film. The additive extends the open time of waterborne paints when applied under hot or windy conditions.

Further A. Assuming the heat issue is resolved seal the bricks with Resene Sureseal then apply 2 coats of Resene Lusta-Glo. This also assumes that the bricks are not glazed.

January 2016

Q. Which product is best to use for the interior topcoat (colour) walls?

A. We recommend Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

January 2016

Q. Can I re-wallpaper over the existing painted wallpaper if it is in good condition? The walls are quite straight and look good. I worry that stripping may wreck the walls.

A. Our wallpaper supplier recommends that the existing wall paper is stripped before re-papering.

January 2016

Q. I am going to repaint the exterior of a house and the surface is Insulclad. What paint do you recommend?

A. Resene X-200 based on the assumption that there is no jointing failures or weathertight issues.

January 2016

Q. Can I put a waterbased paint over an oil based sealer? The sealer will be on new paperfaced plasterboard in the bathroom.

A. Resene waterborne topcoat paints can be applied over Resene Sureseal (oil based sealer). For bathroom we recommend Resene Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel as the topcoat paint.

January 2016

Q. I have a varnished clad ceiling over 18 square metres in size. I want to emulsion it with soft sheen white but really do not want the prep work. Is there any other way around it please?

A. We would recommend using Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as the adhesion primer before topcoating with a waterborne topcoat.

January 2016

Q. I have a metal roller garage door to paint. I am using Resene Galvo One to prime. What paint would you recommended to topcoat?

A. Any Resene waterborne exterior acrylic can be used as the topcoat.

January 2016

Q. We have just bought a pre-war worker's cottage clad in weatherboard. The paint is in terrible condition and boards are visible and dry (although not rotten). What is your recommendation of products to use?

A. A complete strip of all existing coatings is the only way to be sure of a long term solution. However the age of the existing paint will be such that there will be lead based paint on the cladding. Removal is best accomplished using a heat gun and tungsten blade scraper but ensure that the temperature of the heat gun can be controlled to less than 400° C. Ensure all paint flakes are captured on dropcloths or weed mat and bagged for disposal.

Then you can apply a primer such as Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and then finish with two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic topcoat. If the timber is Cedar or Redwood then the primer will be Resene Wood Primer.

January 2016

Q. My house has 15 stairs linked between basement and first floor. The stairs used to be covered by carpet and I have removed the carpet. I want to paint the stairs to cover the original wood colour. What kind of paint should I use? Is there stair paint colours to choose?

A. Do you know what the timber is? We need to identify the timber to ensure the right wood primer is used. We cannot match to a wood colour as wood is never a single colour and there are always grain differences which can alter the wood colour in parts. You will need slip resistance so I suggest you use Resene Walk-on (over a suitable primer) in a colour to suit.

January 2016

Q. We have painted our wooden windows, but have painted the brick work as well. How can I get it off? The paint has been on the bricks for years.

A. Given the length of time the paint has been on the bricks removal may not be easy or complete. Our only suggestion would be to use Resene Graffiti Cleaner, more than one application may be required.

January 2016

Q. Can you use Resene Zylone Sheen on ceilings?

A. In principle, yes in any area other than those areas that are subject to condensation from steam such as bathrooms, laundries and poorly ventilated kitchens. The paint does have side sheen which will highlight surface defects when used on ceilings in critical light areas. This is the main reason why flat paints are used for ceilings.

January 2016

Q. My daughter has skirting boards which have badly chipped paint. Unfortunately someone has painted enamel paint over varnish so sanding and strippers apparently don't work as it just goes gooey. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

A. The comment that the paint goes gooey suggests that there may well be a conventional acrylic paint layer present. Stripping using a heat gun and a tungsten blade scraper will give the best chance of removal. Care needs to be taken when operating hot air guns near floor coatings, especially carpets. If the paint is chipping and brittle I would first check if using the scraper alone will remove the paint layers.

