Preparation is the secret to achieving a good paint job.
IN MOST parts of Australia, the weather is moderate at Easter – an ideal time for painting the exterior of your home before the rain and chill of winter arrives.
But while it’s a great temptation to just pick up a brush and start painting, paint advisory service Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute is warning … don’t be a bunny with Easter painting.
Painting without spending the time to properly prepare the surface can be a big mistake according to institute manager, Mike Beresford.
“Taking shortcuts can cause even the highest quality paints to fail prematurely,” he said.
“Inadequate surface preparation is the single greatest cause of paint failures. No matter what surface you are painting, good surface preparation requires that the surface is as clean as possible and in a good state of repair.”
If you don’t want to take the gloss off your Easter paint job, here are a few tips from the experts.
• Remove all loose, flaking or peeling paint using a scraper and then sand the surface.
• Sand any glossy surfaces to a dull finish so the paint can adhere properly. Bare wood that has been exposed to the elements for a few days also needs sanding.
• Fill any cracks, gaps or holes with a paintable acrylic sealant.
• Clean all surfaces with warm soapy water using a long handled brush, then rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residues.
• Preparation can be faster and you’ll help the environment by using less water, if you use high-pressure power washing equipment, but be careful on loose mortar and around windows.
• To remove mildew, scrub the surface with a solution consisting of one part household bleach to three parts water, allow to stand for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
• After all surfaces have been cleaned, sanded and repaired, give a final dust off prior to painting.
When painting outside, it’s also a good idea to look after your garden.
A drop sheet over trees, flowers and shrubs protects them from dust and any paint spatter.
Easter Painting Weather Watch
• Ideal painting conditions are temperatures of 15 to 30 degrees, low or moderate humidity and little or no wind.
• Avoid painting in hot, direct sunlight because surface temperature can be much higher than air temperature.
• Never paint below 10°C because it is too cold for the paint film to form properly.
• Water-based acrylic paints can be applied 30 minutes after rain but the surface must be completely dry for oil-based paints.
• Avoid painting in very windy weather because the paint film won’t form properly if it dries too quickly.
