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. I'm looking for a suitable sealer with tinting options for Magnesium Oxide board lining. This is for external use. A. Resene Stone Strengthener is the only sealer (clear, cannot be tinted) we have found that will bond to this board type. You can then overcoat with standard Resene exterior paint systems. February 2016
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Q. We are building a new house. I have been looking at using one of your metallics (Resene Scotty Silver) for one wall in the guest bathroom. The brochure suggests using Resene Shinto as the basecoat. If I wanted a slightly lighter shade of Resene Scotty Silver what basecoat would I use? A. The basecoat is for colour consistency rather than a colour determinant. Each metallic colour has its own basecoat colour, we have not researched the impact of changing the basecoat colour on the final metallic effect colour. My gut feeling is subtle but not significant. Note in a bathroom you will need to clear coat the metallic paint. February 2016
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Q. Which roof paint (black) is your most popular and ties with Resene Pitch Black Woodsman stain? I'm getting my roof touched up and no-one knows what the existing paint colour is. A. Resene Black is available in Resene Summit Roof Semi-Gloss. We would recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour if painting a roof. February 2016
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Q. I have a stucco house built in the '40s. I have begun waterblasting to remove old paint and intend to fix/seal cracks etc. The paint comes off easily to expose the bare stucco surface. However in places where cracks have been previously fixed there are bituminous black patches which do not come away easily. I intend to use Resene Sureseal primer on the bare stucco and roofing primer over the bituminous patches. Is this recommended practice? Should Resene Sureseal go on first up to the bituminous patches (but not over) and then roofing primer over the bituminous patch and overlapping the Resene Sureseal? I intend to use Resene X-200 as the topcoat. The previous paint was lifting where it had been applied over the bituminous patches so I do not want that to happen again. A. Spot prime any bituminous areas with Resene Membrane Roofing Primer. The product does have a characteristic odour. February 2016
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Q. Is there an option other than pigment sealer when painting over thin but sound wallpaper? A. If the paper is a vinyl paper then use Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer. A note of caution - Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer is very fast drying and application in the heat of summer is harder. February 2016
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Q. How do I stop my ceiling paint drying so fast? I hear Resene might have a product that slows down the drying of paint? A. Add Resene Hot Weather Additive to the paint. Also remember that hot air rises so the ceiling is often at a higher temperature. February 2016
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Q. We want to seal our concrete chimney against any chance of water seeping through. We know to waterblast it first but which product would you suggest? A. We recommend Resene Sureseal and three coats of Resene X-200. Assumed there is no cracking. February 2016
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Q. I have a cast iron bowl that I am using as a water feature in the garden. It is currently in use and is constantly rusting. I want to paint it black and want to know what paint system I need to use? Also I have two galvanised poles I want to paint the same colour. A. The galvanised poles no problem, degrease then apply two coats of Resene Armourcote 221 primer and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 403. The cast iron bowl is not so easy. Drain clean and allow to thoroughly dry out then apply a seal coat of Resene ArmourBond. Apply two coats of Resene Armourcote 221 and the two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 as for the pole. February 2016
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Q. I have applied Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer. Can I follow this system with an Altex system? A. Resene Vinyl Wall Paper Sealer can only be over coated with waterborne paint systems. February 2016
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Q. Is there a paint or stain product that can be used on concrete pavers? We have some concrete blocks usually used for cladding a house to use as paving. And they are 'tumbled' to make them look like stone. They seem porous enough to accept a paint or stain. I'd like to make them a dark grey or charcoal colour if possible. A. Would avoid applying a solid paint finish as the paint on the top of the block profile would be quickly worn away. Staining with Resene Concrete Stain would be the only possible option. There may well be a colour difference when a stain colour is applied to different block colours. This is due to the fact that the stain is semi-transparent and the final colour is modified by the base colour. February 2016
