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Answers to your questions from our Paint Experts, p 29

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. 29


Q. I'm painting a kauri door; I've taken it back to wood and am ready to prime and paint. What's the best product to use, primer and paint?

A. Prime with Resene Wood Primer, then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

November 2018

Q. We have a small outside terrace covered with Firth concrete pavers that we want to paint. We will want it to be able to take light foot traffic. What paint system would you advise please?

A. Use a seal coat of Resene Sureseal then two coats of Resene Walk-on.

November 2018

Q. How long can you paint and then leave Resene Quick Dry Primer on the exterior of your house exposed to weather before applying a colour coat? I have just done Resene Quick Dry primer but am going to now have two weeks before I can apply my Resene Lustacryl colour coats. Will this be ok? Or what difference could it make?

A. A two week time before the Resene Quick Dry primer is overcoated with Resene Lustacryl should be no problem.

November 2018

Q. I am looking to paint a large wooden doll house that we have. It was made about 30 years ago. Can you advise what paint is best for this application? i.e. safe for kids.

A. We recommend Resene Lumbersider.

November 2018

Q. I understand there is a two stage paint application coating for a home theatre wall that the projector shines onto. Do you have such a product? Our wall area is approximately 3m by 3m.

A. We do not have a special system for this application but for many years have recommended application of two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Silver Sand for projection walls.

November 2018

Q. We have a COLORSTEEL® roof that is about 15 years old. It is in reasonable condition but has some lichen on it. Is it normal to re-paint this kind of roof? I was going to get it cleaned and see how it looks then. Does one get any reasonable extended life if it is painted?

A. Lichen will need to be treated and then removed; lichen can be difficult to kill. We suggest that the lichen is treated with Resene Deep Clean diluted and used to label instructions. Apply on a dull day to give the longest wet contact time with the lichen, if the infestation is heavy apply then re-apply the diluted solution a few hours after the first. Then leave the roof for at least 4 weeks and waterblast. This should result in removal of dead lichen residues and give a surface suitable for painting. Apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One and finish with two coats of Resene Summit Roof colour.

This system is recommended as the surface condition is sound and there are no signs of corrosion.

November 2018

Q. I have an extensive deck area. There is an original painted deck that is weather worn and about 20 years old and a new deck extension about 5 years old. I want to make both decks roughly the same colour. Can I use decking stain to do this or will I need to paint them?

A. You will need to completely strip the paint from the old deck if you want to change to a deck stain.

When staining, the base timber colour will influence the stained colour so if there is a difference in timber colour then the two areas may not appear the same colour even if stained with the same stain colour.

November 2018

Q. I'm looking at painting my floorboards white and I'm looking for some advice as to what primer I should use with your 'walk-on' paint for best results and to prevent tannin.

I'm unsure what kind of wood I have in my 1960s house, half of the lounge has been stained (from what seems like an oil varnish) and the other half is an extension which doesn't look to have been stained (or have any coating applied).

A: You will ned to sand both floors to profile for recoating, then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat or Resene Wood Primer (if you suspect tannin bleed will be an issue) then apply two coats of Resene Walk-on and finish with a seal coat of Resene Concrete Wax.

Tannin bleed from bare timber usually only occurs with cedar. We have not seen any instances where internal flooring timbers have tannin bleed issues. Suggest you try a small test area to confirm.

Resene Quick Dry can be used as the primer if the existing clear coated timbers are degreased and sanded to profile.

November 2018

Q. I am going to paint my deck with Resene paint. Someone suggested to me using Resene Lumbersider for finish coats, the other one said using premium semi-gloss. Please you could tell me which one is the best for deck painting? My deck is under the sun nearly all day every day.

A. Resene Lumbersider is often used as a deck paint; while not designed for a trafficable area is does perform well and can easily be recoated when required. As you increase the gloss level to a conventional waterborne semi-gloss the coating does become softer and has reduced wear resistance compared to Resene Lumbersider.

We recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour when applying darker colours. The Resene CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology. To get the maximum heat reflections apply the two coats of CoolColour top coat over a white base coat such as Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat.

November 2018

Q. Can you advise me which standard you use for your Light Reflective Values?

A. Resene light reflectance values are measured from each colour standard using a spectrophotometer and are the CIE Tristimulus Y value (brightness) of the colour. This value is Resene's measure of Light Reflectance.

November 2018

Q. We are using kwila timber in a bathroom area. What would you recommend to coat it with?

A. The only product we would recommend is Resene Polythane (four coats).

November 2018

Q. Which two pot aqua system is best for an old fibreglass trailer boat which is sanded, plus which undercoat please?

A. We recommend Resene Armourcote 821 and Resene Waterborne Uracryl 803.

November 2018

Q. I have an old Namco aluminium sun lounger that the green paint has almost gone powdery after twenty years, but otherwise is still in good condition. I would like to repaint it. Can you suggest a paint that I could use and what prep I would need to do?

A. Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions to remove surface chalk. Then apply a coat of Resene Armourcote 221 and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 402.

November 2018

Q. I am trying to remove efflorescence on a block concrete wall in my garage but it keeps coming back! Are you able to advise the best treatment please?

A. Efflorescence occurs when water passes through the wall and brings soluble salts to the interior face where they crystallise after the water evaporates. The best way to stop this is to render the exterior face of the wall weathertight with a Resene X-200 paint system.

After preparing the areas showing efflorescence back to bare concrete, spot prime with Resene Sureseal then apply the Resene X-200 system. Resene X-200 can be left as a finish coat and tinted to a large number of Resene colours.

November 2018

Q. I’m looking at painting my ceramic floor tiles in the kitchen and bathroom a different colour and wondered what kind of paint I’d need for that and if you stock these products? It is currently a beige yellow colour and I want more of a grey concrete look.

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 over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better.

Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

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.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the tiles.

November 2018

Q. I’m doing a large painting on canvas, it will probably measure 1m by 2m. I’m using Resene testpots as my colours for the image but I think I’ll need to seal it. What clear product would you suggest I use for topcoat? I’m trying to make a backdrop like picture, for a work Xmas party and it may only get used once but I want it sealed in case it gets rain on it.

A. If you have a total cover of the canvas with paint, then this should give a seal to liquid water. You could apply a coat of Resene Clearcoat UVS over the completed paint system as a protective clear but this will result in a gloss finish.

November 2018

Q. We wish to repaint the exterior of our aluminium clad Lockwood home. It was repainted 15 years ago with Resene Uracryl 403. The surface is now powdery with bare aluminium showing through. What system can we repaint with? Ideally I would like to go with a waterbased system, or at least single pot. Also we have very weathered varnished soffits, which we plan to just paint. What paint system would you recommend for this?

A. Thoroughly scrub down the walls using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions to get a chalk free surface. You may have to do this more than once. Then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101. We suggest avoiding selecting a dark topcoat colour.

Re the soffit linings, wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, then thoroughly sand, apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

November 2018

Q. We have a couple of internal decks and an area of roof that are covered in Butynol membrane. This is all structurally sound, however is starting oxidise slightly. Some powder comes off if you walk on these surfaces. Rather than replacing at this stage, is there a Resene product or system that can be used to refresh this material?

A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions then apply a coat of Resene Membrane Primer and two coats of Resene Lumbersider. If using a dark colour topcoat apply the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

November 2018

Q. We have an old house with what looks like Artex on the ceiling. It is discoloured but don't think it is from cigarette smoke and definitely not grease, just age. I want to repaint using ceiling white but I’m not sure how to clean it. Can we just paint right over it with the ceiling white? I am a bit doubtful about wetting it and am sure scrubbing it would make it break up.

A. Apply a full coat of Resene Sureseal then two coats of Resene Ceiling Paint.

The ceiling should be degreased using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then the Resene Sureseal applied. Resene Sureseal is recommended to block possible stain migration into the waterborne topcoats.

November 2018

Q. I wish to paint an outdoor foot traffic area with Resene Walk-on. It has been coated previously, probably with waterbased coating, as the surface colour can be rubbed off with meths. There are some areas of bare concrete and some patching of cracks needed, plus a general clean-up.

Can you tell me the best process to adopt, from cleaning to undercoating to topcoating?

A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions then waterblast. Spot prime bare concrete with Resene Sureseal then apply two coats of Resene Walk-on.

Without seeing out the cracks and filling with cementitious filler such as Resene Multistep, crack repairs will be difficult to achieve.

November 2018

Q. I am painting the brick exterior of my house. I have a whole 4L tin of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer left over from some other renovations. Can I use this to prime the bricks instead of Resene Sureseal?

A. If the bricks are glazed, then yes to using Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as the adhesion primer, if not, then if relatively new bricks apply a coat of Resene Concrete Primer thinned 10% with water as the seal coat then finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider.

November 2018

Q. We are building a new house using band-sawn ply with battens (AlpineClad). We would like to retain a natural timber look that will not require continual maintenance. The site is only 100 metres from the sea.

A. Staining would be the closest to a 'natural' look but given your proximity to the sea and requirement for a low maintenance system, I would not go with staining but a solid colour finish.

November 2018

Q. We have a red brick exterior house which we are considering to paint off-white. What products do we need i.e. do we need a sealer before painting the brick?

A. Assuming the bricks are not glazed, wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions, allow the bricks to dry out then apply a primer coat of Resene Concrete Primer thinned 10% with water and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider.

November 2018

Q. I have a piece of totara to use as a signing book for a wedding. It has been varnished with Resene Aquaclear waterborne urethane for interior and I was wondering if I needed to do anything else to it before using a fine tip sharpie ornament marker pen on it.

A. We have never looked at this application but it should be fine. You may want to check on a piece of pine or an off-cut of timber first.

November 2018

Q. I have an old cork floor and would like to get a new look - do you have a paint product that would work on it? The floor is clear coated, and I would like a white finish, and it is in kitchen, dining and bathroom areas.

A. Degrease and sand with 180 grit sandpaper to profile for recoating then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

November 2018

Q. I have old aluminium window frames that I wish to paint white, to match my new windows - how would you suggest I do that? Presently they are silver.

A. Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions (do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the window glass) then apply a coat of Resene Vinyl Etch grey and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

November 2018

Q. I have a new concrete patio. To prevent marking or staining is there a clear finish that can be applied?

A. We recommend Resene Walk-on Concrete Clear. The concrete must be fully cured before application. This normally requires 28 days.

November 2018

Q. I want to paint PVC exterior downpipes, what paint systems do you recommend? Would it need to be sanded first? Is there a one stop paint/primer that can be used?

A. Resene exterior waterborne paints such as Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider can be applied (two coats) direct to clean PVC without the need for sanding the PVC or priming.

November 2018

Q. Do you need to sand before painting over Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer? I've prepped a chair with it and am using Resene Lustacryl.

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is designed to be applied to achieve a low dry film thickness and we do not recommend sanding the sealer coat.

November 2018

Q. I purchased Resene Summit Roof semi-gloss waterborne roof paint. I have more than enough. Can I use this paint on timber?
Or is it only for roofs?

A. Yes it can be used as the topcoat for appropriately prepared and primed timber.

November 2018

Q. I'm looking for a finishing product for a 21 m2 Vitex Timber deck which was laid two weeks ago. If possible, I would like to keep the natural look of the timber. Are any of your products suitable for it?

A. There are no water white clear stains for exterior timber decking, Vitex will change colour upon exposure to UV. Our suggestion is to prepare the decking timber by washing with Resene Timber and Deck Wash then apply two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil in a colour that meets your requirements.

November 2018

Q. We have had to re-putty a sash on a leadlight window which was painted about 10 years ago in a Resene CoolColour Nomad. We have some of the paint left but no primer or undercoat. Could you suggest what we need to re-paint the sash with?

A. If using linseed oil sash putty, allow the putty to cure to develop a skin, then prime with Resene Enamel Undercoat before topcoating.

November 2018

Q. I have some rust stains leaching through white timber window frames presumably from the fixings. This is after about 10 years. The frames have been originally primed and painted and were repainted about two years ago. What would I need to do to remedy this and is there a block-out/primer I can use without major surgery?

A. This is a common problem seen with older windows. To rectify the fixings long term, hinges should be replaced with stainless steel versions.

If this cannot be done, then apply a barrier primer such as Resene GP Metal Primer over the area showing rust staining, then reapply topcoats. This is only a cosmetic fix.

November 2018

Q. I'm having a sleep-out built and the builder has said I can oil the macrocarpa floor. I went to a shop to buy the oil and was told I couldn't do this; I'd need to stain and then use polyurethane. I don't want a highly polished surface.

A. You could apply two coats of Resene Danska Teak Oil.

November 2018

Q. I want to whitewash my rimu timber wall panelling. Do I need to sand back the varnish finish first? What product(s) should I use?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand using 220 grit sandpaper to profile for recoating, you don’t need to sand off the existing clear. Then apply Resene Colorwood Whitewash.

The key is to apply an even wet film and avoid overlaps, as overlaps will show as a more intense white area.

November 2018

Q. I want to oil a bare cedar boat mast. If I apply Resene Woodsman acrylic oil stain will it give any protection or does it just make it look good? What would be your recommendation? I would rather not varnish it if it can be avoided.

A. I would suggest you use Resene Woodsman Wood Oil for this application, as it gives a more stained look than the waterborne version. Both versions are high maintenance requiring regular coating to maintain the system. The stain also gives protection against bio growth and UV degradation of the substrate.

November 2018

Q. If we apply Resene Concrete Stain (solventbased) in a colour over an old concrete floor, can we protect it further with Resene Concrete Wax (waterbased) or is this not recommended or necessary?

A. It should not be necessary to overcoat the Resene Concrete Stain but if you want it you can use Resene Concrete Wax. Ensure the stain is fully dry and all solvents released before overcoating.

November 2018

Q. The house we bought has two toned bedroom walls with a strip of wallpaper. I want to paint it something more neutral, but I'm concerned about the big difference between the lighter paint and darker paint. Will it be possible to paint one colour over the whole wall?

A. Prime the border with Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer and then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry to balance the existing colours for over coating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in the new colour. 

If the border has a texture you will see the border texture through the new paint system.

November 2018

Q. I have some wooden windows being installed on my property and they come pre-primed with one of your products - the AquaLAQ NGR Primer Sealer. Could you tell me the best way of topcoating this?

A. AquaLAQ NGR was originally designed as an OEM spray applied primer for MDF (furniture) which was then sprayed and top coated with AquaLAQ topcoat colours.

The priming/topcoat painting would be undertaken in a furniture coating shop and the painted items then sent out to site for installation.

The primer can be used for shop priming of timber (joinery) where a durable fast dry priming system is required. An alternative Resene paint system is required for this situation. The system is a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat and then topcoat with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

November 2018

Q. I have a situation where there is a steel PFC bearer for a house extension where the drawings call it as 'Galvanised" however due to time constraints, the builder wants to paint the steel instead. The steel in this case would not be sealed off due to the subfloor venting (20mm air gap) and the PFC being approximately 1m off the ground.