January 2016

Q. I am preparing timber weatherboards for paint. I've sanded it right back as the paint was flaking. What would be the best primer? And due to the job being so time consuming I am doing a side at a time. How long can the primer stay on before it needs the first coat of paint?

A. If being left for an extended time before recoating then Resene Quick Dry would be my preference.

In an ideal world, primers should be overcoated ASAP with the first coat of topcoat as they do undergo degradation upon exposure to the elements. To be safe I would say a month uncoated should not present any problems. Check for surface chalking of the primer before topcoating. If it has chalked (white deposit on the surface when rubbed) then scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions and re-apply the primer to these areas.

The north and west elevations will be subject to the most weathering so these are the critical elevations re leaving the primer un-topcoated.

January 2016

Q. A Victorian villa in Auckland has previously had enamel gloss paint on the eaves and windows. The painter wants to use acrylic matt for the eaves and semi-gloss on the windows etc. Will this be as long lasting? What is the difference in longevity? Cleaning? Or is there none?

A. The use of full gloss oil based enamels for exterior painting is historical. Solventborne gloss enamels usually start to show chalking on the northern and western elevations within two years. The visual appearance of chalking is a whitening of the paint surface and is easily seen with dark colours. Chalking is a UV/water induced breakdown of the paint surface. Reduced gloss solventborne enamels chalk very quickly with exterior exposure and for this reason are only recommended for interior applications.

On the other hand waterborne enamels of reduced gloss can be used outside as these are more resistant to UV breakdown than a matching solventborne analogue. So we are more than comfortable with using Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel for exterior application to surfaces subject to full weathering. If the surface is fully protected from the direct effect of weathering (soffits) then even lower gloss waterborne enamels can be applied.

While there is no durability issues there is one possible down side to using waterborne paints; that is increased potential for brush marking. This is related to the open time (film set up time) of these paints. Waterborne paints dry very quickly, even more so over summer or in windy conditions. Addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive is recommended for application under hot or windy conditions; while this reduces the possibility of brushmarking it will not eliminate the potential for brushmarking.

January 2016

Q. Do you have to prime metal window frames before painting them? The frames are possibly steel or aluminium which have already been painted years ago but now the paint is flaking off a lot. So do I prime them before painting the gloss on them?

A. Yes, all bare metal will need to be primed with 1 or 2 coats of Resene GP Metal Primer once all loosely adherent paint is removed.

January 2016

Q. We have laid a strandboard floor for our dance studio. Other dance studios and theatres in NZ recommend using your Resene Lumbersider product. Can you please give me your recommendations on application and prep regarding the system we intend to use? The floor is new and dancers need to be able to slide on it. Ideally we want a low sheen or matte finish.

A. Prime with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat (lightly sand to de nib if required but do not sand through the primer), then apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider in the required colour. For extra protection you could apply a clear coat of Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K over the Resene Lumbersider colour.

January 2016

Q. I have a 100 year old weatherboard house and the external corners have never had soakers but the wood is in good condition still. Is there a good exterior undercoat specifically for exterior weatherboard corners?

A. There is no specific primer/undercoat for mitred corners, the selection of primer of bare timber depends upon the timber. For Totara and Matai use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat; for all other timbers use Resene Wood Primer.

January 2016

Q. I wish to repaint the walls in my lounge and sunroom area. The current paint on them has been done poorly, and the paint just flakes off. In some areas I can pull quite big bits of paint off. I don't think the previous owners sealed the paperfaced plasterboard before painting. If you stick some Blutack® on the wall, the paint just peels off when you pull it off. Can I just sand back the worst areas where the paint is chipped/peeling and then apply Resene Sureseal and then paint over that?

A. Check on the back of the flakes for any signs of powdery material as this indicates stopping that was not sealed. You can undertake repair areas that you can identify as having poor adhesion but there is no guarantee that re painting will not result in other areas losing adhesion due to the stress of additional paint. Use of Resene Sureseal would definitely be my recommendation to seal bare areas.