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Q. I lined our studio woodburner corner with cementitious Hardigroove® for extra fire protection. Stainless screws were used. Some could not be driven in fully 100% below the Hardigroove® and sealed. I have put filler over each one then sanded but some bits of stainless screwhead still show. I want to coat the Hardigroove® with Resene Half Akaroa to match the rest of the walls. How should I treat the stainless heads so the paint sticks ok? A. Given the potential for heat related stress I would spot prime each screw head with Resene Vinyl Etch or Resene Galvo One. February 2016
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Q. We would like to paint our dark stained/unvarnished bedroom furniture. What product would you recommend to put on before we paint as we would love not to sand the whole set down? A. We recommend Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer. Best left to cure for at least 48 hours before overcoating. For a topcoat we would normally recommend Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel; when brushing make sure you have added the Resene Hot Weather Additive to reduce brush marking. February 2016
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Q. It's super hot here at the moment (up to 32°C). What is the ideal painting temperature for external timber weatherboards? A. Under these conditions addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive to waterborne paint is a must. Ensure that you are not painting in direct sun and schedule painting to avoid the hottest time of the day. The drying of a waterborne paint is determined by both temperature and humidity. Applied paint will not dry if the conditions are hot and humid as the loss of water from the wet paint is reduced under these conditions. Care needs to be taken not to paint too late in the day as we are now experiencing dew fall and if the paint film has not developed water resistance it may blister or be marked by condensation. As temperature increases the wet paint film sets up quickly and this can affect open time and this can result in more brush marking than would be seen at a lower temperature. Addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive can increase open time but I would suggest that even with addition of the Resene Hot Weather Additive and taking the above into consideration that an upper temperature limit would be 30°C. For roof painting if you can't stand on the roof in bare feet then it is too hot to paint. February 2016
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Q. I've just bought a standard 1980 x 710 x 35mm flush pre-primed door for my bathroom. I am looking for a light grey colour paint. What type of paint will be suitable? A. Sand and dust off then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. For best results apply all products by rolling. February 2016
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Q. I was wondering if your Resene Hot Weather Additive is suitable to add to your Resene Woodsman Decking Stain. A. Yes, it can be used. The product is naturally relatively thin so the addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive will reduce the viscosity so the application thickness will potentially be reduced. February 2016
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Q. I have old wooden chairs I want to paint white. I don't want to sand all the chairs. I had thought about spray paints but it seems expensive. What would you suggest? A. Are the chairs varnished? Brush coating will be slower than spray painting and you may need to apply 3+ coats. February 2016
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Q. I have some ceilings to do and an automatic fly spray dispenser has sprayed across the ceiling. I'll be painting them in a flat waterbased ceiling paint. What should I spot prime the marks with? A. You will need to clean back the marked areas using Resene Emulsifiable Solvent Cleaner following label instructions then apply a solventborne sealer, Resene Sureseal, and follow with a waterborne sealer, Resene StainLock, then apply two coats of topcoat paint. February 2016
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Q. I have a galvanised iron garden shed that has started rusting internally. I have some Resene Rust-Arrest but I note the label says "Limitations: Do not apply directly to zinc rich surfaces, such as bare galvanised steel". What product can I use? Alternatively can I just paint the rusted area (but not the bare 'unrusted' iron) with Rust-Arrest? A. We recommend Resene GP Metal Primer. If you can apply the Resene Rust Arrest to the red rusted area only then you can use the product. Remove as much loose rust as possible before priming. Note rust can never be stopped; all we can do is reduce the rate of corrosion. February 2016
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Q. Can corflute be primed for painting? A. Use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. February 2016
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Q. I have just completed painting my roof with Resene Summit Roof paint satin exterior, colour Resene Helium. I intend to recoat it and have about 8 litres left. Being almost white it is not always easy to see the next coat as it is applied so I would like to tint it. I have about half a litre of Resene Hi-Glo gloss acrylic/miox exterior and being a nice deep blue (colour Resene Undercurrent) I was hoping to mix this in as my tint. I am therefore just checking to see this will be OK and not compromise the Resene Summit Roof paint. A. Sorry but Resene Hi-Glo cannot be mixed with Resene Summit Satin Roof paint, although both are waterborne they are based on very different resin systems and exterior durability especially on a roof may be severely compromised. February 2016