The steel manufacturer has proposed two paint products which I would hope you'd be able to advise/provide some advice on which one would be more appropriate to use in my situation. The products are Resene ArmourZinc 120 and Resene Armourcote 220.

A. The suggested paint system is fine but the issue is the degree of surface prep that will/can be undertaken. The anti-corrosion protection is directly related to the degree of surface preparation.

At a minimum the steel work must be free of mill scale and if there are corrosion products present these are to be prepared to leave only tightly adherent material on the surface.

The components of the paint system must be applied to achieve the required dry film thicknesses. Both products are formulated for spray application, if brushing multiple coats will be required to achieve the DFTs.  Make sure you read the product data sheets before application.

November 2018

Q. I have a Formica® benchtop in excellent condition and hate the colour.  I would like to paint it, then protect with three coats of Resene Aquaclear.  How should I proceed?

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 curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. 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.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate and this cannot be restored by application of clear overcoats.

November 2018

Q. My son has recently bought a new home and two of the rooms have sliding mirror built in wardrobes. I would like to paint these mirror surfaces. What Resene product should I use for priming and topcoat?

A. Clean the glass down with meths to remove oils from handling.  Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer then two coats of Resene waterborne enamel. This system will work on glass but we have not tested it on mirror glass.

November 2018

Q. I’ve just bought a step stool for my 2-year-old to use, climbing on and off the bed etc. It’s made of solid aspen wood with no coating. I would like to paint it, but would need to use non-slip paint - does Resene have a product that could help with this?

A. Assuming the timber is uncoated apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry then two coats of Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

November 2018

Q. I want to paint a bathroom wall with Resene Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne paint. However, I suspect the current paint on the wall is oil based. Can I paint this water-based paint over oil-based if I use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as an undercoat? If yes, do I need to do anything else as prep? It no, is there something else I could use as an undercoat?

A. Ensure the existing paint surface is cleaned to remove any surface residues using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand with 180 grit sandpaper and dust off. Then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat and finish with the two coats of Resene Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel.

November 2018

Q. I am after a paint system for HardiPanel® compressed sheet to the ends of the gable roof. 

A. Our standard paint system for this substrate is to apply a primer coat of Resene Concrete Primer and finish with two coats of a Resene waterborne enamel such as Resene Sonyx 101.

November 2018

Q. I have an exterior concrete area, which has become patchy and looks porous. I would like to purchase a tinted concrete seal that will not cover up the white squares, but provide an even glossy looking coat. I am okay with the concrete colour looking patchy, as I quite like it like that, but I want the finish to not be so porous. So I am thinking a tinted concrete sealant.

A. Try Resene Walk-on Concrete Clear Wet Look.

November 2018

Q. My interior basement block wall has damp coming through in various spots and the paint has started to peel/flake in places. I am wondering which paint/product option would be the best to apply to stop this.

I am looking at Resene X-200 or do you have something better or more appropriate that will stop the damp coming through e.g. Resene HydraBlock?
 

A. Resene X-200 is not the product to use when you are looking for a barrier coating for interior application to prevent water ingress. The product to use is Resene HydraBlock.

November 2018

Q. We are putting down a new macrocarpa deck. What stains or oils do you have that work best with it to prolong the silvering off? The exterior cladding on one wall will also be macrocarpa so will it need a similar treatment?

A. We recommend Resene Woodsman Wood Oil for both decking and walls.

November 2018

Q. I’m painting my bathroom which has a new ceiling. Can you tell me which undercoat and paint to use on plasterboard with some new plaster over screws and joins?

A. Apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal followed by a full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

November 2018

Q. I am preparing matai or rimu sash windows on the outside. The house 100 years old, what primer do I use?

A. We recommend Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. You can then topcoat with either solvent or waterborne enamels.

Matai contains a natural anti-oxidant which prevents the drying mechanism of a solventborne wood primer such as Resene Wood Primer, however this primer can be used for priming rimu.

November 2018

Q. I’m about to start painting and have a number of doors that were varnished many years ago. Will light sanding suffice or will I need to do more than sand as preparation?

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, paying particular attention to areas of hand contact, sand to de-gloss then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry.  Then you can topcoat with either water or solvent borne enamel systems.

November 2018

Q. My friend and I are doing a project for school and we are going to collect plastic bottles and turn them into more useful things to help the environment. We were wondering if you have any paint we can use to decorate our plastic bottles, to make them look more appealing, it would be good if the paint was waterproof so it can last in outdoor areas.

A. Your project sounds very interesting. The adhesion of a waterborne paint depends upon the plastic you are looking to coat.

I suggest that as a starting point, that you get a Resene testpot and apply it to the plastic bottles you have, to check adhesion. Apply the paint and then check adhesion after 4-5 days. Apart from adhesion, the other issue may be the flexibility of the plastic compared to the paint.

November 2018

Q. We have a block wall on which we have applied Resitex, could you please advise how we can remove this product from the blocks? Is there a paint stripper we can use?

A. Use of paint strippers can be messy as the stripper often only softens the waterborne paint which is usually then required to be scraped off.

The other option is waterblasting with sand injection but care must be exercised so as to avoid leaving an aggregate rich concrete surface.

December 2018

Q. Our students have done a community mural that will be put up at our local MP's office. They have painted on corflute and want to protect it with some sort of graffiti guard. What product do you have that would do the job?

A. Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield is the anti-graffiti clear that can be applied over an exterior waterborne system such as Resene Lumbersider. The product is a two pack clear and mixing and application does require care and a level of skill, so we would recommend this is done by adults.

The higher gloss level finish will give the most durable anti-graffiti system.

December 2018

Q. We have built a new solid timber home and are using interior Resene Colorwood Whitewash on all of the walls inside. We have started and have applied one coat as per the tin's instructions. But have noticed it does say on new timber overcoat with two coats of Resene Aquaclear. Do you think we should do this on all of the walls throughout the house?

We have also used the whitewash on the bathroom walls and window frames too and since they are areas of moisture do they need a clear coat? What would you recommend?

A. Definitely for the wet areas, bathrooms etc. apply at least one coat of Resene Aquaclear but an additional coat may be applied to achieve uniformity of gloss.

December 2018

Q. Can I put the colour Resene Half Grey Friars on new preprimed bevel back weatherboard, or will it be too dark resulting in a line when the weatherboards move with the heat of the sun?

If this is the case, would Resene Quarter Grey Friars be suitable? Hopefully I can go with the first option.

A. Weatherboard suppliers place an LRV minimum of 45% on colour. The LRV of Resene Half Grey Friars is 14%, well below the cladding cut off value. We do have a Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour but this does not change the LRV. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology. So while there is a reduced risk of board dimensional changes, it cannot be assumed to remove the risk. What we have found, is that if the boards are enveloped primed with a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat, the board shrinkage/expansion is reduced but not necessarily to zero.

December 2018

Q. I have sealed my hall with an interior waterbased product. Can I reseal over it with Resene pigmented sealer? You can still see stains behind it.

A. You could apply a coat of Resene StainLock then re-apply the top coats.

December 2018

Q. I have a 1930s house with wooden windows in a very exposed location. In rainy, windy weather, water seeps in around the edge of the glass of the windows. The exterior paint (acrylic) is generally in good condition (last painted seven years ago) but has peeled off the window putty, which is cracked in places. I assume the rain is being driven in through the cracks. I hope to solve the problem by repainting and want the paint to be durable and long lasting as many of the windows are on the second floor and require scaffolding. Suggested solutions from painters are: better prep (more sanding), applying No More Gaps and slightly overlapping the paint onto the glass, and using high-gloss oil-based paint.

A. Sorry but using a paintable filler and paint in my experience, will not correct the water ingress. You need to replace the putty.

December 2018

Q. I have water penetration in my house. I have dug out the earth in the area and the old seal paint has dried and flaked off. I do not intend to backfill the area, so whatever goes on the wall will be exposed to the elements. What is the best product to use to re-waterproof the wall?

A. As long as the paint system is not below ground level and water will not pond on the coated surface, you could use Resene X-200 (three coats) system applied over Resene Sureseal sealer.

Spot prime residual sound bitumen areas with Resene Membrane Primer and Resene Sureseal for bare concrete/block.

December 2018

Q. I had a professional painter repaint some of our indoor ceilings and walls with another ceiling white and mixed colours for the walls. The issue is, the ceiling (I think) has a continuing pungent odour ... it's not the paint smell, more like rotten egg gas. It is worse when the rooms heat up. I can only imagine it's the ceilings, but it could be the walls or woodwork (door trims, skirting etc.). I will have to repaint. Have you ever heard of this problem with another brand?

A. Lingering odours can often occur with new paint jobs but usually are gone after a week with good ventilation of the painted area. From what you describe, it is probably bacterial contamination of the paint that was used. Bacterial contamination can occur for many reasons, but is not usually found with freshly opened waterborne paint.

December 2018

Q. Have you got a suitable paint to go over MDF panel in a wet area?

A. MDF in wet areas can be an issue if there is water uptake by the MDF. The only way to address this is to apply an envelope seal coat of Resene Quick Dry and then a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and then topcoat the exposed face with Resene Room Velvet.

December 2018

Q. Can you buy a rimu additive for clear varnish?

A. Sorry but we do not sell tinted varnishes. But you can add Resene Colorwood Enhance to Resene Aquaclear which is akin to a tinted varnish. There are five Resene Colorwood Enhance colours - Jarrah, Walnut, Red Brown, White and Black.

December 2018

Q. Can I use the acrylic weathertight membrane Resene X-200 colour – Resene Truffle, on plain smooth wood sheets?

A. While Resene X-200 is designed for cementitious substrates it can be applied to appropriately primed timber.

December 2018

Q. We want to whitewash our original wooden flooring in a bathroom. The timber appears to be coated with a clear varnish. Can you please advise any tips and what specifics to use.

A: Degrease and sand to profile then apply a coat of Resene Colorwood Whitewash, then two coats of Resene Aquaclear.

December 2018

Q. I have some timber trellis which I have painted with Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. What spray paint can I use over this primer?

A. We would not recommend applying a spray can paint; suggest you use Resene Lumbersider for the topcoat.

December 2018

Q. I carve Oamaru stone and sell it for outdoor placement. I want to either be able to coat it myself or give my customers advice on what they can coat it with, if they want to make it more water resistant.

A. Our only recommendation is to apply a saturation coat of Resene Solventborne Aquapel to render the stone water repellent.

We do not recommend application of a film forming system to the stone as the stone is cohesively weak and coatings peel from the substrate.

December 2018

Q. We have just had some Oamaru stone columns on our beach house at Waikanae rendered, as the soft Oamaru stone had suffered some wind damage/erosion. We now have a concrete looking render finish that we intend to paint in Resene Pearl Lusta which is the closest colour to the original Oamaru Stone we believe.

The renderer says to wait a week or two prior to painting. Is there a specific concrete or masonry paint we should be using other than the standard Resene Lumbersider or Resene X-200?

Do we need a masonry sealer or primer coat first? The renderer suggested we don’t need a primer as the rendered coating is only x 5mm thick.

A. For a plaster render we recommend a coat of Resene LimeLock followed by a waterborne topcoat. Given your location I would recommend 2-3 coats of Resene X-200. We cannot give any guarantees that the plaster overlay system will remain adherent to the underlying Oamaru stone as the stone has never been cohesively sound.

December 2018

Q. I have a tallboy I wish to paint. It is pine and stained yellowish. Would I need to sand it right back or is there another way to deal with it?

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner paying particular attention to areas of hand contact. Sand to degloss/profile using 220 grit sandpaper dust off and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. Then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

December 2018

Q. Can I paint polycarbonate plastic conservatory roof panels? The paint will of course need to be long term (5 year)?

A. Any Resene exterior waterborne paint i.e. Resene Sonyx 101 will achieve very good adhesion to polycarbonate. Ensure two coats are applied and the polycarbonate is clean.

December 2018

Q. I recently spoke to technical person about a recent low sheen paint put in the bathroom. The bathroom wasn't used for two weeks after the paint was applied but has streaks down the walls now. I understand that the painter should have told us to wipe the walls down after the shower was used for the first time, and that the streaks are known as 'surfactant leaking' and that there is a Resene product that can help with the problem.

The painter has also offered to repaint, that being the case, is the best solution a matt, like we have now, or a semi-gloss?

A. This can occur with any waterborne paint if application and curing is at what the industry calls marginal conditions. Gloss level has no influence on the potential for surfactant leaching to occur. My suggestion would be to use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

December 2018

Q. I have a 10 year old building clad in Zincalume. There is some white corrosion on the upper parts where it doesn't get rain washed, and in places a small amount of red rust. I feel I need to paint it now to avoid further deterioration. I have Resene Galvo One primer - is this ok on the red rust?

A. The usual corrosion rate for a non-rain washed area is 2x that for a rain washed area.

If any areas of moss or mould infestation exist then treat them with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed.

Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed.

Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable and all paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods e.g. 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas. The prep should leave only tightly adherent corrosion products.

Note: The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage.

Ensure all edges of damaged paint are sound and immediately spot prime all areas of corrosion and any other bare metal with a full coat of the specified primer.

Then spot prime prepared areas showing corrosion with Resene ArmourZinc 110 and then apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One to the entire area and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101. If choosing a dark coloured topcoat colour use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if available. The Resene CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

December 2018

Q. On our house we have the Resene Rockcote and paint system. Is Resene Paint Prep and Housewash ok to use around aluminium windows? On the bottle it says it may etch into metal and aluminium. We were given this product by the Resene rep to wash the house.

A. In the diluted state there is little or no risk unless the diluted wash solution is allowed to dry out on the surface.

December 2018

Q. I have doors to be painted, which are doors from the bathroom/toilet/laundry and lead into hallways. As the rooms are wet areas, do the doors need to be painted with oil based or can a waterbased paint be used? Also, what undercoat do I use? One side of the door would be wet area the other side would be ordinary. The doors look like they are preprimed and have a wood grain effect on panels.

A. Lightly sand, dust off then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom.

December 2018

Q. Is it possible to reapply Resene Polythane on a substrate previously coated with Resene Polythane a few years ago, without complete removal of the old sound Resene Polythane coating?

A. Ensure the surface is degreased, then sand to profile/degloss. There is no need to completely strip.

December 2018

Q. Can you please tell me if the Resene Waterborne Woodsman range can be sprayed onto a dressed timber fence that has never been painted or stained? It is 18 months old.

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. The stain can be applied by spray but you still need to apply the coats at the recommended spread rates. We do however recommend brush/roller application of the first coat.

December 2018

Q. I'm going to sand and paint varnished internal doors. After sanding, I will use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer just in case. Should I undercoat over the top of that before applying topcoat? Also, is Resene Quick Dry undercoat ok?

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, paying particular attention to areas of hand contact. If you sand to de-gloss there should be no need to use the Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, instead apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry.