January 2016

Q. Can I repaint my deck and exposed outside staircase with Resene Lumbersider even if I am not sure whether the previous coats were oil based or water based paints? If not would I need to sand it all back? Could I then do without a primer or not?

A. Assuming there is no peeling of flaking clean down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, then sand with 180 grit sandpaper to provider a mechanical key for the new paint. If changing to a dark colour we recommend application of two coats of the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour. The CoolColour will not be cool to touch but does reflect more heat than the same colour made of non-CoolColour technology.

January 2016

Q. Could you please let me know about the following: if I paint a Resene CoolColour paint over existing paint will the benefits of the CoolColour be the same as painting over an undercoat? Is there any particular preparation unique to CoolColour paints?

A. Two coats of a Resene CoolColour™ applied to achieve the correct dry film thickness will reflect more heat than the same colour made as a non-CoolColour version. However application of a CoolColour will not render the surface cool to touch. To achieve maximum CoolColour effect we recommend application of the CoolColour topcoats over a white basecoat.

January 2016

Q. I have an aluminium sliding door in good condition but I need to change the colour. What Resene product do I use?

A. Degrease using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used following label directions. Apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for at least 24 hours then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel. The adhesion of the top coats will take time to develop so care to avoid damage will be required for the first two weeks post application.

January 2016

Q. I have stained my cedar deck with one of your darker waterborne stains but it hasn't gone the colour I want so would like to paint it black. Can I just paint straight over the stain?

A. You will have to allow the decking to weather over summer before painting will be possible.

January 2016

Q. I have a plaster house with a cavity based system in good order, plus some exterior block fences. What is the best quality paint to apply?

A. We recommend Resene X-200 weathertight membrane.

January 2016

Q. I have kitchen cabinet doors in awful faux-wood vinyl wrap. They are in great condition. Can I paint them?

A. Apply Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl, using roller application for both products. Add Resene Hot Weather Additive at the recommended level in the Resene Lustacryl.

January 2016

Q. I want to paint weathered ply with Waterborne Sidewalk paint. I have cleaned the deck, waterblasted it and used Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Do I apply Resene pigmented sealer or some other sealer or go directly to the Sidewalk paint?

A. Apply Resene TimberLock (ensure excess is wiped off at time of application), leave for 48 hours then apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and then topcoat. Note that Resene Sidewalk is now a deleted product, for foot trafficable areas this has been replaced with Resene Walk-on.

January 2016

Q. Does any of your paints stick to PVC? If so, which?

A. All Resene exterior waterborne paints can be applied direct to uPVC without the need for pre priming. Adhesion takes seven days to become fully established.

January 2016

Q. I need to paint some galvanised steel (10m) with epoxy paint for outside use. Can it be painted on with a brush as I don't have access to a spray unit?

A. Yes it can. We recommend Resene Armourcote 221. It is an epoxy primer and therefore needs to be overcoated with a Resene Uracryl 400 Series finish.

January 2016

Q. We are looking at getting Resene Blacktop applied to our approx 45 metre drive and car park area. Can you please advise suitability for a full drive way (and not patched areas)? Is it suitable for an approx 35 to 40 degree sloped drive? How much fade is there likely to be and how often would you advise recoating?

A. Yes we have had the product used as a full driveway refurbishment. The slope is getting steep which would place more stress on the coating so it may wear quicker. Coating will need 3-5 days to develop final adhesion and film properties.

The intense initial black colour will fade according to the level of direct U.V. It could develop a grey tone after 6 months of intense weathering.

January 2016

Q. I have acquired outdoor furniture made of aluminium alloy that is in bad shape - mould and flaking paint. I am in the process of cleaning and stripping it back. What is the best paint to use for repainting please?

A. A two pack finish would be more durable, but you would need to take care to apply it within the pot life. For the primer use Resene Armourcote 221 and for the topcoats Resene Uracryl 402.