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Q. I am refurbishing 80 year old steel frame windows but am not able to remove the glazing. The bedding putty is a linseed oil one, and it is cracking and powdery. I plan to scrape all the loose material out, and refill with new putty. Should I use a galvanising primer on the steel window bar first, or paint one on over the new putty seal. What primer/undercoat combination would you recommend? There is not a severe rust problem. A. Priming of bare substrate is always recommended when re glazing. Follow the painting recommendation of the putty supplier. February 2016
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Q. If the materials that make paint are combined, excluding any pigment, what would the paint be? A. Paints without pigmentation are varnishes or clears. February 2016
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Q. I have a polished concrete floor which is quite slippery. What can be used to make it non-slippery? The concrete part is near to water so can get quite slippery. A. We don't have a clear finish that would help improve the slip resistance. We do have a pigmented (coloured finish) Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path that provides a non-skid finish but that would depend whether you were happy to change to a painted finish. Generally clear finishes aren't very slip resistant, especially when wet. Usually the more textured and the flatter the finish the better the slip resistance. Polished concrete tends to be very smooth and higher sheen, which reduces slip resistance. February 2016
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Q. I'm a builder supervising a house repaint for a client of mine. My question relates to painting timber joinery. The painters insist it's fine to mask close to the putty line but I've always preferred to cut in onto the glass. My understanding is that when removing the masking that you're damaging the bond of paint on the glass and encouraging water into that joint. What do you think? A. Yes it is standard practice to extend the paint system above the putty line to achieve a degree of sealing. If the right type of masking tape is used then there should be no delamination of the paint. Often the masking tape remains attached for too long and the paint cures and in this situation paint can be removed. February 2016
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Q. On cleaned steel, can I apply Resene Vinyl Etch primer then go ahead and apply Resene Uracryl 403 or does it need an undercoat? A. Resene Uracryl 403 can be applied to Resene Vinyl Etch. However if the steel is located in an exterior environment and weathering, then Resene Vinyl Etch is not a suitable primer for this situation. February 2016
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Q. What do you recommend for painting weathered old Onduline? A. Scrub down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash following label instructions. When dry apply a coat of Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Summit Roof Semi-Gloss. Use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour if available. February 2016
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Q. Is Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer adhesion primer the best to use for repainting lacquered kitchen cupboards, or is there another option? A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is the only adhesion primer we sell when looking to repaint laminate or polyurethaned substrates. February 2016
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Q. Should I use a brush or roller to apply Resene Lustacryl to a new French door and new double hung sliding sash windows? A. Rolling will give a more even finish but when painting French doors a small brush is the easiest. Ensure that Resene Hot Weather Additive is used to avoid gross brush marking. February 2016
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Q. Can you please tell me about your low VOC paints or no VOC paints? I need to paint over wallpaper (vinyl with an embossed stripe) and would like to use the least toxic paint possible as I have a 10 month old baby. Is there a low VOC sealant that can be painted directly onto wallpaper to make the paint go on better? A. Our recommendation would be to apply Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer first. This is not low VOC but the VOC exits the coating very quickly. With good ventilation the VOC should be gone within 24 hours. February 2016
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Q. We have old concrete steps. What should we paint them in? A. Our recommendation would be to use Resene Walk-on for a fine texture or Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path for maximum wet slip resistance. February 2016