December 2018

Q. We're about to have our house painted, and have chosen a Resene Black. How many coats would you recommend? It is white painted Hardiplank® and hasn't been painted for about 25 years. We will of course get the Resene CoolColour version to deflect some heat.

A. If the existing white paint is chalk free and sound, you can then apply two full coats of the new dark Resene CoolColour™. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

When changing from a pale topcoat to a dark colour, there is always a risk that the dark colour will cause the existing paint to delaminate. Resene CoolColours reduce but do not eliminate this possibility.

December 2018

Q. We are considering using vertical cedar timber cladding on our new two storey house. What do you recommend that we coat it with? How many coats should we apply initially? What is the recoat frequency?

A. There is an increased risk of cupping/warping of the boards if installed vertically. For the best long term system, we recommend a solid colour system using Resene CoolColour™ topcoats. Apply the two coats of CoolColour paint over a solid white base coat/primer. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

The CoolColour system will reduce but not eliminate the potential for dimensional changes. Envelope priming of the cladding pre-installation also aids with control of dimensional change.

December 2018

Q. What is a typical timeframe to repaint painted weatherboards? If we wanted to stain the house, what would be the maintenance interval?

A. The maintenance time for a stain is on average every third summer, solid paint system 8-9 years (to maintain aesthetics).
These timings will depend upon exposure conditions but the northern elevation is the most exposed elevation and this elevation is where the first signs of breakdown (chalking for a solid paint system) will be seen.

December 2018

Q. I am painting our bathroom and want to know apart from cleaning the mould off the ceiling with a bleach mix, how else should I prepare it before painting? The current colour has a slight shine to it.

A. After treating for mould infestation, apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and then finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

December 2018

Q. I want to paint over some ceramic tiles in our bathroom - standard white tiles with grout. Is the best option to use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer then Resene Lustacryl? I am also painting our floor tiles using the Resene Uracryl 400 series (was advised to do that due to foot traffic).

Will Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer seal the grout as well?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner 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. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

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.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate and is not suitable for shower linings or floors.

Re floor tiles to be to be coated with a Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat, you will need to use Resene ConcreteSeal 3 in 1 as the adhesion primer first.

As to your question about grout: Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is designed first and foremost as an adhesion primer but it will attain adhesion to grout.

December 2018

Q. We have shifted into a new home. It has around a 100 sq metre cobblestone concrete driveway, which has previously been painted but needs repainting. I have waterblasted it to get the dirt and any loose paint off. The cobblestones are fairly deep. I need to paint it the same colour as the veranda. It is a blue grey which I purchased from Resene. The driveway leads to a double garage.

What type of paint do I use? This is the 19th house I have painted, all with Resene and I would use no other as I am very satisfied.

The only traffic on the driveway is two cars getting in and out of a double garage and only twice a day. Not much really but enough for a bit of wear and tear. We turn off the main driveway into the entrance driveway, which is the cobblestone part. The house is 100 years old and the driveway is in concrete but in the form of cobblestones.

A. We do not have a dedicated waterborne paint for vehicular driveways, but we have had good success using Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

Spot prime bare concrete with Resene Sureseal then apply the two coats of Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path, you will need to leave the paint to dry without trafficking for at least five days.

December 2018

Q. I am about to start painting a 45 degree corrugated steel roof. It has been painted before, last time by spray painting with a waterbased paint. That would have been about 10 years ago. The deterioration is mainly that the coating is just wearing thin, with only a very few places where there is peeling. On the south side there is lichen infestation especially near the lower edge, and that is my main concern. I want to do a good job and will probably be spending a couple of years doing this in my spare time, moving a scaffolding frame progressively around the house, completing a section at a time.

I need to be able to deal with the lichen as completely as possible in one shot at each set up, although there is scope I suppose for spraying ahead with a wand/boom.

Is it feasible to spray 2% sodium hypochlorite and then in a fairly short timeframe, waterblast effectively?

My procedure then would be one coat of Resene Galvo One and two coats of one of the Resene CoolColour range acrylic roof paints.

A. You can spot treat the lichen with concentrated Resene Moss & Mould Killer but we still suggest waiting a couple of weeks before waterblasting, to allow for loosening of the lichen attachment.

December 2018

Q. I have laid some interior plywood floors, what is the best way to seal and protect them? We are situated at the beach so would like something that is hard wearing and water resistant.

A. Our best recommendation would be for three coats of Resene Polythane.

December 2018

Q. If I am patching cracks in my ceilings and walls should I just pigment seal over the patch or do I need to seal the whole ceiling/wall area before painting?

A. Just the repaired areas.

December 2018

Q. We are getting aluminium windows put into a concrete building. It is the usual practice for a run of sealant to cover any small gaps that may remain between the aluminium frame and the concrete building. The builder, who is doing our job, tells me he uses Bostik® MS Safe Seal. So what do we paint this sealant with? You have suggested Resene X-300E if I recall correctly. We have 60 windows, so want to get it right.

A. I have spoken with Bostik, and to follow is a summary of the discussion.

Around window frames is not as taxing as an expansion control joint but we would still recommend an elastomeric paint (Resene X-300E). Hundreds of houses are done with normal acrylic without complaints, but it is not worth the risk in a big job.

December 2018

Q. This is just a general question on what topcoat paint to use on a concrete building. I see that the Resene AquaShield data says that it breathes and allows water vapour to pass through it. How does this compare to the Resene X-200 properties? The point being, that sometimes you see on a concrete building that water has got in behind the paint and ‘bagged’, obviously because it can’t escape.

A. Resene AquaShield has the highest MVT (moisture vapour transmission value) of all our high build waterborne paints. Resene X-200 has crack bridging that Resene AquaShield does not.

Resene X-200 is by definition a weathertight film. Weathertightness is a state where liquid water is prevented from entering and accumulating behind the cladding in amounts that can cause dampness, or damage to the building elements.

December 2018

Q. We have an upcycled Aussie hardwood deck. The wood might be fifty years old. So far we haven't coated it because it looks great. But this season we waterblasted it to remove moss. It now looks very dry and the grain is rough on the surface. It isn't just silvery any more - it has some brown patches!

Should we be looking at an oil to condition it and how do we protect it?

A. The outcome of waterblasting a timber deck is what you have encountered. Water blasting can damage the timber surface and make subsequent coating a challenge. If the deck is dressed then you will need to sand smooth the rough areas as best you can and then apply two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

Stained decks require regular maintenance to maintain aesthetics; this is determined by the deck aspect and degree of weathering.

December 2018

Q. I am an artist and am in need of a high quality water-based satin varnish that doesn't yellow. I am going broke, buying the over-priced artist products from artist stores. What have you got that would be suitable for varnishing large acrylic paintings on canvasses and boards?

A. Resene Aquaclear would be the only product we could offer that would not have increasing yellowness as the clear ages.

December 2018

Q. I have a room in our 1880s house which is at present undergoing a renovation. This room has a pressed ceiling and dados with some of the original wall colours still present tucked away in a cupboard. The walls were papered in a darkish green paper with an interesting frieze and the tin walls show highlights of ochre on the uppermost parts of the pressing. We have no idea how the ceiling was painted.

I am asking if you have any suggestions for a suitable application method. The areas above the wooden dado will be plasterboard wall, not papered, and it will become a bedroom with morning natural light from the east from a set of French doors.

A. Given the age of the property, the paint system will undoubtedly contain lead which does place limitations on preparation, as the areas of flaking will need to be prepared back to a sound edge and the remaining sound paint sanded to profile for recoating. Wet sanding to avoid airborne dust containing lead paint residues, is the only way to achieve this. All dust residues must be removed by wet wiping to give a dust free surface.

As far as paint system goes, spot prime any bare metal with Resene GP Metal Primer then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer then apply two coats of a Resene waterborne paint for interior walls. Typically the best topcoats will be Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for walls and Resene SpaceCote Flat for ceilings.

December 2018

Q. I have a 40 year old Decramastic roof that needs painting. I notice you list three different undercoats for either bare metal (Resene Galvo One), bitumen coating (Resene Membrane Primer), and a waterbased general metal primer (Resene Galvo-Prime). Can I use the waterbased primer (Resene Galvo-Prime) as an adequate undercoat for the whole roof? I intend to use a spray applicator, or do I have to try and sort out the various conditions of the tiles and brush on different undercoats accordingly?

A. Resene Galvo-Prime is the only one of the primer set we use for priming Decramastic roofing when repainting. There has recently been a report from AHI Roofing that Decramastic and Harvey Tile roofing made prior to the mid-eighties may contain asbestos in the bitumen base. For this reason, we do not support waterblasting of these roofs.

Treat lichen/algae/mould by treating with Resene Deep Clean diluted and used to label instructions. Ensure when washing down that downpipes are disconnected and a filter placed over the exit pipe to collect any dislodged bitumen and chip. Seal these in a bag for disposal at an approved site.

December 2018

Q. The trims and doors in my house were previously painted with oil base paints. What do I need to do to prep the surface so I can repaint them with waterborne paints? Is there an alternative to having to sand them?

A. Ensure the areas to be painted are degreased using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner paying particular attention to areas of hand contact. Recommend sanding with 220 grit sandpaper before applying a coat of Resene Quick Dry. Sanding is to profile and is the belt and braces approach to achieving the highest level of adhesion of the paint system.

December 2018

Q. We are in the process of cladding our house with Shadowclad bandsawn texture. We hope to go with the Resene Shark as a CoolColour for the finish. Can I please check that the recommended process would be? 1 x Resene Quick Dry primer, 1 x Resene TimberLock and 2 x Resene Lumbersider CoolColour Shark?

A. Resene TimberLock is applied direct to timber and usually where there has been extended weathering of the timber that has led to a deteriorated timber surface. For new, you can use Resene Quick Dry and two full coats of the Resene CoolColour™ topcoat colour. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch, but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

December 2018

Q. What clear finish would you recommend for plywood kitchen bench tops?

A. My recommendation would be for four coats of Resene Polythane.

However, the clear coated bench tops will not withstand hot pots/pans being placed on the surface or cutting.

December 2018

Q. Resene Nero has been used on Weathertex on the exterior of a house. They have used CoolColour paint. How long before this would need to be repainted? It has been on the house for 3 years. Also to repaint and change colour, what primer would I need to use as I am wanting to change from black to a very light colour?

A. The recoat time is determined by paint used and weathering. Typically a maintenance coat is required at 8-10 years, to restore aesthetics.

Chalking should be the only reason for recoating; the northern elevation will show chalking before other elevations, as this is the elevation that receives the most intense weathering. For repainting, wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions, then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and then apply the two coats of the new topcoat colour.

December 2018

Q. We want to paint our weatherboard house black. It was built about 50 years ago. They have had quite a few layers of paint done over the years. A new garage was added on 15 years ago and the cladding for that is insulated plaster. We were advised not to exceed the 45% LRV and a few weeks ago purchased light grey. But we have since heard that there might be a black colour product we could use to paint both surfaces.

A. The safest way would be to strip the existing paint work and start from bare timber. A change to black over an old paint system can see the old paint system blister or delaminate due to the surface heat of black. While the Resene CoolColour™ system (white base coat and two coats of CoolColour topcoat) will reduce the potential for heat related issues, it will not guarantee there are no issues. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

December 2018

Q. I am trying to achieve a whitewash finish on birch plywood, with a matt finish. I was thinking of using Resene Colorwood Whitewash with Resene Qristal Clear flat as the topcoat, but am not sure about what to use as a primer. Also, can you let me know if it’s possible to have the Resene Qristal Clear poly tinted? I have used this before, and have been left with an amber-ish finish – I’d prefer to not end up with a cream look on the whitewash.

A. Resene does not tint our solventborne polyurethanes, but we can add Resene Colorwood Enhance to Resene Aquaclear. This will not reproduce the white wash colour strength, but can be used to increase the level of whiteness over the Resene Colorwood Whitewash base colour of Resene Colorwood Rock Salt Colorwood stain.

Resene Colorwood Whitewash is a semi-transparent clear. When applying Resene Colorwood Whitewash it is essential to maintain a wet edge from the top to bottom sections, if the product is lapped then the areas will appear visually whiter as the film thickness increases.

December 2018

Q. What would you put on an exposed concrete block wall exterior for waterproofing, that once put up will not be easily accessible for maintenance?

A. We recommend Resene X-200.

December 2018

Q. I'm considering applying Resene FX Metallic to eight plastic (PVC I guess) downspouts. The average length of each is a little over three metres including the elbows. They were installed and painted in 2005, probably with a waterbased product. I will remove these, sand and clean. Do I need to apply a primer? If so which product please?

A. PVC does not need to be primed before application of a Resene waterborne paint system.

December 2018

Q. We have internal flat doors which we think have been painted with oil based paint. Originally we were told to give it a light sand and we could paint with waterbased enamel paint - this didn't work. We were then told to use an undercoat first, and then paint - this also didn't work. What will we need to do? One of the doors is a sliding cavity door, so are unable to take it off the rollers.

A. Unfortunately there are no standards for degree of sanding.

Our advice is to degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand using 180 or 220 grit sand paper to profile the surface (if the existing finish is high gloss then sand to degloss). Then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene waterborne enamel.

The adhesion will depend upon how well the existing paint is sanded.

December 2018

Q. If I buy a solventborne wood stain or mineral oil stain will it look exactly like the colour chart when stained?

  A. The wood colour will effect how the colour looks due to the semi-transparent nature of the products.  All cedar will slowly silver off under semi-transparent stains or oils, and the true colour only comes about after 6-12 months.  This means the colour will usually start darker and then gradually lighten as the timber lightens.
December 2018

Q. If I buy a solventborne wood stain or mineral oil stain will it look exactly like the colour chart when stained?

A. The wood colour will effect how the colour looks due to the semi-transparent nature of the products. All cedar will slowly silver off under semi-transparent stains or oils, and the true colour only comes about after 6-12 months. This means the colour will usually start darker and then gradually lighten as the timber lightens.

December 2018

Q. Looking for a timber floor finish, low VOC. Do you have a timber wax similar to the concrete wax?

A. We recommend Resene Aquaclear, a waterborne urethane.

December 2018

Q. Our house is a combination of cedar planks and plaster. We would like to paint the cedar rather than re-stain as the boards require maintenance every year and it is proving too expensive. What sort of preparation is required in order to paint the boards? We are hiring a professional painter to prepare and paint the boards. He has said that he will waterblast and scrape, sand, and then apply fully oil based undercoat then two topcoats. Do you think that this preparation and coverage is satisfactory? The plaster has been painted with Resene X-200 paint. What type of paint would you recommend for the boards?

A. We do not recommend waterblasting timber especially a soft timber like cedar but waterblasting is ok for plaster/concrete surfaces.

Our standard prep is to scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions to achieve a chalk free surface for paint application.

For the cedar apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer and then two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider. For the plaster, spot prime bare areas with Resene Sureseal, apply a coat of Resene X-200 to Resene Sureseal primed areas then apply two coats of Resene X-200.