January 2016

Q. I have some Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. And I want to repaint an aluminium front door. The door is painted in the same system as the aluminum joinery, though in our house it is a different colour.

When I used these two paints with a brush to paint some outdoor fittings I can see brushstrokes from about 1.5m away. How do I paint the door without seeing brushstokes when it is dry?

A. Waterborne enamels do dry very quickly and this can result in brush marking. This can be reduced by addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive. If the door is flat then rolling will give the best finish if spraying is not an option.

January 2016

Q. I have been in touch with the original maker of our cot; however they no longer have the stain. I'm after a completely non toxic stain in a rimu (ish) colour that we will be able to restain our cot with ready for our next arrival in June.

A. We recommend Resene Colorwood, an Environmental Choice approved wood stain.

January 2016

Q. Is there any paint that I can use to paint my Lockwood wall as my wall colour is a bit dark and dull?

A. Use Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner and ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease; pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

January 2016

Q. Why do I have to use an undercoat on freshly plastered and sanded walls?

A. If you are referring to plasterboard then the sealer acts as a porosity equaliser so application of topcoats gives a uniform finish. Topcoats are not formulated for direct application to stopped plasterboard.

January 2016

Q. Which type of paint could you use on a fibreglass surface flooring? We have an outside patio area that has been painted previously but is starting to flake off and also a bathroom/laundry area that has a fibreglass floor that has never been painted.

A. Resene Armourcote 821 epoxy primer would be the best primer to get adhesion then finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 802.

January 2016

Q. Besides completely stripping crocodiled paint, what's the next best system to use? A specific primer etc?

A. Sorry a complete strip is our only recommendation. The effect is usually due to application of a harder coating over a softer paint. Applications of additional paint can compound the issue and will not necessarily fill the profile to achieve a smooth finish.

January 2016

Q. We have plasterboard walls which have had low sheen waterborne enamel painted over low sheen acrylic. The paint is peeling off so we have decided to remove it. Any ideas about how to make this tedious job easier please? Some of the paint is easy to scrape off, but some is not.

A. To avoid damage to the substrate removal of paint from plasterboard needs to be undertaken with a degree of care. I assume you are looking to only remove the topcoat to expose the underlying paint layer. Use a broad blade to scrape off the loose paint then carefully sand using No Fil 120 grit sandpaper. I recommend sanding the exposed underlying paint layer before repainting.

January 2016

Q. My home is sheathed in cedar weatherboards painted Resene Kina Brown. It is due for a repaint and I want the same Resene paint and colour. One change I want to make is to paint over the copper soakers. Do Resene have a product/process that I can use to paint over the copper soakers?

A. Resene Vinyl Etch is the primer for non-ferrous metals such as copper. If verdigris (green blue copper oxidation) is present wipe down the surface with a cloth wet with white vinegar, rinse well with water, allow to dry then prime.

January 2016

Q. Is it possible to paint over existing Seratone® (or similar product)? I am on a limited budget and won't be able to replace the wall linings for several years so would like to paint them in the meantime. It's sort of a yellow and white pattern, and horrible next to the new grey wallpaper.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

January 2016

Q. I have an acrylic outdoor painting which needs some sort of U.V. sealer protection. What do you recommend we use?

A. We recommend Resene Clearcoat UVS.

January 2016

Q. I would like to paint our new timber fence in the colour of our house (Resene Parchment). Which paint would work out best? We would like a bit of sheen/gloss.

A. We recommend Resene Lumbersider.

January 2016

Q. I had a bit of rot in a windowsill which I have cut out as much as possible. I've then treated the sill with Resene TimberLock. I need to now fill the hole left after removing the rot but the builder's bog won't adhere to the treated timber. What are your thoughts?

