Tips and Tricks to Painting

Excellent Tips for Painting

by Dulux

Painting with glasses

If you wear glasses, simply cover the lenses with plastic cling wrap, and then when you peel it off, all the paint spots go with it.

Knobs and things

Always remove as much hardware as you can before you paint. Carefully scrape old paint out of screw slots before you try to unscrew them.

Paint spills

First, contain the spill from spreading. Scrape up as much paint as possible, working from the outside of the spill inwards to help prevent further spreading. Kitty litter can also be used to soak up paint.

Wet paint on carpet & materials

Most acrylic paints can be washed out of carpet & material so long as it is attended to immediately & the paint stains are kept wet. Rinse the affected areas immediately with water, sponge out & rinse with clean water. Detergent cleaners can also assist.
(Ensure that no diluted paint run off flows into sewer, stormwater or any natural waterways.)
Most oil-based paint can be thinned with mineral turps & then washed out with warm water & detergent, then rinsed with clean water.
Caution must be taken with the use of thinners & cleaning products. Do a small discrete test area on the affected material with the cleaner/thinner to ensure that it will not damage the material to be cleaned.

For paint spills that have dried

In some situations dry paint can be scraped off with a razorblade scraper (eg glass & glazed tiles). In most cases acrylic paint can be softened with methylated spirits which can aid in removal of the paint. Oil based paints dry harder; mineral turps may soften them if they have not fully cured. If methylated spirits or mineral turps do not affect dry paint spills, a paint stripper may need to be used.
For advice on paint strippers & paint removal products contact Selleys Customer Service on 1300 555 205.
Caution must be taken with the use of thinners & cleaning products. Do a small discrete test area on the affected material with the cleaner/thinner to ensure that it will not damage the material to be cleaned.

Unmasking

Always remove masking tape before the paint is completely hard so it won't chip and crack. Removing tape while the paint is still relatively wet will prevent most problems.

Stop mould

Lack of ventilation and moisture encourages mould growth. Exhaust fans and Dulux Wash & Wear Kitchen and Bathrooms can help prevent re-growth.

Clean start

Thorough washing with Selleys Original Sugar Soap will remove grease and dirt and ensure the best possible performance from the finish coats.

Mirror finish

For a superior mirror-like finish under gloss paints use Polyfilla Mirror Finish. It is smooth and easy to apply. It has excellent adhesion to timber, plaster, concrete, mortar and primed metal. Mirror Finish comes in two convenient sizes, 425gm and 950gm.

Paint pads

Painting hallways can involve many architraves and skirtings. It's a good time to think about trying out a paint pad. These little foam pads with wheels can really speed up the job, taking the fuss out of edges.

First stop

Paint exterior doors and windows early in the day and prop them open to dry, and they will be ready to close by nightfall.

Little things

An artists brush, instead of a house painting brush will help you pick out small details in extra colours quickly and neatly.

Time travel

Gently scraping the paintwork can reveal your home's colourful history and give you some original colour ideas.

Cool tip

If you are using water based paints, on a hot day, spraying walls with water before you paint will cool them down and make the job faster and easier - you can even paint them when they are damp.

Painting over glossy enamels with acrylics

Make sure that the old painted surface is clean and sound. Gloss enamels should be sanded to a flat finish, before you repaint with an acrylic. If you are using a flat or low sheen acrylic finish, an undercoat may not be necessary. If a gloss or semi gloss were to be used, an acrylic undercoat would be necessary to fill any imperfections left by the sanding. Lightly sand the undercoat to give a smooth flat finish.

Checking if your old paint is sound

The best way to find out if your old paint is sound, and ready to be repainted, is to test the paint in several areas by cutting a small cross with a sharp knife and press 10cm or so of adhesive tape firmly across the middle of the cut. Rip it away quickly after a few minutes and if any pieces of paint come with it you'll need to strip away the loose paint. If the paintwork has failed the adhesion test or is heavily layered, it should be stripped back to a firm clean base before repainting.

Using Dulux topcoats and preparation products

You should always use Dulux topcoats in conjunction with Dulux preparation products. Manufacturers make their paints to work together. We have no control over the products of other manufacturers, so mixing brands will void any warranties.

Yellowing

All oil based paints share the problem of yellowing. White oil based paints in particular are more noticeable.
Yellowing is caused during the ageing process and it is particularly prevalent where enamels dry in the dark, in high humidity or if there is poor air circulation. A good example of yellowing is where a sliding door is left in the cavity - it will yellow if it is not exposed to sunlight. Yellowing may be evident sooner if enamels are allowed to dry in the same area where most water based paints are drying. Ideally you should allow 2-3 days for water-based paints to dry before painting enamels in the same area. The only way to be sure that your white painted surfaces won't yellow is to use an acrylic (water-based) paint.

Painting kitchen cupboards

Laminex® and Formica® are brand names of products commonly used in kitchen benches and cupboards. Dulux PrepLock Shellac Base is a rapid drying preparation paint which is perfect for painting ceramic tiles and melamine without the need to sand first. Dulux recommend PrepLock and a top coat of either Dulux Aquanamel or Dulux Super Enamel for cupboard surfaces. We do not recommend painting of work surfaces such as bench tops.

Painting gutters and fascias

The best product for these areas would be Dulux Weathershield Gloss.

Painting decks

Dulux recommends Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen for decks. If you require a timber oil or stain we recommend Cabot's decking oil or stain. Visit the Cabot's website at www.cabots.com.au.

When droplets appear on acrylic paint

Don't panic! Sometimes, when acrylic paints are drying, small light coloured droplets will appear on the surface. This usually happens if newly painted surfaces are exposed to moisture, either by dew, high humidity, or rain on the outside, or steam etc. on the inside. These droplets cause no downgrading of the paint film's durability. They only affect the appearance. Wash the surface with sugar soap, and then rinse with plenty of water. Sometimes droplets may continue to appear for a time and will need wiping down until they stop. These droplets are a surfactant, which is drawn to the surface by moisture.

Longevity of paint in storage

How long paint lasts in the can depends on how well it was stored. Paint lasts the longest time when the can is full, well sealed and has been stored in a cool dry place (not a damp garden shed!) Some paint types will last longer than others.
To check an old can of paint, open it, stir it well and apply it to a test area. Does it smell like paint? Is the consistency of the paint neither too thick nor too thin (like single cream)? Does the test area dry in the time indicated on the can? If the answer is yes to these questions, then your paint is probably fine.