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Q. I am painting some window sashes with acrylic paint and would like to know how to get a flat/smooth paint finish i.e. eliminate brush strokes or roller stipple. Would an additive to improve the paint flow help and do you sell a product like this? A. The total elimination of brush marks and roller stipple after application of waterborne paints is difficult in summer due to the quick dry characteristics of waterborne paints. Addition of Resene Hot Weather Additive at the maximum addition rate will increase open time and give more time for flow and levelling to occur but will not eliminate brush or roller stipple marking. February 2016
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Q. I need a paint spec and prep for painting old Hardies rusticated cement fibre weatherboards previously painted many years ago, with some mould spots. Should I waterblast-wash/seal-prime and two topcoats? Also there are remnant marks of ivy. Do you have any bright ideas on removal without damaging the surface? Most of the ivy has been removed manually but leaf marks remain embedded in the old paint. A. Scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label instructions. You can waterblast it off but take care to set the wand well back and do not use a rotating head on the waterblaster. What you are looking to achieve is high pressure water washing not blasting. Feather back any areas of flaking paint to a sound edge then spot prime the bare substrate with Resene Sureseal. Removal of residual ivy attachments is very difficult. The only way that I have found is careful use of a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc and softly touch the areas but avoid gouging. Apply two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 (semi-gloss) or Resene Lumbersider (low sheen). Resene Sonyx 101 is easier to clean and will give the longest time to maintenance painting. February 2016
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Q. I have heard of people getting a whitened floor look by mixing white with polyurethane. How do they do this? A. We have heard of decorators doing this using a small amount of white paint (e.g. a testpot) mixed into a product like Resene Qristal Clear Polyurethane. Normally people just use a testpot into the Resene Polythane or similar. The mix ratio depends on how white you want it so the best idea is to experiment on an offcut of timber, starting with the least amount of white and adding more as needed to get your desired effect. February 2016
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Q. My question relates to light reflectance values. We would like to paint the textured ShadowClad and batten cladding on a new house with paint colour Resene Grey Friars (or something like Resene Double Grey Friars if it exists). However CHH recommend a min LRV of 40% (even though it is not being used for bracing). It appears to me that the LRV of the Resene Grey Friars CoolColour is 8 or 9 - is that correct? It seemed really low, or does being a CoolColour not make much difference to the LRV or am I missing some other relevant point here? A. There is no difference in the LRV of a Resene CoolColour™ versus a non-CoolColour. What does change is the TSR (Total Solar Reflectance). TSR is always higher for the CoolColour. Note CoolColours reflect more heat than the same colour made using non cool pigments but are not cool to touch. There is no direct relationship between LRV and TSR but we have developed a method to equate LRV with TSR. To meet an LRV cut-off of 40% the TSR must be greater than 36%. Unfortunately the TSR of the CoolColour version of Grey Friars is only 29%. February 2016
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Q. After stripping the walls in my kitchen and doing the preparation, I have hung lining paper in readiness for painting. Am I ok to roll on two coats of waterbased paint? A. Suggest you apply a coat of Resene Sureseal before applying the waterborne topcoats. February 2016
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Q. I need a primer for painting polyurethane foam. Then what type of topcoat? A. Prime with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, then topcoat with two coats of any Resene waterborne topcoat that suits the environment. February 2016
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Q. I am about to get some weatherboards painted and have discovered about half a 10L pail of the same paint from last time which was about 8 years ago. Is it still OK to use? A. Mix well to get a homogenous mix and re incorporate any settled pigments. Then apply the smell test (assume we are dealing with a waterborne paint). If the paint smells like socks that have been worn for 6 months and not washed then the paint has bacterial contamination and cannot be used. February 2016
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Q. We want to know if we can get paint to adhere to stainless steel horizontal flashings we are using in conjunction with Ultra-Shadow clad texture. How should we achieve this and is it a simple process if possible? A. Stainless steel is not really designed to be painted. However we have used Resene Galvo-Prime (then two coats of exterior waterborne paint) to paint stainless steel soakers. February 2016