A. Use the RepairCare DryFlex System product available from any Resene owned Colorshop.

January 2016

Q. Can you paint tanalised plywood? If so what primer is required?

A. Yes and the primer would be Resene Wood Primer.

January 2016

Q. We are repainting the interior of our preschool. Some of the surfaces are hessian type material (like old pin board). We want to change from the purple and green we have to a fairly neutral off-white colour. Can you help with what type of paint we should use? I was thinking we would do a white undercoat and then two coats of something in gloss or semi-gloss acrylic. Is there anything in particular you would recommend to use on our surfaces, recognising that it is pretty hard wear and tear it receives? Also can you confirm whether our plan of a white undercoat and two top coats seems reasonable?

A. The best topcoat would be a Resene waterborne enamel such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, two coats applied over a basecoat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

January 2016

Q. My house is painted with a paint which has a vinyl finish. However when chipped goes down to the plasterboard. It was painted about 8 years ago before we bought it. What type of paint would be the best to use on this as it will not be possible for us to strip the paint without having to redo the plasterboard and we can't afford to do that for every room in the house? There is a white powdery substance on the back of the chip and I have to be careful if I put anything on the walls suchas particular masking tapes and cannot use command strips/hooks as it rips the paint off.

A. The presence of the white powder is almost certainly from stopped areas and the stoppings and the paper face were not sealed before painting. Unfortunately the best solution is to remove the paint from affected stopped areas back to bare then seal with Resene Sureseal and topcoat.

January 2016

Q. Last year about this time we painted several rooms of our house. We painted over an existing wallpaper and the paint dried in no time. We had a couple of rooms wallpapered with a paint on paper. The paint still has a tacky feel today. Did we not wait long enough before painting?

A. Application of waterborne paints over some wall papers can cause plasticiser migration through to the new paint. This causes the new paint to remain soft and with a surface tack. Our solution is to apply a coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer and re apply the wall paint.

February 2016

Q. I have powder coated enamel metal windows and would like to know if I can paint over them and what products to use?

A. Wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash then prime with a coat of Resene Galvo One and finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel.

February 2016

Q. I want to paint part but not all of my weatherboard house. How do I find out what type and colour paint is on it at the moment?

A. Wipe down an area to ensure it is chalk free then take a cloth and methylated spirits, wet the cloth with meths and place onto to painted surface and rub. If there is transfer of colour or softening of the paint then it will be an acrylic paint type.

Colour matching is more difficult, especially as the colour now will not be the same as the original due to weathering. Suggest that you remove a piece of paint about the size of a 50c coin or larger using a sharp blade and visit your local Resene ColorShop and ask them to arrange a colour match.

February 2016

Q. I wish to paint a new concrete floor (garage). What paint would you recommend? Some hot work will be carried out in the garage (gas cutting).

A. We recommend Resene Aquapoxy for Flooring.

February 2016

Q. My husband wants to use an oil based paint to paint our decking with. What do you think?

A. A full gloss enamel such as Resene Super Gloss, applied over a suitably primed base system. Lower gloss level oil based enamels will chalk very quickly upon exterior exposure. We normally recommend waterborne paints instead.

February 2016

Q. Our bathroom cabinet has a natural wooden top of a light yellow/brown colour. It has been previously varnished but the finish has deteriorated badly. I want to strip back to the wooden surface and apply a hardwearing water resistant finish. What do you recommend?

A. You will need to sand back to bare timber then apply four coats of Resene Polythane for the best water resistant system.

February 2016

Q. I am looking for a water or oil based timber stain for exposed external use on some Macrocarpa posts. Does such a product exist? Your Resene Woodsman range does not seem to have a ‘clear' colour.

A. We do not offer any water white, that is non coloured clears, for exterior timbers. A complete block of U.V. from passing through the clear needs to be achieved in order to prevent breakdown at the film/timber interface. This can be achieved in part but not to the 100% level or over a sustained time.

February 2016

Q. We want to paint our dining room a light grey. The existing wall is yellow so all testers are a lot darker than we want. Do we have to use a primer first?

A. It really depends upon the intensity of the yellow base colour but we would expect that two coats would give opacity. However if you are concerned apply a basecoat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat first.