December 2018

Q. The previous owners have painted a trellis white and appeared to have run the brush down the bricks also. How can I remove the paint from the bricks?

A. It could be a tricky job but suggest you try Resene Graffiti Cleaner. Avoid spraying it onto the painted trellis timbers.

December 2018

Q. I'm painting my house and I have a terrible spider problem, how long after painting can I pest spray without damaging the paint?

A. It is best to wait at least four weeks before applying the spider treatment. Check with the spider applicator to see if there is any alcohol or strong solvents in the spray as these do have the potential to damage a paint finish.

December 2018

Q. I will be painting the exterior of my house. The floor area is 70 square metres. I've done it once before about 14 years ago. It’s Hardiplank® (fire cement) - do I need a sealer on it before painting?

A. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions to achieve a chalk free surface. If the existing paint system is sound there is no need for a sealer.

December 2018

Q. I need a painting 101 lesson. I am looking to paint over a wall in a living room with Resene Half Smalt Blue. The wall right now is a light cream colour and in good condition. Is it possible to paint straight over that with the new paint or will I need a primer? Also, what is the most common paint type (I've only just realised the Karen Walker range is colour, not paint type) is the most common for a living room?

A. If the existing paint is a waterborne paint and in good condition I would apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry then the two coats of the Karen Walker colour tinted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

December 2018

Q. I am cladding the three posts holding up my front porch in macrocarpa and using macrocarpa sleepers as edging for my garden landscaping. What product should I use to highlight the uniqueness of the macrocarpa? The macrocarpa is top grade, selected from a mill.

A. Our only suggestion is Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain, there are no water white clear systems for exterior timbers so choose a stain colour that is as close to the timber colour as possible. Staining is high maintenance.

December 2018

Q. Can you please provide the Resene equivalent to HEX colours?

A. We have a tool online that can help you find colours close to HEX values.

Electronic values are a guide only. We always recommend that you view the physical colours.

December 2018

Q. Please could you help regarding the following paint specs. compatibility with the wood types below? The specified paint is: Resene Quarter Baltic Sea.

Wood types:

1. H5 Treated Laminated Timber
2. H3.1 LOSP SC Plywood
3. H3.2 CD Plywood

A. Apply a full prime coat of Resene Wood Primer to all substrates, an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry and then two coats of the topcoat colour. Given the topcoat colour, we recommend the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour. The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

December 2018

Q. I'm painting external walls which are covered by a veranda, it’s raining but warm. How can I tell whether to paint or not? It won’t get wet and it isn’t humid.

A. An old way to check is to brush out a thin layer of water and see if the water has evaporated within 15 minutes.

December 2018

Q. I would like to whitewash the grooved ply walls in my tiny house. If I use diluted acrylic paint, will I still need to seal the walls?

A. Resene has Resene Colorwood Whitewash for this purpose. The only product that you could use if wanting to dilute, would be Resene Lumbersider but high levels of water addition can affect the paint film characteristics. The other suggestion would be Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat but you will need to clear coat.

December 2018

Q. I am building a bunk set for a bedroom in our new house and want to paint it the same colour as the internal walls which is Resene Quarter Rice Cake. The bunks will be made with ply. Can you recommend the best undercoat and topcoat (for a matt or semi-gloss finish)?

A. Prime with Resene Quick Dry and then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

December 2018

Q. We have some old (40 years) plasterboard on the ceiling of our bach. It obviously wasn't sealed properly when painted originally and the paint has started to peel and now shows old green plasterboard. What prep and paint do you recommend please?

A. You will need to strip the failing paint and then prime the bare plasterboard with Resene Sureseal and then apply the topcoats. If the existing paint is very old it may pay to apply Resene Sureseal to the remaining sound paint.

December 2018

Q. I want to paint over my powder coated aluminium door. How do I ensure that I can get good adhesion painting over powder coating and what products would you recommend?

A. Clean down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions then sand using 380 grit sandpaper taking care not to unduly scratch the powder coating.

Then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl (use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if available). The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

December 2018

Q. I seem to have very small bubbles in my Resene Lumbersider paint when applying it to the exterior weatherboards. Is it the way I am stirring the paint?

I’ve tried a number of ways to stir. I’ve used a paddle and a stirrer attached to a drill. I’ve also left the paint to settle thinking any air will slowly escape.

I find that the first stroke of paint has quite a few bubbles, then as I work the paint more they disappear. I’m no expert painter but over working the paint from a reasonable handyman’s point isn’t ideal either.

A. Air can be entrained by power mixing and the paint will need to stand to allow the air to come out of the paint, with a thicker paint this can be slow and will take time.

December 2018

Q. I have an old, partially painted corrugated asbestos roof. I have brushed Resene Moss & Mould Killer on the bare patches and where there is moss. What primer and paint should I use?

A. Following a soft rinse down to remove loose surface contamination, spot prime bare areas with two coats of Resene Sureseal and two coats of Resene Summit Roof to all areas.

December 2018

Q. Can I use a white ceiling paint direct to the interior side of a glass conservatory roof, to reduce the heat, or is there a special product? Due to the height where the conservatory is my only option is painting from the interior, not the exterior.

A. Unfortunately not. You'd need to use an adhesion primer first to paint glass (Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer) then topcoat with ceiling paint or another selected topcoat. The only problem is that the colour of the adhesion primer will be visible from the exterior.

You may be best to look at other options, e.g. a shade cloth or similar, before painting out the glass.

December 2018

Q. We are looking to specify a product to apply to an exposed aggregate precast panel. Which products do you recommend to seal/keep mould off?

A. If you want to retain the bare concrete look of the exposed aggregate, Resene Solventborne Aquapel is a good option. It's a penetrating water repellent, which will improve the fungal resistance of the substrate.

December 2018

Q. We have bought a house with a downstairs rumpus room with three walls surrounded by a bank area. There is efflorescence in parts of the bottom of the room. I expect the room hasn't been painted in a very long time and the carpet is probably original from 50 years ago. I am looking for what we can do to remove the efflorescence and seal really well, prior to recoating and new carpet. Also, there is a garage downstairs where part of the roof has a concrete patio above, which also has a small amount of leaking of water in heavy rain coming through. Would appreciate feedback on what products you have we could use.

A. This is a common issue unfortunately and one we may not be able to completely sort for you. The exterior will never have been tanked correctly (as we simply didn't start tanking retaining walls etc. very well until just a few years ago) so there's a very real chance that the hydrostatic pressure will continue to blow off any coatings applied to the interior walls. Often when we block the moisture in one area it finds its way through another spot.

Scrubbing with a stiff brush and washing down usually is sufficient to clean prior to painting. Seal the area with Resene HydraBlock then apply your desired topcoats over within a few days. Resene HydraBlock can be left without topcoats in the garage area if this is currently bare.

We can't guarantee that it will hold back the moisture; however this is the best product we have and specifically designed for this type of issue.

December 2018

Q. We want to paint our existing exterior fibre cement, it is already painted white and we want to recoat it in white. Do we need a primer? What paint types would you recommend?

A. If the existing coating is sound then no need for a primer coat, wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions then apply the new paint system. If there are any bare areas or flaking paint then prepare these back to a sound feathered edge and spot prime with Resene Sureseal.

December 2018

Q. I painted my wooden deck with three coats of deck and timber paint. After 12 months it is chipping/coming off. The rep came to look at it yesterday and tells me he thinks I have in fact painted over an oil based stain. I am wondering where to go from here. Do I hire a sander and take as much off as I can or could I use something like Resene Strip Off? If I do this how would I then treat it? Repaint or restain? What sort of primer/paint would I then use?

A. Unfortunately there is always a possible issue when painting over a stain with a solid paint. You will need to remove the total coating system from the decking timber back to bare timber. The removal of the original stain hopefully will be back to bare, and then apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and two coats of Resene Walk-on.

December 2018

Q. What paint system would you recommend for new low pressure hot water radiator panels in school classrooms?

They are steel and I believe they will come precoated. Perhaps you could give us the paint system for both raw steel and for a precoated radiator.

A. Historically heaters have been coated in a traditional single pack oil based system. Or repair prepares corroded areas back to a sound feathered edge and sand remaining sound paintwork. Spot prime prepared areas of corrosion with Resene Rust-Arrest and then apply a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo or Resene Super Gloss enamel.

December 2018

Q. Your range of product is amazing. I do many renovations especially bathroom. Most have good tiling but very dated. I am after a paint solution that can cover floor tiles providing some grip, great adhesion and durability. Which product and system can you supply that would allow a refresh of all bathroom/laundry tiles especially the floor tiling allowing a colour change that gives a durable, some grip for safety, and allows a significant cosmetic change to my properties and my customer’s renovations without removal of existing good, but dated, tiles.

A. To follow is our standard system for painting glazed tiles where a colour change is required; this can be used for tiled bathroom floors but not tiled shower linings/floors. 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 curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

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.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the tiles or provide wet slip resistance.

December 2018

Q. I want to paint a brick wall that is in my living room, so I need to put a sealant of some sort on first. What should I use?

A. Suggest you use Resene Sureseal.

December 2018

Q. Do you have a paint (light grey) that will adhere to a butynol deck?

A. The system for painting butynol is a primer coat of Resene Membrane Primer and then two coats of Resene Lumbersider (use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if selecting a dark colour). The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

If the deck is weathered then wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions then prime. Painting is only for colour and to protect the butynol from UV damage.

December 2018

Q. Could you tell me if Resene Sureseal is suitable as a primer? I am painting new plaster in my bathroom. Do I need a separate primer as well?

A. Resene Sureseal is our recommend sealer for cementitious and gypsum based plasters and paper faced plaster boards. And yes I would use it as the sealer in your situation, Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry over the Resene Sureseal if you are going to use a Resene waterborne enamel topcoat system.

December 2018

Q. In terms of coverage, are there some whites that are better than others - particularly when painting over dark walls?

A. There are many urban myths regarding so called 'coverage' of some white colours. Suggest that you read the Architects' memo about this. For some colours we do suggest that a tinted acrylic undercoat is applied before applying the two coats of topcoat colour, the required info is available in store when purchasing the topcoat colour.

December 2018

Q. What is the best product to paint over and seal Shadow clad? Exterior Shadowclad had been used on the interior of my house and I would like to seal it. Not sure if it has any finish on it now; it could be oil or waterbased stain.

A. Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and then two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

December 2018

Q. How do you treat knots on old window sills before repainting?

A. Spot prime bare knot areas with Resene Aluminium Wood Primer.

December 2018

Q. We are being advised by the painter that oil based paint should be used in the bathroom and kitchen. I was thinking to use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. Most of the bathroom is tile with painted walls only above the dado line. Please tell me why I should sway my line of thinking.

A. Some painters prefer to use a traditional oil based system as it avoids the issue of surfactant leaching.

If the waterborne enamel paint (e.g. Resene Lustacryl) is given time to cure then there is a reduced chance for this to occur.

If changing to Resene Lustacryl finish then we recommend sanding of the existing paint and application of a full coat of Resene Quick Dry before applying the Resene Lustacryl topcoats. We recommend Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom for the bathroom topcoat.

December 2018

Q. I have acquired a piece of kauri which I have filled with a clear resin with a green pigment. I am almost finished as I’m not sanding it and am getting to the process where I varnish/oil. What oil/varnish would you recommend to make the wood and also the resin pop and make it really stand out plus protect the table top?

A. You cannot oil the clear resin areas as the oil will not be absorbed into the cured clear. Tithe only possible clear is a waterborne clear such as Resene Aquaclear but you will have to sand first to achieve adhesion. Some single pack solventborne varnishes do not dry over an epoxy resin.

December 2018

Q. We want to paint a COLORSTEEL® garage door but are not sure what product is best for the job? It’s in good condition with no oxidation, I just want to change the colour.

A. Scrub down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions then apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 (if using a dark colour use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour). The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

January 2019

Q. We are looking to re-stain our cedar home which currently has Resene Sheer Black on it. As we have purchased this recently we don't know whether it has been stained with the Resene Woodsman waterbased or oil-based stain. Can we use either, and what is the difference? Also thinking we should use the Resene CoolColour option?

A. As long as the existing stain is a Resene Woodsman stain you can use either Resene Woodsman stain version for restaining. Scrub down the existing stain with Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions.

January 2019

Q. What paint would be suitable to paint the exterior of old milk and cream vats? They are old cream vats that farmers used to send their cream and milk to the dairy factories in. They are made of steel and have had a thin layer of tin over the steel. I will be using it as food storage in redecorated farmhouse kitchen. Food will be left in their bought packaging so won’t be touching the metal at all.

A. Degrease with Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions then apply a primer coat of Resene Vinyl Etch, then follow with an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

January 2019

Q. My family own a gym and we’re thinking of painting the outside of our building which is constructed of reinforced concrete panels. The problem we have is when the weather is really bad, some moisture can get through the joint but I gather that because your paint is flexible, it might solve the problem. The wall is rendered.

A. Our policy is not to paint construction sealants as painting can compromise sealant performance. To achieve weathertightness you will need to look to sealant replacement rather than trying to make the sealant weathertight by painting.

January 2019

Q. I am looking for a superior etch primer to prepare stainless steel soakers required for our corner cladding weatherboard junctions and ultimately, for overcoating with an exterior paint.

A. We have used Resene Vinyl Etch primer for this application. Etch primers are adhesion primers and are not a good primer for long term corrosion protection. This is important if the property is located close to the sea.

The alternative is to abrade the soakers, by lightly sanding with 380 grit sandpaper, apply a full coat of Resene GP Metal Primer and then topcoat with two coats of the cladding paint colour.

January 2019

Q. I would like to get some advice on how to restore our cedar cladding. This would include preparation and coating materials and whether it would be stains or oils.

A. Restoration of the original cedar colour is almost impossible now. Prep involves treating all surfaces with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. Then thoroughly scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash, again diluted and used to label directions. Then apply two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain. Staining is higher maintenance but given the degree of weathering, I suggest staining rather than application of a solid paint finish.

January 2019

Q. I am painting a fence and would like to know what type of paint I would require. The fence colour I would like is white and is being applied to a timber fence. The timber is pine, and is 63m2 and this fence is new so it has not been painted before. Would I be able to use a spray gun to apply the paint?

A. You can apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider white directly. My personal preference for new pine fencing is to apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry before applying the Resene Lumbersider topcoats. Best to roll or brush the primer but the Resene Lumbersider can be applied by airless spray.

January 2019

Q. I would like some information about the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. Is the application of the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal the same as applying a normal undercoat or is more labour intensive?

A. Resene Broadwall Prep & Seal is roller applied and is no more difficult to roll than any other waterborne seal coat.

January 2019

Q. We have a light coloured rimu dining table and chairs, which has had a high gloss ‘gold’ looking finish. We want to achieve a matt or low sheen hard wearing finish, a little darker than it is now. Looking at your site it appears we should use Resene Qristal Clearfloor 1K and tint it to get the slight darkening we want. Please confirm this is our best option or suggest an alternative.