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Q. I am repainting a 30 year old corrugated iron roof last painted 11 years ago (beach property). Am proposing two coats of Resene Summit Roof. The iron is in good condition. Do I need to prime or will two coats of Resene Summit Roof suffice? A. If there are no signs of corrosion or flaking paint on the painted roof then wash down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash following label instructions and apply two coats of Resene Summit Roof. February 2016
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Q. I would very much like to paint the exterior of my house black or very dark grey. Everyone I have talked to has said that this is not a good idea due to fading and having a shorter lifespan than a lighter colour. Our house is weatherboard on the top half and concrete panel cladding (I am not sure of the name) on the bottom half. We live on a hill and we can get quite a lot of sun and weather. A. Dark colours heat up the surface more than light colours. Best analogy is the temperature of a black and a white car in full sun. The hotter surface temperature does place more stress on the cladding compared to a pale colour on the same substrate under the same conditions. This is the basis to concerns re use of dark colours. In general the time to chalking of a dark colour is shorter than a light colour exposed in the same conditions. The north and west elevations are exposed to more intense weathering than the other two elevations and this is reflected in a difference in time to chalking for the more exposed elevations. There is also a substrate factor. Timber is prone to dimensional changes due to loss or gain of moisture and with dark colours this results in cupping and warping. Substrates such as concrete and fibre cement do not undergo the same dimensional changes with humidity and can therefore be considered to be less affected by colour. Resene CoolColour™ technology does not give a surface that is cool to touch but a CoolColour version of a colour made with CoolColour technology will reflect more heat than the same non CoolColour version of the colour. To maximise the CoolColour benefit we recommend application of the two topcoats of CoolColour be applied over a white basecoat. Application of a CoolColour system to a timber cladding will reduce but not eliminate the tendency for cupping and warping associated with heat. February 2016
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Q. I'm about to oil stain a lot of decking at our house. Some of the decking has had a fair bit of exposure to the sun over the years, and some in covered areas is excellent. I want to know if putting a litre of timber preservative into my Resene oil stain will give it more timber preservative properties. A. Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain already contains a mix of anti-fungal and mould additives. We do not recommend adding additional timber preservatives to the product. Apart from not being required we have not checked the performance of the product with additional additives. February 2016
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Q. I am painting the roof of my house which is quite old. The roof is in good condition with most of the paint being removed down to the galvanised surface with waterblasting. Is your Resene Summit Roof product suitable or should I use a primer? A. Prime all bare galvanising with Resene Galvo-Prime before applying Resene Summit Roof Semi-Gloss. February 2016
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Q. We are building a new house. The cladding is cedar shiplap. We want the exterior of the house to be all black. Should we stain or paint? What are the advantages of using the CoolColours (that don't heat up)? A. Stains are higher maintenance, that is they will need more frequent recoating to maintain durability. Resene CoolColours are not cool to touch but reflect more heat than the same colour made with non-CoolColour technology. There will always be the potential for warping and cupping when painting timber cladding with dark colours. Our Resene CoolColour technology will reduce but not eliminate this outcome. In your case the best paint system would be: apply Resene Wood Primer as the primer then a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat white and then two coats of a Resene exterior acrylic tinted using CoolColour technology. February 2016
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Q. What's the most efficient method to remove acrylic overspray (mist) from an old cement path/brick pathing and asphalt. I'm thinking soften paint with a thinner then scrub with a soapy solution? A. We recommend using Resene Graffiti Cleaner. February 2016
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Q. Is the Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path paint available in other colours? A. Yes we can tint a range of colours that are not on the colour chart in the product. Suggest you call or visit your nearest Resene ColorShop to check if the colours you are seeking can be tinted in the product. February 2016
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Q. We have a Zincalume roof and the beams are exposed so we have no insulation. What do you suggest we can do to reduce the heat build up in the house? Should we paint it white? The roof is unseen from the road. A. White is the best 'colour' to achieve heat reflection. While we have Resene CoolColour™ versions of a large range of colours including COLORSTEEL® colours these all have a total solar reflectance (TSR) value significantly below the TSR of white. February 2016