February 2016

Q. Can you paint slate floors? If so, what is the best product to paint with and what colours are available?

A. We would not recommend painting slate floors but they can be clear coated with Resene Concrete Wax.

February 2016

Q. How can you coat Magroc?

A. MagRoc is a magnesium oxide cladding material with a number of unique features. The board requires sealing prior to application of a paint system. We have evaluated a number of sealers and recommend Resene Stone Strengthener. The sealed surface can then be overcoated with any Resene waterborne paint system. Resene Stone Strengthener is currently a made to order product but we do have Naenae warehouse stock that can be ordered in for a project.

February 2016

Q. I want to paint clear glass with the colour on to the glass. Can I use an automotive two pack or do you have a special paint?

A. We supply Resene Imperite I.F. 503 to the splashback industry. The product needs to be spray applied and back coated. The glass used is low iron glass. If you apply to standard glass the green tone of the glass has a dramatic effect upon the colour viewed through the glass.

February 2016

Q. We have two existing white concrete water tanks. They have been painted white and there are no obvious signs of water leakage. What would you recommend to paint them with and could we use a dark colour ie. black?

A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions and then apply two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic paint in the Resene CoolColour™ formulation. Note that the darker the paint colour the hotter the surface will get and this heat may transfer through to the water held within the tank.

February 2016

Q. I have a COLORSTEEL® roller door that I would like to paint. It's in reasonable condition but the colour is faded and is easy to mark. I'm going to waterblast and scrub with Resene Roof and Metal Wash but need advice on the paint to use. Does it need to be primed first and what paint is most suitable for a topcoat? Any paint used obviously needs to cope with the door being rolled up every day.

A. Wash down as you have described to leave a chalk free surface. Apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One and then finish with two coats of Resene Hi-Glo or Resene Sonyx 101.

February 2016

Q. We are renovating a house and someone has painted what looks like a quick coat of waterbased enamel paint over a solventbased enamel surface. We are preparing the surface by cleaning and then sanding. We are concerned the paint may delaminate. We are using Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before the final coats.

A. The only way to be 100% sure is of course to strip the existing system back to bare substrate. However if you sand off the topcoat and then thoroughly sand the underlying enamel there should be no adhesion issues.

February 2016

Q. I have an exterior laundry plywood door that I've sanded back and filled in the cracks. I know I should use an oil based undercoat before the two colour topcoats. I have 3L of Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer in my garage and was wanting to know if I can use that as my oil based undercoat instead of having to buy another 4L. The information on the tin doesn't mention wood or plywood but does say hardboard. Would this guard it well enough from the direct sunlight and weather it sees most of the day?

A. Resene Sureseal can be used as a sealer for timber but it does not have the timber protective properties of Resene Wood Primer. If you did use it you would have to overcoat with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before topcoating, unless the door receives no direct exposure to the weather.

February 2016

Q. Can you please advise me if there is a tile paint that can successfully be used on bathroom floor tiles? We're a kid free couple so not hard on the floors. Tiles are in good condition but a very dated colour.

A. The following can be used for areas other than tiling in the shower enclosure. Clean down to remove all contaminants then apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure for 48 hours ensuring good ventilation, then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. For the first 24 hours after application of sealer and topcoat try to avoid water or condensation on the painted surface and maintain good ventilation. Adhesion of the system will take up to a month to develop; the system is most sensitive to damage 7-14 days post application.

February 2016

Page 14

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.

 

Order online now:
Testpots | Paints | Primers and Sealers | Stains | Clears | Accessories

Get inspired Get inspired ! Subscribe      Get saving Get saving ! Apply for a DIY card

Resene Paints Ltd

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask us!

Resene Paints Ltd   – www.resene.com

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram Follow us on YouTube
Videos on how to paint and stain your house
 

Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.   See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.

What's new | Specifiers | Painters | DIYers | Artists | Kids | Sitemap | Home | TOP ⇧