A. Addition of Resene Colorwood Enhance to Resene Aquaclear is the only way we have to tint a varnish.

The existing surface will need to be degreased and sanded to profile for application of the Resene Aquaclear system (three coats). You can add the Resene Colorwood Enhance to the first or subsequent coats, to achieve the desired colour.

January 2019

Q. I'm arranging to have my metal roof re-painted. It is showing signs of rust, not too bad but needs attention. I am planning to have it waterblasted, then primed and painted. The roof is long run galvanised metal, about 45 years old. It is single plane, almost flat, invisible fasteners, no nails and has never, ever been painted.

It is rusting mainly along the raised edges but also along the flat valleys of the profile and the rust (brown) is starting to need attention. The topcoat colour is not a priority, halting the rust is.

A. We recommend Resene Alumastic.

January 2019

Q. We have just purchased 10L of Resene Sonyx 101 waterborne semi-gloss. If we find the sheen too much, can we paint our second coat with a matt finish directly over top of the semi-gloss?

A. The only lower gloss level paint we have is Resene Lumbersider and yes you can overcoat the Resene Sonyx 101 with Resene Lumbersider.

January 2019

Q. I have a large kitchen floor covered with white-coated cork tiles. They were supplied already pre-coated with a white wash. The floor has been periodically coated with clear water-based urethane over 15 years, originally I think with Resene Aquaclear and more recently with Resene Polythane. The underlying white coating on the cork is now greying and is marked by cuts etc. What should I do? Can I add a white colourant to Resene Polythane to return the floor to its original white colour? Do I sand them right off and recolour them somehow, before then coating?

A. To avoid needing to fully strip the floor etc, using Resene Colorwood Enhance in Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K may be the best option to bring the whiteness back. You aren’t able to use Resene Colorwood Enhance in Resene Polythane unfortunately. You would need to thoroughly abrade the surface prior to applying Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1k.

January 2019

Q. I need a water based paint (white) to use for bookshelves. I need it to be hard wearing and ideally an acrylic/enamel.

A. We recommend Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel.

January 2019

Q. Please confirm it is ok to use Resene Uracryl clear over a rimu table and what primer is required. The table will be sanded back to remove coatings.

A. Resene Uracryl 403 Clear is self-priming onto timber, apply the first coat and leave to cure overnight then lightly sand to de nib then continue with the next coats. The Resene Uracryl 403 Clear system cannot be used for exterior timbers

January 2019

Q. What product do I use to paint a galvanised iron fence? Some of the iron is already painted and some is not. Can I use the same product on the wooden fence palings?

A. You will need to prime the bare galvanising with Resene Galvo One before topcoating. You can then apply two coats of any Resene exterior waterborne topcoat paint. The same paint can be used for timber as long as the timber is primed with the appropriate Resene timber primer.

January 2019

Q. We have a Robo can on the wall and the residue has dripped down the wall, soaking into the wall. We have undercoated/painted over it but the residue has come back through the paint as a greasy looking mark. What do I need to paint over it with to seal it and stop the residue coming through?

A. Painting over an area exposed to the aerosol fly can, can be difficult as the aerosol contents can reversibly soften an existing paint system.

The following has been used and in most cases has prevented the stain from migrating into the topcoat.

Wipe the area down using Resene Emulsifiable Solvent Cleaner then wipe down with water, using a cloth until the water no longer becomes cloudy.

Then apply a coat of Resene Sureseal, allow to dry overnight then apply a coat of Resene StainLock. Leave the coat to dry for 48 hours then apply Resene SpaceCote topcoats. There is often an intensification of yellowing after the Resene StainLock is applied but this is not a problem following topcoating.

January 2019

Q. I have used Resene Vinyl Etch to prepare stainless steel to paint, what is the maximum time between this and starting with primer? It is about a week today is this too long?

A. As long as the etch coated surfaces are washed down with water to remove salt, they can be left for a week before topcoating.

January 2019

Q. Our deck has a dark Resene Woodsman brown stain (due to be done again) a few years old. We have just moved in and want to make this lighter as it gets hot.

A lighter stain is probably not possible as that would require removing the current stain completely. Painting is probably the best and easiest option so I want to understand what that would involve. How much of the stain do we need to remove or is sanding first enough?

A. You are correct you cannot apply a lighter coloured stain to achiever a lighter colour as stains are semi-transparent.

You can possibly change to a solid paint colour but to do this, the existing stain type/brand needs to be determined before we can make any recommendations. Also what is the condition of the existing stain?

The exposure time is good as the time is the usual recoat time for the stain finish.

Thoroughly scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions. Apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer and then finish with two coats of a Resene exterior waterborne topcoat paint. We recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if choosing a dark topcoat colour.

The CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour is selected in place of a standard colour.

January 2019

Q. What can you do to particle board walls in an old bach kitchen/ dining area? It's been there a long time. It could be more than 30 years. I think it may have been varnished. It's never been painted, so can we wallpaper or use a veneer?

A. If you apply a full sealer coat of Resene Sureseal, you can wallpaper.

January 2019

Q. Our bathroom paint has started stripping quite badly. The shower top is uncovered and it looks like the previous owners haven't primed the walls prior to painting. What primer and paint would you recommend for a bathroom? I also want to use the same paint to go over a feature wall in the master if possible.

A. Yes, you are correct in giving the reason why the failure has occurred, unfortunately a commonly reported failure for ceiling areas above an open shower head, can be made worse if there is poor steam extraction in the bathroom.

You will need to scrape back to a sound edge and feather off the edge by sanding then apply a coat of Resene Sureseal to the bare substrate, followed by a coat of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of either a solvent or waterborne enamel topcoat.

January 2019

Q. I have a well weathered COLORSTEEL® roof. Can I paint Resene Summit Roof paint on direct, or do I need to put a coat of Resene Galvo One primer on first?

A. For best results, scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions then apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One before applying the two coats of Resene Summit Roof.

January 2019

Q. What is the preferred way to paint interior concrete walls - still raw, smooth concrete tilt-panels 20 years after installation? Do these need priming and concrete undercoat paint? Can the usual acrylic paint then be applied?

A. You need to make sure there is no form of oil or residual curing agent on the walls.

Splash water onto the panel surface, the water should be quickly absorbed (no beading) and darken the concrete.

If there is no beading and the water is absorbed, then apply a full coat of Resene ConcreteSeal 3 in 1 and apply two coats of Resene waterborne interior wall paint.

January 2019

Q. I need to paint an old corrugated iron shed. Some of it has surface rust. We already have some Resene Roof and Metal Wash, and some rust converter but please can you advise on the best Resene primer to use after this and before the topcoats?

A. Resene has never promoted the use of rust converters. Wash down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions then remove all loose corrosion products from rusted areas using a 3M Rust and paint Removal Disc. Spot prime prepared corroded areas with Resene GP Metal Primer, apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One then finish with two coats of Resene Summit Roof.

January 2019

Q. What etch primer I should use on cavity closers?

A. Resene Vinyl Etch Black.

January 2019

Q.  I am doing a bathroom renovation. The floor is H3.2 plywood, which I am hoping to paint. The building code requires the floor finish to be 'impervious'. What would the best paint system be? The house is currently unoccupied so solventbased is not a concern.

A. Apply a primer coat of Resene Wood Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom.

However the system will not have wet slip resistance.

 

February 2019

Q. What paint should I use for skirting and architraves?  They have previously been painted.

A. Degrease usingResene Interior Paintwork Cleaner following label directions then sand with 220 grit sandpaper, dust off and the apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and then two coats of Resene Lustacryl tinted to your required colour.

February 2019

Q. What can I use to cover my deck to avoid primer and paint falling while I'm painting the hand rail and the wooden fence? Can I use newspaper to cover the floor? If it happen to rain will the papers ink damage the new decking?

We are painting the deck with a natural stain and the fence with a solid colour.

A. Standard practice would be to use a heavy duty painter's cloth drop cloth.

February 2019

Q. We are looking to restain our cedar home which currently has Resene Sheer Black on it.  As we have purchased this recently we don't know whether it has been stained with the Resene Woodsman water based or oil based stain.  Thinking it might be water based but not sure. Can we use either, and what is the difference?  Also thinking we should use the CoolColour option? 

A. As long as the existing stain is a Resene Woodsman stain you can use either Resene Woodsman stain version for restaining. Scrub down the existing stain with Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions before staining.

February 2019

Q. Thanks to Resene SpaceCote Flat our house looks terrific. The next job is recoating the interior steel handrail in the stairwell. We are looking for a pewter/silver finish - must be hard wearing. Do I need a two-part epoxy or similar or does Resene have yet another great product for me?

The rails are painted and in really good condition - just the wrong colour. Not sure of paint system. Finish is light metallic grey; I suspect it's an oven-baked system, rather like a car. Our house is one of 24 identical units and I reckon all the rails were made on a production-line system.

A. Ensure the rails are thoroughly degreased using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand using 240 grit sandpaper, dust off and apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of a Resene FX Metallic colour. Allow the metallic base coat to cure for at least 48 hours then apply a coat of Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield.

The application of the metallic colour to small areas should give a uniform effect.

February 2019

Q. Which stain is best for restaining spa pool cladding, oil or waterborne?  The old stain almost faded away in parts so can't see what the original was.

A. There is no difference in the maintenance requirements for either the solvent or waterborne versions of Resene Woodsman stains, so either could be used.

February 2019

Q. How do I prepare my already stained cedar garage door?  It has some blistering.  What product would be best to stain or coat it with?

A. The blistering suggests that the existing stain is a film forming stain. The existing stain will need to be sanded to complete removal before restaining with a Resene stain such as Resene Woodsman Wood Oil stain.

February 2019

Q. We just bought a new house and are looking at repainting our lounge. The paint is currently high gloss enamel. We are thinking about a low sheen Resene Half Sea Fog. How do we prepare the walls for painting? Do we just sand and paint or do we need a primer? 

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then thoroughly sand to degloss, then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry. You can then apply Resene interior wall paint such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. For wet areas such as bathrooms use the Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom version of the topcoat.

February 2019

Q. Can I apply white paint over older cork tiles that have been polyurethaned?  They are in good condition as they have not been walked on much. What would be the process if I can? We are thinking this might be a cheaper way to modernise them.

A. Ensure the floor is degreased then sand to provide a profile for the new paint system, apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry then two coats of white waterborne topcoat paint.

February 2019

Q. We have a kwila wooden deck that was stained brown 3 years ago which we now want to be one colour. it butts up to a deck made of fibrolite. 

The house is a light blue grey with white trim. What would you suggest we do and what products should we use? The deck gets sun most of the day.

A. Scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions.  Apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and then two coats of Resene Walk-on (use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if available).  The Resene CoolColour topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

February 2019

Q. I have some Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel left over from a previous job. I want to paint my outside washing line which is metal. Can I use this paint on a metal surface and if so, what undercoat should I use? 

A. Resene Lustacryl can be applied to an appropriately primed metal substrate. If the metal is galvanised then use Resene GP Metal Primer.

February 2019

Q. I would like to paint a mahogany table white.  Could I please get advice on how to prepare the table?

A. Thoroughly degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand (220 grit sandpaper) to profile. Apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer, followed by a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

February 2019

Q. Do you produce a projection surface paint? We have 18mm MDF we want to project onto so need to paint it to get good light gain. 

A. We have used the Resene colour Silver Sand as the colour to project onto. Apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and then two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to the colour.

February 2019

Q. Do you have a product to paint a 316 grade stainless steel tank? Exterior surface only. The tank is 750m3 capacity in rural environment.

A. Prep for painting stainless steel:

Painting Stainless Steel - Stainless steel does not readily corrode, rust or stain with water as ordinary steel does. However, it is not fully stain-proof in low-oxygen, high-salinity, poor air-circulation or industrial contamination environments. There are various grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment the alloy must endure. Stainless steel is used where both the properties of steel and corrosion resistance are required.

Stainless steel differs from carbon steel by the amount of chromium present. Unprotected carbon steel rusts readily when exposed to air and moisture. This iron oxide film (the rust) is active and accelerates corrosion by forming more iron oxide which, because of the greater volume of the iron oxide, tends to flake and fall away. Stainless steels contain sufficient chromium and other rare metals to form a passive film of chromium oxide which prevents further surface corrosion by blocking oxygen diffusion to the steel surface and blocks corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure. Passivation occurs only if the proportion of chromium is high enough and oxygen is present.

There are over 150 grades of stainless steel, of which 15 are most commonly used. There are a number of systems for grading stainless steel. The most commonly used grades are 304 and 316.

304 Stainless is a Cr-Ni general purpose stainless steel. Grade 316 is the standard molybdenum-bearing grade, second in importance to 304 the molybdenum gives 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than Grade 304, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments.

Where long term corrosion resistance is the prime requirement stainless steel is best left unpainted.

If damage to the protective oxide layer occurs stainless steel can show tea staining.

Tea staining can be described as: discolouration of the surface of stainless steel that does not affect the structural integrity or the longevity of the material. Visually it is a discolouration of the metal surface, which tends to follow the 'grain' of any surface finish. Although unpleasant to look at, it is not a serious form of corrosion. Aesthetically it is unacceptable so the following information is designed to help you understand its causes and institute a maintenance plan to keep your stainless steel looking better for longer. Tea staining of stainless steels occurs most commonly in coastal areas and becomes progressively worse the closer you get to water (note that most of New Zealand is considered a coastal area). Other factors such as pollution, higher temperatures, surface finish, (the smoother the better and more highly polished) and humidity can also increase the tea staining effect.

Painting is usually undertaken for aesthetics only. The stainless steel surface needs to be abraded to produce a mechanical key for a paint system and this damages the protective oxide layer.

Step 1: Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash.

Step 2: Lightly abrade the surface using very fine sandpaper e.g. 320 grit sandpaper or a red 3M poly pad. Care must be taken to minimise damage or scratching the surface as scratch marks may telegraph through the paint system then apply Resene Armourcote 221 to achieve a dry film thickness of 100 microns then apply Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat to achieve a dry film thickness of 100 microns.

Please note that stainless steel is best left unpainted to achieve maximum corrosion resistance.

February 2019

Q. Is there a maximum time that primer can be left on exterior walls before applying a topcoat? I have just primed my walls but am now not able to apply the topcoats for the next few weeks.

A. Primers should be topcoated as soon as possible but leaving the primer for a couple of weeks should not be an issue, if the primer is left uncoated ensure the primer is washed down using our Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions prior to topcoat application.

February 2019

Q. I have a concrete block wall that has been plastered over that I painted about 15 years ago. It needs repainting as it has what looks like lime stain bleeding through in places.  What would you recommend to do this job?  Can I coat the whole thing in a sealer, then paint?