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Q. Do you have any paint that could be used to coat kitchen floor tiles? The tiles are probably unglazed. I have tiles in my kitchen/hall area which I wish to change colour as re-tiling is expensive. A. Apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal then two coats of either a Resene solvent or waterborne enamel. Note that a painted tile will not have the wear properties of the uncoated tile. Durability is related to wear which is determined by type and frequency of foot traffic. Solventborne enamel topcoats are better for wear than a waterborne enamel. February 2016
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Q. Just doing up our bathroom. I know that plastic can be painted, but how do you prepare the article for painting? What primer or base coat is needed? What type of paint and is there a finish to harden it - like the final coat that is put on car bumpers? The unit I would like to paint is made of Perspex. A. Resene waterborne paints can be applied to Perspex and will achieve very good adhesion after a 7 day cure time. For bathrooms we would say no to any Perspex that is enclosed within the shower as a lining or shower fitting. The Perspex needs to be clean and free of all residues of soap and similar products, apply an adhesion coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of any Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint. Maintain good ventilation for the first 48 hours after application of the last coat of paint and avoid contact with steam or water for the first 48 hours. February 2016
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Q. I have recently purchased a house that has had the wallpaper stripped in the hallway and then painted in acrylic paint. However I can see visible 'roughness' and marks, and waves from where the wallpaper was removed. What is the best approach for me to achieve a smoother approach, and then repaint? A. Apply at least two coats of Resene Broadwall Prep and Seal. Hopefully this will give sufficient film build to disguise all but the deepest fissures on the surface. February 2016
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Q. What is the best paint to use on a floor – gloss or flat? I have a flat floor that seems to show a lot of marks that I want to clear coat for a glossier finish. A. A high gloss paint will be easier to clean. However a pure 100% waterborne gloss will be softer and more prone to removal by abrasion than a paint designed for flooring. Lower gloss paints are more easily scratched by wear, the degree is determined by frequency and type of foot wear. You could apply a clear coat of Resene Aquaclear in your chosen gloss level. If the existing colour is pale then there will be a degree of colour change after clear coating. February 2016
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Q. Our front door has been painted in, I think, a two pack finish. The problem is it has become very dull and lost its shine on the outside. Do you know if I can fix this? If I wet the painted surface with water the original colour returns. A. If the original colour returns when the painted surface is wet, it suggests that the paint has chalked due to exposure to weathering rather than colour fade. Scrub the surface down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions, allow to dry then apply a full coat of a Resene Uracryl 400 Series UVS Gloss or Semi-Gloss Clear. February 2016
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Q. I'm thinking about giving our bathroom a budget makeover. We have peach coloured Seratone® on the walls. Can I paint them and if yes what's my best paint to use? A. Use Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner to ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve. The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. February 2016
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Q. My wooden fence is stained. If I waterblast the fence do I then need to prime or do any prep before painting? A. Depending upon condition, waterblasting timber using high pressure and a rotating head can damage the timber surface so care is required when preparing timer fences for painting. Any sign of moss or mould and is the timber rough sawn? If it is old and weathered and there is mould, treat for moss/mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and apply a primer coat of Resene Wood Primer then two coats of Resene Lumbersider. If a dark colour is selected then we recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour. February 2016
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Q. There seems to be some leakage on the ceiling of my living room which is directly below my second floor bathroom. I tried to use the paint for ceiling left by my builder. It covers the stains for a bit, however when it's dried the stain comes back. Just wondering if there is special paint or other product to use to cover the stain? A. Firstly you'll need to sort any leak from bathroom above if this is causing the stain. No paint will eliminate staining if the source is still there. Once sorted, to seal old water stains you should use Resene Sureseal (oil based pigmented sealer) prior to topcoating with your ceiling paint. February 2016
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Q. We have just removed a fruit salad plant from the side of our house, the ones with the gigantic leaves. Unfortunately it had clung to some of the blocks leaving some thin bits of tendrils/aerial roots on the bock, similar to ivy. The paint on the blocks is your Resene Lumbersider (Resene Turtle Green) and I'm going to do a touch up but am not sure how to go about it. They don't seem to want to scape or pick off. It's not in an important place, but obviously I don't want it to look grotty! A. We have a similar issue with ivy tendrils. Only way that I have found is to treat the areas with residual vegetative material with Resene Moss & Mould Killer following label directions, then using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, carefully attack the remaining tendrils. February 2016
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Q. I have some steel table frames that I would like to use outdoors (turning them into bar leaners). They are currently powder coated, but I don't like the colour. Can I paint over the powder coat? Do I need to prime and which primer should I use? Also which topcoat (Black) should I use? This is for outdoor use. A. Degrease using Resene Roof and Metal Wash then apply an adhesion coat of Resene Armourcote 221 and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 (gloss) or Resene Uracryl 402 (semi-gloss). February 2016
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Q. Can Vitex be painted? If so, what is the best treatment? A. For best results envelope prime with a coat of Resene Wood Primer then finish with a Resene topcoat to meet the use area. February 2016
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Q. I make outdoor garden wind models and toys and I would like some advice to which paints are suitable for use outside in all conditions. I use old wooden pallets as the main material. A. Best paint system would be a prime coat of Resene Wood Primer and then finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider. February 2016
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Q. Do you have a clear sealer for clay cobblestone pavers? A. Resene Concrete Conserver. This will give a wet look to the pavers. February 2016
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Q. Do you have polycarbonate paint for a conservatory glass ceiling? A. Resene acrylic paints can be used to paint polycarbonate (excellent adhesion, fully opaque finish in all Resene colours) but have not come across a paint based on a polycarbonate resin system. February 2016
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Q. How do I paint Formica®? A. Using Resene Interior Paint 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. 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. |
Q. I've bought several old wooden lead light windows and want to paint the wooden framing. These need to be repainted. Can you tell me what is required? The existing paint is probably lead based so I assume it needs special handling. A. Given this is only a relatively small job I suggest you strip the paint off using a heat gun and a tungsten blade scraper making sure all paint flakes are captured for disposal. Use a heat gun with temperature control and set this at a maximum of 400°C. Be careful when removing the paint from areas close to the glass as the heat transfer may result in glass fracture. Lead melts at a temperature of 375°C so again care is required to avoid melting the lead fixings. Alternatively remove the paint using a paint stripper such as Sea 2 Sky. This may require multiple applications of the paint stripper to remove all of the paint back to bare timber. Collect all of the stripped paint residues for disposal. When the timber is clean of the old paint wet sand with 220 grit wet and dry paper, wipe clean and allow to dry. Prime with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat (if the timber is Cedar or Redwood use Resene Wood Primer) then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl or Resene Enamacryl. March 2016
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Q. I want help on staining our new pine deck to get a natural stained look. A. We do not offer a water white clear for exterior timber. You could choose from the Resene Exterior Woodcare colour chart and choose a colour close to the timber colour for a natural look. There are sample chips on the Resene Woodcare stand that you can view at any Resene ColorShop. March 2016
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Q. I am painting new plasterboard. I have sealed with Resene Sureseal, then applied Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Why do I get little air bubbles as I roll? Most disappear as the paint dries but a good proportion leave a burst dimple in the paint. The paint has been well stirred. A. It's more than likely related to rapid drying at this time of the year. Are you adding Resene Hot Weather Additive? Also are you applying a couple of roller widths then laying off from top to bottom? March 2016
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Q. I am painting a window sill with Resene Lustacryl with a 100mm roller, but I am unhappy with the finish which is dimpled like an orange peel. A. Film set up of waterborne enamels such as Resene Lustacryl is quick, especially at this time of the year. This does mean that the wet film does not have time to fully flow and level. However roller application of any waterborne paint will always give a degree of orange peel, again the wet paint needs to flow and level. We recommend adding Resene Hot Weather Additive at the recommended addition rate to the Resene Lustacryl. Sand the existing paint to reduce the orange peel, dust off and recoat. March 2016