A. Efflorescence is the possible cause of the white staining. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions.

Apply a coat of Resene Sureseal and finish with two coats of Resene exterior waterborne topcoat paint. Use the CoolColour™  version of the colour if selecting a dark colour.  The CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

February 2019

Q. I am looking at buying a house with matai weather boards and I wanted to check what the recommended method of repainting is given matai exudes an anti-oxidant which prevents proper curing of paint (your helpful tech bulletin). The paint on this house is in fair condition but there are places where it has lifted due to the above.

The main issue I wanted to check was whether existing paint needed to be removed to allow an appropriate paint system to be applied? The paint is in fair condition but with patches where it has lifted due to the anti-oxidant exuded by the weatherboard.

A.    The need to strip the existing paint system depends upon the condition of the paint work. Not sure of the age of the paint system but lower layers may contain lead so removal must take account of this.

The other case for removal is if you are going to change to a darker colour than the existing colour as due to heat effects the new colour may result the old paint system failing by blistering. Resene CoolColour™ technology will reduce but not eliminate the potential for this to occur. Prepare areas of flaking back to a sound edge then prime bare matai with Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. If you suspect that lead based paint may be present use wet sanding.  Resene ColorShops have lead test kits available so you can test the paint.

February 2019

Q. Can I paint over oil based paint with acrylic? I'm painting my windows.

A. Yes you can but you must use a waterborne enamel topcoat for windows. Sand the existing paint and then wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions to achieve a chalk free surface.

Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and then two coats of either Resene Enamacryl gloss or Resene Lustacryl  semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

February 2019

Q. I need to paint a kitchen laminated cabinet, so I'm enquiring about a two pack pot paint for spray or roller. Area isn't great, approx. 3x panels 2000 x 600 mm.

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 curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. The sealer is formulated at a water like viscosity which really rules out spray application, and is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

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.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

This system is aimed at DIY applicators.

There is a spray option, with the same prep but use Resene Vinyl Etch as the adhesion primer and then topcoat with any of the Resene Uracryl 400 Series top coats. Allow the etch to cure for a few days in a well ventilated area before applying the Resene Uracryl Series topcoats.

The Resene Uracryl topcoat uses an isocyanate cure so the required spraying precautions for application of an isocyanate containing paint must be followed.

February 2019

Q. Do Alkyd Wallboard Sealer/SpaceCote K&B/Lustacryl K&B or Lusta-Glo have either Methylisothiazolinone or any other chemical ending with isothiazolinone in them.  I am highly allergic to these.

A. Solvent based products do not contain MIT but all the water based products do. There are many household products and shampoos that contain the same biocides. Wearing gloves and protective clothing can avoid skin contact during coating.

February 2019

Q. Will sealing new concrete make it a smoother slippery finish? I'm trying to achieve a floor to dance on and need a degree of slip.

A. Slip resistance and smooth finish are diametrically opposed. Increased slip resistance can only be achieved by addition of a slip resistance aggregate which increases surface profile.

February 2019

Q. I inadvertently repainted doors that had been painted with turps based enamel with water based enamel. Experience tells me that this does not stick well and is easily scuffed off.  Do I need to remove this waterbased paint completely or will an undercoat followed by a top turps enamel paint be hard enough?

A. Sorry, but yes the waterbased enamel to coat will need to be sanded back to expose the original enamel layer, then sand the original enamel to profile, dust off and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before reapplying the waterbased enamel topcoats.

February 2019

Q. Should I seal new Aqualine prior to painting and if yes why? Also what about normal plasterboard?

A. It is the GIB® recommendation to seal Aqualine with a solventborne pigmented sealer before applying a decorative paint system.

The sealer increases the barrier to water vapour getting to the GIB® face.  A solventborne sealer is required as Aqualine has a wax component to give water resistance and waterborne sealers may not achieve the required adhesion.

February 2019

Q. I have a half wine barrel that I would like to protect from the weather.  It is oak with galvanised steel rings. I was thinking of using something like Resene Furniture and Decking Oil. If I used this would I need to try and keep the oil off the galvanised steel rings? Will I be able to remove any excess oil from the rings with a rag before the oil dried?

A. I would suggest that you consider Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain for this application. It may be easier to mask out the metal prior to application of the stain.

February 2019

Q. I have just installed a new Marley PVC spouting system on our garage. I would like to paint the spouting. I have some Resene Sonyx 101 which I used for the exterior garage wall and barge board. Can I apply Resene Sonyx 101 straight over the spouting?

A. Resene does not agree with the Marley priming recommendation, Resene exterior waterborne topcoats can be applied directly to PVC (two coats) without the need for a primer. Our topcoats have adhesion promoters which allows for direct application.

February 2019

Q. We have inherited a ceiling which we want to leave exposed in a commercial office tenancy reception. The timber is rough sawn H3 Pine and has been finished with Resene Aquaclear satin. There is some white staining which we believe is lime leaching through from the concrete floor topping above.

We want to apply a treatment to the timber (not paint) to keep the timber grain visible however want to camouflage the white staining. We wondered if a lime wash type application will work and if Resene has such a system.

A. Yes it is likely that the white leachate has come from the concrete. We recommend a coat of Resene Colorwood Whitewash or Resene Aquaclear with Resene Colorwood Enhance White. The Resene Colorwood Whitewash must be applied without overlapping as the overlap areas will dry to a more intense white. The Resene Aquaclear with Resene Colorwood Enhance option allows for a more subtle white effect and if the level of whiteness is not sufficient additional coats can be applied.

February 2019

Q. We are constructing a pump station and generator building out of concrete blocks. The exterior needs to be waterproofed and painted and the interior painted.

Is Resene Lumbersider a waterproofing paint or is it best to apply Resene X-200 to the exterior. Does the Resene X-200 need a concrete primer if we are applying it to new blockwork? Also, what would you recommend for painting directly onto the blockwork for the interior?

A. The Resene system to achieve a weathertight system for new block construction is Resene X-200. Based on the definitions given in CCANZ CP01 2014, a weather tight paint system will be breathable (water vapour transfer) but does not allow liquid water to pass through the membrane.

For new masonry there is no absolute need to apply a primer coat but this can be done if an increased film build is deemed necessary. It is the exterior face that needs to be made weather tight, using Resene X-200 for the interior face is not required and a Resene Lumbersider system applied over a coat of Resene Concrete Primer is an appropriate interior system for blockwork with the proviso that the external face is weather tight.

February 2019

Q. In our basement we have a concrete block wall which has been painted with water based paint and the paint is being blown off from behind. Would the Resene HydraBlock product you sell be able to stop the moisture coming through the blocks or should the wall be strapped and plasterboard fitted?

A. Resene HydraBlock would be the fix but it cannot be applied to a painted surface.  It must be applied to the bare block.

February 2019

Q. I have an old concrete garage floor that I wish to paint. The floor has always been dry. Can you advise best prep procedure and recommend a paint system?

A. Diamond grind to achieve a uniform surface texture similar to 180 grit sandpaper, then ensure that all grinding dust is removed before sealing.

Apply a seal coat of Resene ArmourBond and then apply the Resene Aquapoxy for Flooring system.

February 2019

Q. 10 years ago we built our house using Resene paint systems. We have floor to ceiling double glazed aluminium windows with curtains. The walls have a matt paint. Due to condensation on cold nights mould has built up on the walls along the edges of the aluminium.

I wonder if after cleaning the mould I should run a line of Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint along the edges - or what is your best recommendation for both cleaning, preparation and future prevention? At this stage of course, there is no requirement for a full repaint.

A. The issue you report is due to either poor ventilation build-up of internal moisture or a combination of both. The only way to address the mould growth is to treat the mould infested areas with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom. The topcoat will inhibit mould growth but not kill existing mould infestation.

February 2019

Q. I'd like to paint a MDF desk top, what preparation and paint system should I use? Do I need to finish it off with a clear coat in the end?

A. If new, apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

February 2019

Q. I'm arranging to have my metal roof repainted. It is showing signs of rust, not too bad but needs attention. I am planning to have it water blasted, then painted. The roof is long run galvanised metal, about 45 years old. Single plane almost flat. It has never been painted. It is rusting mainly along the raised edges but also along the flat valleys of the profile. Rust (brown) is starting to need attention. My concern is to stop the progress of, and cover, the rust. The colour is not important, it is hardly seen.

A. We recommend Resene Alumastic.

February 2019

Q. I finished applying Walk-on paint around lunch time. But a shower started at 6pm.  Is that okay with the painting?

A. If there was no obvious damage to the paint then there is no need for concern.

February 2019

Q. I have just completed repainting my house using Resene Sonyx 101. Now I would like to paint the free standing garage using the left over paint. The garage cladding is COLORSTEEL® and is approx. 6 years old. Am I able to use Resene Sonyx 101 to do this and if so, what preparation is required?

A. Yes, Resene Sonyx 101 may be used for this, however you'll need to ensure you have thoroughly cleaned the surface to be painted using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to remove the chalking that will be present. This is a scrub down method as waterblasting etc. won't remove chalking.

February 2019

Q. I have been asked to repaint a steel container. The roof is in need of rust removal (it is not leaking at this time) but it will have to be painted by hand due to site constraints i.e. cannot be shot blasted. Have you any systems that you can recommend?

A. Containers have varying types of coatings on them however we've had good success using Resene Galvo One to spot prime, then apply one full coat of it across the entire container and topcoat with two coats of Resene Summit Roof

February 2019

Q. I have some very rusty, old, AHI roller doors. How should I prep them and what should I use to paint them? Can I use anti-graffiti paint? What would you recommend?

A. The trick with doors likes this, is not to roll them up on themselves within a week or so of painting, so as not to minimise the damage to the new coating. Ideally they should be removed and laid flat to paint then reinstalled a week so later. They will always incur some form of damage when they are finally rolled up unfortunately. If you are unable to take them out of service and they must be rolled daily, you have a dilemma as you won't get enough time to achieve a good level of finish. 

Repainting roller doors like these unfortunately never quite achieves a perfect finish. Assuming the doors are still the existing factory finish (baked enamel/powder coated etc.) and you want an anti-graffiti coating, you'll need to power tool clean the white and rust and give the door a good clean down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash. Spot prime repairs and bare metal with Resene Armourcote 221 (two pack epoxy) then one full coat of Resene Armourcote 221 to all areas and two coats of Resene Uracryl 402 (semi-gloss two pack urethane).

February 2019

Q. Do you have a product for painting outside timber stairs that has a grip/sand in the product for anti-slip?

A. We recommend Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

February 2019

Q. I am looking for a product to use on the floor of our newly built garage/workshop. It is part of our house but is a very active automotive workshop. We want it to be clear, have slip resistance and to help resist staining of the floor and easy to clean up if we spill oil etc. on it. I have looked at several of your products but can't work out which is the best one. What would you recommend?

A. You would be best to use Resene Uracryl Clear (two pack urethane), however as with most clear coatings it is does not offer full slip resistance and can become slippery depending on the fluid on the surface.

You would need to have the floor prepared prior to coating by diamond grinding to achieve the profile of 180 grit sandpaper.

Apply the first coat of Resene Uracryl 403 Gloss clear (thinned 10%), and second and third coats of Resene Uracryl 403, Resene Uracryl 402 (semi-gloss) or Resene Uracryl 404 (low sheen).

February 2019

Q. Do you have filler that can be used to fill in a fine crack, in an exterior panel on a monolithic clad house? If I use a standard product such as No More Cracks, it will spread all over the surface on either side upsetting the texture and look rubbish. The texture makes it impossible to mask and it looks as though, if you had a fine needle or such like, you could inject a sealant in.

A. Cracks in Monolithic cladding are difficult to disguise with fillers unfortunately. We recommend brushing our weathertight coating - Resene X-200 - into the fine hairline cracks in a sideways brushing motion. This will fill the crack but hopefully not give that ‘silicone' look that is often the problem.

We have testpots of Resene X-200 so you could trial a small area first to see how you go.

February 2019

Q. I have a resin or fibreglass deck on the house that I want to repaint, mainly to change the colour. The existing paint is still in very good condition. I am wondering how to go about this, and what paint to use. 

A. Assuming the existing paint is an acrylic system, you can paint directly over it using Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint. Clean down first using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. If you aren't sure if it's acrylic, you can check by rubbing a small amount of methylated spirits on it with a cloth; if it softens and comes off its acrylic.

It's best to paint it on a cooler and overcast day so that you can paint out of direct sunlight.

February 2019

Q. I am thinking about painting our tile hearth when we get our wood burner replaced shortly. Can you advise what Resene products would be best to achieve this?

A. Painting of the hearth will only give a colour change, as the painted finish will not be resistant to hot ash or embers contact. If the tiles are glazed, then the following can be used - Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner which ensures 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 curing 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.

February 2019

Q. I have a small bathroom that has a wooden particle board floor. I am looking for hard wearing, non-slip, and waterproof paint options. The floor area is small.

A.    Our best system to achieve what you want, is to apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, leave to dry for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Waterborne Uracryl 802 (two pack urethane).

If you want slip resistance, add Resene Industrial SRG grit to the first coat at 500 grams per litre (it is sometimes easiest to make up a sandbox and sprinkle it into the wet coat then back roll it rather than mixing into the paint in the can). Including the grit will make the floor not quite as easy to clean though.

February 2019

Q. I am trying to repaint a ceiling that has recently been painted.  The fly dirt is still showing. Is there an acrylic stain block I can use?

A. We recommend Resene StainLock.

February 2019

Q. I'm painting an old villa with a corrugated iron roof. It's in bad condition with blistering paint all over and some rust areas, paint is also flaking off after I've waterblasted. It would take forever to try and scrape and sand it back so I was thinking of getting it soda or vapour blasted. What do you recommend?

A. The following is our standard prep for metal roofing; if any areas of moss or mould infestation exist then treat them with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. For heavy infestations, more applications may be needed. 

Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed.

All paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods e.g. 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable and all paint that is flaking or unsound, must be removed by using mechanical methods e.g. 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc,  taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Where under-film corrosion is taking place, the existing paint must first be removed as above and remove under film corrosion products taking care not to damage sound zinc coated areas. All paint edges must be feathered to a smooth finish.

The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage.

Ensure all edges of damaged paint are sound and immediately spot prime all areas of corrosion and any other bare metal with a full coat of the specified primer.

After stripping and preparing corroded areas as above, spot prime areas of prepared corrosion with Resene GP Metal Primer then apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One and finish with two coats of Resene Summit.

February 2019

Q. I am restaining a house and plan on using Resene Waterborne Woodsman CoolColour™ in a black colour. The existing house was stained around five years ago with Resene Waterborne Woodsman but is in very good condition and still has a solid black stain. I plan on using a timber cleaner to wash down and prepare the wood before I stain, but my question is how many coats do I need to apply? It recommends two, however with the existing stain, I'm afraid the second coat won't absorb or am I worrying about nothing?

A. It's difficult to say how many coats of Resene Waterborne Woodsman will be required, if the existing stain has not undergone weathering to the extent that a significant amount of the stain has eroded, then only a single coat may be needed. See how much stain remains after the scrub down with the Timber and Deck Wash, as there may be eroded pigment on the surface.

February 2019

Q. We live in a three level apartment block.  The construction is concrete block plastered for the two lower levels and the top is weatherboard and plaster over. The block is 20 years old and was last repainted seven years ago. Doing the hand on test shows it is now powdering but there is no sign of blistering or bare areas etc. There is mould in 'dark' hard to get at areas.

Quotes have been obtained for repainting. Two propose waterblasting and then painting with two coats of Resene Lumbersider, the other proposes chemical and clean, and then two coats of a membrane system to all plastered areas and then two coats acrylic on weatherboards etc. 

A.    Our surface prep for your situation is to treat areas of mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions, then scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, diluted and used to label directions. Waterblasting alone does not kill mould spores or remove surface chalking.

Topcoat selection for the concrete block levels depends upon the weathertight status of the substrate, if no issues, then two coats of Resene Lumbersider will suffice.  Two coats of Resene X-200 is a belts and braces system.

February 2019

Q. I just wanted to check what Resene products I should use to prepare/paint internal varnished wooden doors. I will clean and sand all the woodwork first, and then which primer/undercoat is recommended? Do I need to use smooth surface primer and then what is recommended for the topcoat?

A. If you degrease (paying particular attention to areas of hand contact), then sand to profile (you do not need to remove all the varnish) you can apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry then overcoat with two coats of a Resene waterborne enamel.

February 2019

Q. I have a couple of questions about your Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path product. Would this be suitable for application onto a new concrete residential driveway (some of it has a broom finish and some smooth)?  Do you have an estimated lifespan for this product in this situation, non-vehicle traffic?

A. Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path can be applied to new concrete after application of a seal coat of Resene Sureseal. Smooth/glossy areas should be acid etched to give a profile similar to 180 grit sandpaper.

The paint can withstand foot traffic and a degree of vehicular traffic but we don't recommend it for the latter. It is not possible to put a time to maintenance on the product but from experience with a normal level of foot traffic, I would expect at least five years before maintenance would be required.

February 2019

Q. I require to paint over existing wallpaper. Do you have a specific paint I can use for this purpose, so that the wallpaper does not lift when painting?

A. We recommend applying a coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer before applying two coats of Resene interior wall paint such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

The sealer is very fast drying and is a solventborne sealer; ensure that a mask fitted with an organic cartridge is used when applying the sealer. Cleaning of brushes/roller sleeve used to apply the sealer is also difficult to achieve, so we suggest disposing of the brush or roller sleeve after you have finished applying the sealer. (You can use a lower quality brush for cutting in of the sealer).

February 2019

Q. I spilt some outdoor decking stain on my inside wood flooring. I managed to get the stain off when it dried but it has left a residue (looks like liquid). I don't know what to apply to remove the rest. Can you please help?

A. You could try wiping with mineral turps or using Resene Graffiti Cleaner.

We cannot give any guarantee that neither will affect the substrate however, but expect this may not be an issue.

February 2019

Q. Can I paint vinyl flooring?

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

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

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.

However we cannot give any guarantee of paint adhesion as there are many variants of vinyl composition.

February 2019

Q. We have had the moss waterblasted off the corrugated roof that we wish to paint but think we may need to treat the roof so it doesn't grow back? What are your suggestions?

A. Waterblasting alone does not kill residual moss spores.  I suggest that you treat the roof with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions prior to painting. Moss usually grows where damp shaded conditions exist for a prolonged time.

After painting, we suggest an annual application (spring or autumn) of Resene Deep Clean to give ongoing control of moss growth.

I appreciate that this may not be an easy fix but it does work.

February 2019

Q. What paint do we use for a renovated wet area - bathroom and ensuite? I would like to have solventborne enamel ceiling paint as a vapour barrier.  The walls are James Hardie Hardiegroove fibre cement board, some new and some previously painted with plasterboard above a dado. Can you please help with a paint system?

A. Apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal to the bare GIB® Aqualine and the bare James Hardie fibre cement and sand existing paint to prolife for recoating, following with a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat. Finish with two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo for walls and two coats of Resene Room Velvet for ceilings.

February 2019

Q. We have old cedar weatherboards that we've taken back to bare wood. What is the best system to use from primer right to topcoat please? We have existing Resene Half Pravda on the rest of the house. The weatherboards (a mix of what I think is pine from the 80s and cedar from probably 1950) have been stripped back and are in good condition. So the cedar is quite old and I would have thought not prone to leeching.

A. Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a Resene CoolColour™ is selected in place of a standard colour. If you are going to do a solid paint finish, then apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer and follow with an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of a Resene exterior waterborne topcoat, tinted to your selected colour. We recommend the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if available. 

The CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour™ version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology. 

February 2019

Q. Our shower step and associated door frame needs repainting. My thoughts were to use paint stripper to strip off old paint on the step (this is chipped and not in a good state), then sand that and the door frame. Is this the best approach, and what paints should we use?

Quick drying between coats would be good if possible as the house is tenanted and we don't want the shower out of order for too long.

A. After stripping the existing paint system, thoroughly sand the bare timber, dust off and apply a liberal coat of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom (the system will not give wet slip resistance).

February 2019

Q. I have an early 1900s villa that we are stripping back for repainting. The weatherboards are kauri, with some preprimed pine replacements where there has been rot.

A. Resene Quick Dry must be used to prime bare matai or totara.  For other timbers you can in theory use either Resene Quick Dry or Resene Wood Primer. My preference after many years in the paint business would be to use Resene Wood Primer for priming bare kauri.

February 2019

Q. I'm just checking that I can use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel over the solventborne general purpose Resene Wood Primer on my exterior windows.

A. Yes, but to achieve the best adhesion of the topcoat, I recommend a coat of Resene Quick Dry be applied as an undercoat prior to top coating. We recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if selecting a dark topcoat colour. The CoolColour™ top coat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour™ version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour™ is selected in place of a standard colour.

February 2019

Q. I have sanded back two lounge chairs in a very light colour wood. I want to retain the light colour. What should I seal the timber with? I do not want any yellowing.

A. We recommend Resene Aquaclear.  The waterborne clear film does not yellow upon ageing.

February 2019

Q. We have recently engaged a house painter to repaint the exterior of our weatherboard house. He has initially waterblasted to prep and he tells us that he discovered that under the existing water based paint is oil based. He is telling us that the best solution is to strip everything back to timber and start again rather than repaint over. Is this the only solution? Is there another option that will not be as costly and time consuming?

A. Where there have been multiple layers of paint applied over time, and if there is lead present in the older layers, stripping will remove almost all risk of a failure due to recoating an old existing paint system. But this will come at a cost that you may not have the budget for.

Lead based paint issues aside (you should get the old enamel system tested for the presence of lead, as the presence of lead does require attention when sanding to avoid release of lead containing dusts to the person carrying out the sanding and the environment), if the layers of acrylic paint are removed back to a sound old oil based enamel system, the old enamel can be thoroughly sanded to profile for recoating with a waterborne paint system. We do recommend applying an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry in this situation before applying the waterborne topcoats.

February 2019

Q. What is the best method to clean fly marks off ceilings that have matt ceiling paint, without causing damage? I tried a wet microfibre cloth which has left white shiny marks in certain lights.

A. It's very difficult as standard flat ceiling paints are easily damaged, burnished and in some cases removed by wiping with standard cleaners.

We recommend that a change of a waterborne enamel paint finish such as Resene SpaceCote Flat will facilitate cleaning.

February 2019

Q. What kind of paint should I use on my exterior windows and doors?

A. Waterborne enamel topcoats such as Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl are now the commonly used topcoats. Prep and priming requirements will be determined by the existing paint system and its condition.

February 2019

Q. I am emailing about the black/chalkboard paint to see if it would be possible to paint a fridge with it.

A. Yes, but you will need to ensure the surfaces are degreased using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, then wet sanded with 400 grit sandpaper (take care not to unduly scratch the surface) then apply a thin layer of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to dry for 48 hours then apply the two coats of Resene Blackboard Paint.

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.

February 2019

Q. Our garage door panels are salt encrusted, particularly in some of the joins between the panels. Some of the salt encrusted areas have started to rust. My goal is to arrest the rust and repaint the door. We live on the coast.

I have brushed some of the salt off with a wire brush. I have some Resene Sonyx 101 CoolColour™ acrylic semi-gloss (in Resene Nocturnal) left over from another job, which I was planning to use as the final coating. 

What primer would you recommend? A friend suggested an epoxy rust inhibiting primer; what do you think?

A. What you are seeing is what is referred to as sheltered or crevice corrosion, which is due to lack of rain washing to remove surface salts. It is very difficult now to correct to achieve long term corrosion control.

Waterblast the door to remove engrained salts, then use a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc to remove all loose corrosion products.  There may be areas that you cannot reach to achieve this.

Spot prime prepared areas of corrosion with Resene ArmourZinc 110, then apply two full coats of Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

To try and address ongoing corrosion potential, we recommend washing down the door with fresh water at least twice a year, if not more frequently.

February 2019

Q. I have a brick fireplace and the bricks are an ugly orange colour. I'm going to be wallpapering so I want it painted white. How do I go about this? The bricks are in decent condition. Some websites say high temp, others latex. The bricks are unglazed and we don't use the fire because we have two heat pumps. Please help!

A. We only allow for painting if hand contact can be maintained on the bricks when the fire is at full heat.

Apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal, followed by an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

February 2019

Q. What primer or paint is best for painting a wooden kitchen bench? Would I need urethane over the top for durability? Also, how many coats of each would I need?

A. Apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 802.

February 2019

Q. My mother has an unstained cedar house built in the 1980s. The boards are looking very dry and are beginning to split in some places. There is mould/algal growth on the south facing wall. It is an orange colour. Part of that wall needs some boards replaced. What products do you suggest to help?

A. Treat areas showing mould/algal growth with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions.

Given the length of time the cladding has been left unprotected, we recommend staining with Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

February 2019

Q. I have a quantity of Resene X-200 left from painting our house. Am I able to use it, rather than buying another product, to paint timber lattice fencing and timber pickets etc?

A. Resene X-200 is formulated to be applied to a cementitious substrate, however it can be applied to any other appropriately primed substrates. Depending upon the condition of the fencing you will need to apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry or Resene Wood Primer before applying the Resene X-200 as the topcoat.  Resene Lumbersider is our suggested product for timber fencing.

February 2019

Q. I have a Butanol deck in full sun, covered by an artificial grass mat. It is unusable in high summer because of heat build-up. Do you have a paint product to cool Butanol that will not flake off?

A. Light colours will reflect heat, as the colour shade darkens so does the heat absorbed. Resene CoolColour™ technology can be used but the CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour™ version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

To paint the bare Butanol, apply an adhesion coat of Resene Membrane Primer then follow with two coats of Resene Lumbersider, tinted to your selected colour. If there is a CoolColour™ version of the colour available then this is the only way to reduce surface temperatures.

February 2019

Q. A couple of years ago we painted our daughter's room in Resene Irresistible and Resene Pot Pourri. We are about to repaint it in Resene Black White. What undercoat (or undercoat colour) do we use to ensure that we don't get the pink or bright pink hue under the white please?

A. Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat, prior to topcoating.

February 2019

Q. Can I use Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom on my bathroom ceiling? The ceiling will be new plasterboard, so starting from a clear surface. I know it will need priming and I have that paint.

A. Yes, suggest that you apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry over the Resene Sureseal sealer, prior to application of the Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom topcoats.

February 2019

Q. What paint/primer products do you recommend for exterior cedar boards that have deteriorated and have been previously stained? Not flaking or mouldy, just looks and feels a bit ‘thinner'. I was thinking of having it painted in a paler colour so it won't get so hot (north facing).

A. If this was to convert a Resene stain system to a solid colour, the following would be required;

Scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions, allow to dry and apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer and then finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider, tinted to your selected Resene CoolColour™ topcoat if available. The CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the cool colour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology. Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour™ is selected in place of a standard colour.

There will be an element of risk as the existing stain cannot be established.

February 2019

Q. We have a painted block base, however the blocks are wet inside (I drilled a hole to check), and salty residue and moist patches come through on the inside the garage. We will be painting shortly and wanted to ensure the base is sealed. What would be the best products and method? The exterior is painted and accessible. 

A. Resene X-200 system applied to the exterior face will render block work weathertight.

You will need to apply a saturation coat of Resene Sureseal before applying the three coats of Resene X-200.

Check that all pointing is sound and any flashing details are functioning to prevent ingress of liquid water.

February 2019

Q. I have two new pine paling fences to stain. Scan of data sheets indicate brush or roller application. Is there a product usable for spray application?

A. Both the versions of Resene Woodsman stains can be sprayed; Resene Waterborne Woodsman would be an easier option as the product is of a higher viscosity than the Resene Woodsman wood oil, which is the solventborne version.

Back rolling after spray application of stains is our recommendation as this provides a physical force to push product into the substrate. We do sell a Swish Mop which achieves a quick application of the stain.

I have spoken with our application expert and his advice is to use an airless spray unit fitted with an FFLP 412 tip with a 60 mesh filter. Ensure the unit is clean before starting, as the stain can work loose material that has been deposited in the spray lines, and after completing application, flush the unit well with hot water with added Handy Andy.

Take care not to over build the wet stain, as this will see runs and sags occur.

February 2019

Q. I was looking to stain a new fence and was aware that I would need to let the timber weather for 4-6 weeks. I have since decided to paint the fence instead. Does painting also require a 4-6 week weathering period or can I paint straight away? 

A. No, it's best to apply the paint system ASAP. Two coats of Resene Lumbersider can be used for painting new timber fencing.

February 2019

Q. We are looking to stain timber stair treads in a hospitality situation (feature timber stair going up to a private dining mezzanine). We want as true a black as possible, while still allowing the grain of the timber to come through. Do you have a product/colour you could recommend?

A. Resene Colorwood Pitch Black will give you the blackest stain finish; the stained areas will need to be overcoated with a clear, such as Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K. Resene Colorwood Enhance Black can be added to the Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K to add a subtle increase in the intensity.

February 2019

Q. I'm a PTA member at a primary school; we have recently extended a concrete pad and installed a basketball hoop. What would you recommend to paint the concrete with? It's outside, so needs to be weather proof and non-slip proof. I suspect we need to use some sort of preparation on the concrete/primer then the final colours and lines. Any advice and rough costs would be most appreciated. The court area is 7m x 11m.

A. Ensure the concrete is clean and free of laitance and any curing membrane, splash water onto the concrete and check that the water is immediately absorbed and the wet concrete darkens. If this does not occur, then the concrete will need to be diamond ground to achieve an even profile texture similar to 180 grit sandpaper.

Then apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal and finish with two coats of Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

February 2019

Q. What is a product for timber flooring in a wet area (bathroom), that is like a varnish?

A. We recommend Resene Polythane.

February 2019

Q. I have sanded back the original old timber on our kitchen floor. It's so lovely I would like to just poly it or use something similar to protect it. Is this advisable in a kitchen area? I don't want to stain it.

A. If the condition is acceptable, use three coats of Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K.

February 2019

Q. I have a pine deck that has never been painted or stained. It is grip tread pine on the south side of the house. The older section is about 21 years old and still in good condition. The newer parts are about 10 years old.

I am looking at painting the deck because in winter the timber expands in width and the gaps close up in places, causing puddling. In early spring last year, I ran a circular saw between the boards that were close or touching. The gaps are wider now that the boards have dried out completely. The deck looks like it needs a waterblast to remove dirt in the grooves and any loose wood fibres. Then I would like to apply an acrylic paint to seal the tops of the boards and try to prevent them swelling so much in winter.

Does this sound like a good plan? If not, what should I do differently? What paint should I apply to the deck? I currently use Resene Lumbersider on the fences, or should I apply an oil-based wood primer first and then a suitable topcoat?

A. Unless you can envelope seal/paint all sides of the decking timbers, you will not achieve a reduction in the timber dimensional changes associated with moisture uptake. Removal of ingrained dirt and debris from the deeper sections of the grip tread profile is required for successful painting.

We do not recommend waterblasting timber, as this can damage the timber surface and increase the chance of paint failure. I suggest that you scrub the deck down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions and rinse well with fresh water.

Assuming that this gives you a clean profile, then apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer and then you can finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider. Use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if electing to use a dark colour. The CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour™ version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology. Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour™ is selected in place of a standard colour.

Given that you will not be able to seal all faces of each of the decking timber sections, the potential for timber swelling under extended wet conditions will unfortunately remain after painting.

February 2019

Q. I have been busy painting my house with Resene X-200. I was wondering if this product would be okay to paint over my second floor balcony deck. This balcony deck is fully tanked and sealed and has no issues with water tightness. There looks to be a previously paint system on the surface but I'm unsure of the age of it (no peeling or flaking). There is also enough grip in this surface to not be an issue if painted over.

This is not a heavy traffic flow area, and is very rarely used but does get a lot of all-day sun on it.  I was wondering if Resene X-200 and Resene Walk-on paint had the same properties less the grip tread option.

A.    Resene X-200 is designed to be applied to vertical claddings to give a weathertight membrane. Based on the information you have given, I cannot come to a conclusion as to what the existing is but it may be a trafficable membrane. If so, it should be paintable with a standard waterborne paint system. While Resene X-200 will not add to or detract from the features of the existing membrane system, it could be used as a topcoat option to refresh the decking colour. Suggest that for a belts and braces approach, that you ensure the surface is cleaned down to remove all surface contaminants and surface chalk using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, diluted and used to label directions then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before applying 2 coats of Resene X-200

The system will reduce the existing surface texture and is only a decorative system. Alternatively, you could substitute the Resene X-200 with two coats of Resene Walk-on or even Resene Lumbersider to refresh the colour.

February 2019

Q. My shower step and associated door frame needs repainting. My thoughts were to use paint stripper to strip off old paint on the step (this is chipped and not in a good state), then sand that and the door frame. Is this the best approach, and what paints should we use? Quick drying between coats would be good if possible as the house is tenanted and we don't want the shower out of order for too long.

A. After stripping the existing paint system, thoroughly sand the bare timber dust off and apply a liberal coat of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom (the system will not give wet slip resistance).

February 2019

Q. Is Resene Wellywood the colour people use for green screens or do they use something else?

A. Resene FilmPro Digital Green is the colour used for this purpose.  It is used with a tinted basecoat colour first.

February 2019

Q. Can you please outline the aesthetic difference between Resene Aquaclear and Resene Qristal Clear polyurethane topcoats?

A. There are differences in gloss level of the same gloss description between the water and solventborne clears. The choice is usually made on VOC levels or personal preference.

The Resene Qristal clears will undergo progressive yellowing over time whereas the Resene Aquaclear will not.

February 2019

Q. I have recently had some renovation work done in my dining room and now the walls, sills and frames need painting. The room gets a lot of sunlight - has a high UV, so should I use a clear marine polyurethane or a marine varnish? I would prefer not to use a high gloss. What are my options?

Also, after filling the screw holes with filler it has left a tide mark around the filled hole. Do I need to sand back before applying any painted product?

A. Typically marine polyurethanes are gloss so as provide the most protection against UV, however they also specify between 5-8 coats to achieve a good level of UV stability, and then regular maintenance.

Unfortunately the UV exposure in NZ is the highest in the world and therefore clear polyurethanes (exposed to UV) don't offer a lot of protection to the timber they are applied over.

Our most common product for interior use in the situation you have would be Resene Qristal Clear which has gloss, semi-gloss and flat options.

You would need to sand the areas you mention prior to applying any clear coating.

February 2019

Q. I'm painting a 1920s bungalow. Under the eaves, there are the ends of the roofing iron nails that have gone through the roofing iron and the board under that and can now be seen under the eaves.  Often the protruding ends of these nails have been bent over.

I've removed rusty bent over bits and am looking at removing rust.

What is the best way of then dealing with them prior to painting?

A. For rusty nails like this, it may well be difficult to properly remove all of the rust (i.e. they may be too far gone). However, if you want to give it a go, you'd need to use a wire brush to try to remove as much of the rust as possible then prime using a couple of coats of Resene GP Metal Primer.

February 2019

Q. We are a school and looking to do a mural. What is the best type of paint to use for a mural?

A. We recommend Resene Lumbersider and for small quantities of accent colours use Resene testpots – most of which have Resene Lumbersider in them. A primer will be required; primer selection will be determined by the substrate.

March 2019

Q. I would really love some expert advice on our cedar. We built our house about 12 years ago and stained our cedar Resene Natural using your Resene Woodsman range. We gave it another coat about 5 years ago. We live by the sea and over time it appears to have gone darker and really orange! I want to now stain it black but I'm worried if I go over the stain the orange/red tint will still come through? Or do you think it would be ok?

A. You are correct stains being semi-transparent will always reflect the base colour. Given the age of the existing stain there may be reduced amounts of the stain colour remaining after a scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions.

Apply two coats of Resene Waterborne Woodsman in the colour you are looking to use. We do sell testpots of the Resene Waterborne Woodsman stain colours so you can apply to a small test area to see what the outcome will be.

March 2019

Q. I've just painted my roof in Resene Summit Roof paint semi-gloss but I now want more of a low sheen finish because the roof is old and it shows the imperfections.  Can I put another product like Resene Lumbersider over the top or what other options do I have?

A. If you can I would wait for 6 months before making any decision on this matter, this will give the new paint time to settle down and undergo a degree of weathering.

Roof paints need to be as durable as possible and the time to chalking, breakdown of the paint surface is a function of gloss, the lower the gloss the sooner the onset of surface chalking will occur.

March 2019

Q. I have a dark coloured exterior door. Can I repaint it with a 'CoolColour', or do I have to strip the old paint off first for the 'CoolColour' to be effective?

A. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions, then sand the existing paint system to profile for re-coating, and do not need to completely sand off the existing paint system.

Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and then finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl CoolColour or Resene Lustacryl CoolColour.

The Resene CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour is selected in place of a standard colour.

March 2019

Q. We have an outdoor area next to the house with a wood fired pizza oven, the house and pergola is currently painted with a light coffee coloured semi-gloss acrylic. Unfortunately the smoke and soot from the fire has settled onto the paint and stained it. Is there any special paint or coating we can use in this area to make cleaning easy, without having to remove or recoat the painted surfaces?

A. Sorry but no, however you could try cleaning down using Resene Heavy Duty Paint Prep and Oil Remover diluted and used to label instructions to see if that will help.

March 2019

Q. We want to repaint our COLORSTEEL® and would like to enquire which paint is recommended. As we are on tank water, the roof is where our water is collected and would like to know that the paint used is the healthiest choice.

A. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One and then two coats of Resene Summit Roof. Note the instructions on the label for requirements where rain water is collected for drinking.

March 2019

Q. I would like know the correct sealer to use on a one year old plywood floor in the garage, which will be carpeted in the future with garage carpet. The type of sealer is required by the carpet layer as this will determine what glue he will use.  

A. For timber flooring we would recommend a full coat of Resene Wood Primer.

March 2019

Q. I am painting plywood with cedar battening and am using Resene Wood Primer on the bare timber. I wanted the primer to soak in more than it appeared to when I applied it with about 10% turps.

I feel it would soak in more if the paint was more diluted, so do the properties of the paint get adversely affected if diluted with turps?

If it does not, my plan would be to put on a thin coat of primer on, lightly sand then apply a second coat of primer. Then follow up with a coat of tinted undercoat and then your topcoat.

A. Oil based primers such as Resene Wood Primer do not require additional thinning when applied to a timber substrate. A moderate thinning up to 10% will not adversely affect prior performance but may see sagging or runs occur under certain application conditions and a reduction in the dry film thickness of the applied paint.

March 2019

Q. I am looking to paint about 30 plastic garden chairs. What type of paint would you please suggest?

A. If the chairs are made from PVC then you can use any Resene exterior waterborne paint, however experience has shown that most exterior plastic seating is not made from PVC. You can check adhesion by applying any Resene testpot paint colour, apply two coats and leave for 3-5 days then see if the paint can be removed by scratching.

March 2019

Q. I want to paint new outdoor chairs. They are made of dried pine and are very good quality. What kind of paint I need to buy?

A. Apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

March 2019

Q. With brand new preprimed James Hardie weatherboard, do I need to apply Resene Quick Dry before applying Resene Hi-Glo? The Resene Hi-Glo product label says, fibre cement in sound condition does not usually need priming first but this might be referring to when previously painted. 

A. For best results, we recommend application of a full coat of Resene Concrete Primer for this substrate prior to application of a Resene waterborne topcoat system.

March 2019

Q. What is the cleaning advice for Resene Qristal ClearFloor 2K? My wife currently uses water with a dash of meths on older polyurethane floors, but is this suitable for Resene Qristal ClearFloor 2K? What would you advise?

A. Resene does not have dedicated cleaner for coating. The technical recommendation is to use a microfibre cleaning mop and a dedicated wood cleaner. The key is to use a cleaner that does not leave a residue.

March 2019

Q. We have a new kwila deck, it has not had anything applied to it but I would like to take away the pinky/reddish tones and change more to a gold/brownish. Can the kwila be stained to achieve different colour tones?

A. Wash the deck down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions then apply a Resene Waterborne Woodsman wood oil stain colour.  It is tricky to select a colour for a kwila deck as the timber colour is such that it will influence the stain colour as the stain is semi-transparent.

March 2019

Q. I want to paint a metal lampshade which I think is tin. What prep and paint type is recommended please?

A. Apply a primer coat of Resene Vinyl Etch then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

March 2019

Q. I have some Resene Moss & Mould product. I've had it in my shed for the past few weeks which gets very hot. The container has swollen a little, is the product still ok to use?

A. The active agent in the product is sodium hypochlorite; the container swelling is a sign of the active undergoing heat induced breakdown, which will lead to a reduction in efficacy.

You will need to carefully release the pressure in the container, suggest that when it cools a little that you wrap the container in a towel or blanket (make sure either are disposal as they will more than likely be affected by the residual bleach component. Make sure that you wear eye protection and protective clothing and gloves and using a hammer and nail punch a hole in the screw cap to relieve the pressure.

There will remain residual bleach activity but we cannot say how much.

March 2019

Q. I had a customer come in today asking if there is a possibility to stain her grooved Villa board. The look she is trying to achieve is a wood grain look and while she was looking at the samples of the stains she liked seeing the brushstrokes and the grain.

A. We recommend the Resene Forester system.

March 2019

Q. I am removing wallpaper from 1985 plasterboard.  What is the best option?

A. A wallpaper steamer is most often the quickest way to strip wall paper (most hire companies should have the steamers for hire). Scoring the paper first does facilitate steam ingress behind the paper and this makes removal easier. There is one possible problem, if the wallpaper has been applied using a PVA wall paper adhesive then removal is almost impossible to achieve without damaging the plasterboard surface. Unfortunately there is no way to establish what wallpaper adhesive was originally used. 

March 2019

Q. Can you please advise what paint is suitable for the Palliside weatherboard system?

A. Palliside can easily be painted. You will need to give it a good clean down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash first, then simply apply two coats of acrylic using Resene Lumbersider or Resene Sonyx 101.

Palliside advise to paint only in lighter colours so you should refer to their Tech Guide for the guidelines on colour choice before proceeding.

March 2019

Q. Is there a maximum time I can wait to apply a topcoat after priming? For example, can I prime today and wait two months to topcoat or does it need to be done sooner?

A. Primers aren't developed and formulated for any long term exterior exposure. During summer, the UV is at its highest impact level so you really wouldn't want to wait any longer than 3-4 weeks. It is always best to overcoat as soon as you can.

March 2019

Q. I sanded my native wooden dining floor and coated it with Resene Qristal Clear (solvent) but there is an area where it refuses to dry after several days. I have tried stripping and sanding back again, and cleaning before recoating but get the same problem. I'm going to strip it again. Is there some kind of primer I should use to prevent this happening again?

A. Solventborne clears and paints based on an enamel resin do not dry when applied to native timbers such as totara and matai. This is what I believe is the cause of your non dry outcomes.

 You will need to use Resene Aquaclear if you want a clear coat for these timbers.

March 2019

Q. I have a late 1960s house. It has a concrete block basement flat and I wish to strip it back to bare blocks and insulate and clad it to meet incoming regulations. What paint system should I use on the interior of the blocks to limit dampness coming through the blocks, prior to insulation and recladding? All walls are above outside ground level. The outside blocks have plaster finish, painted with your acrylic paint.

A. The way to prevent the passage of water through the blockwork is to install a weathertight system such as Resene X-200  to the exterior of the blockwork. The existing exterior paint system is not achieving the required degree of weather tightness which may be due to the system applied or issues with pointing/flashing details. While we do have Resene HydraBlock, which is applied to achieve a water barrier to the internal face when the exterior face is back filled, it is very much an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff solution and our advice is always to render the exterior face, weather tight.

 You may need to excavate at the base of the exterior wall and apply a bituminous membrane system to achieve below ground level water tightness.

March 2019

Q. Can I overcoat Resene LimeLock with Resene X-200?

A. As long as the Resene LimeLock is clean and sound then no problem overcoating with Resene X-200.

March 2019

Q. We have a large dance hall with an old wooden floor that needs redoing.

There aren't many options here for people who do flooring, so we are considering doing it ourselves. Is there any chance that you could recommend a correct varnish for the dance floor for us? We need a more slippery/quick floor surface as a result.

A. Suggest that Resene Polythane may be the clear system for this application. The floor will need to be sanded to remove the existing coating before applying the Resene Polythane.

 The size of the floor may be a challenge for DIY applicators to achieve the best outcome; you may be best to contact your local Resene ColorShop to discuss possible applicators in the area.

March 2019

Page 29

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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