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Q. We would like to paint some line markings on concrete within our school grounds. What type of paint are we best to use? A. For foot traffic Resene Lumbersider would be suitable. March 2016
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Q. I am looking for a clear, or as clear as possible, coating system for a Tasmanian Oak timber soffit with no exposure to direct sunlight or weather. Do you have a coating system that would work in this application? A. The only recommendation we would have is to apply a solventborne clear varnish such as Resene Qristal Clear with added fungicide. However this will not result in a water white clear film and the varnish will yellow further over time. March 2016
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Q. Would the pigmented sealer be ok to use on cracked hard plaster before repairing and painting? A. We would always recommend sealing with Resene Sureseal before crack repairs and painting. March 2016
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Q. Our house faces south. I have painted the outside twice and the front is a darker yellow than the rest of house each time. What to do? I'm based in Texas. A. Coloured paint on exposure to weathering can undergo surface chalking (white surface material due to breakdown of paint surface as a result of U.V. and water) of colour fade. The onset and degree of either is determined by elevation and environment, the most exposed elevations will undergo chalking and colour change before the less exposed elevations. It is easy to distinguish between the two; if you wet the surface with water and see the original colour returns then you have surface chalking, if not then you have colour fade. Chalking rate decreases as the gloss level of the paint increases, flat paints will chalk more quickly upon exterior exposure. Paint quality, resin selection and formulation is key to the degree of chalking and colour fade. In very general terms the durability of an exterior paint is often directly related to cost. Colour fade is a consequence of coloured pigment selection and type. The U.V. stability of bright yellow organic pigments (chemically synthesized) can vary greatly but most bright yellow pigments have relatively poor resistance to U.V. and as a result colour fade will occur. If a colour is made using a number of colourants the colour will fade to the most stable pigment combination. NZ has a very clean environment with a high U.V. content. Flat paints are rarely made for exterior application and we must use pigments with the best possible U.V. fade resistance to achieve any long term colour stability. Given we are in opposite hemispheres your south elevation will be the elevation that receives the most weathering. March 2016
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Q. We have a brick hearth that we want to paint. What product would you recommend? The bricks seem to have a waxy finish. 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 by waxy you mean they are glazed bricks, then the following can be used: Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner 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 to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve. The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. March 2016
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Q. Do you sell a paint and/or a wall sticker that is black that you can use whiteboard markers to write on? I want to use this for half a wall in my son's room. A. We sell Resene Write-On Wall Paint. So you can paint whatever Resene colour you like, then apply Resene Write-On Wall Paint (which is clear) to turn it into a coloured whiteboard. March 2016
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Q. Is there a paint or stain product that can be used on concrete pavers? My client has purchased some concrete blocks usually used for cladding a house to use as paving because they were on a spectacular clearance price. Unfortunately they're not the best colour to match the house. Specifically they are a Firth Manorstone and Devonstone product in colours called 'tranquility' and 'serenity' and they are 'tumbled' to make them look like stone. They seem porous enough to accept a paint or stain. I'd like to make them a dark grey or charcoal colour if possible. If it is possible to alter their colour, the next question will be about the method and timing. Spray? Before they're laid or after? A. I would avoid applying a solid paint finish as the paint on the top of the block profile would be quickly worn away. Staining with Resene Concrete Stain would be the only possible option. There may well be a colour difference when a stain colour is applied to different block colours. This is due to the fact that the stain is semi-transparent and the final colour is modified by the base colour. March 2016
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Q. We have just purchased a weatherboard home. The paint is in reasonable condition but I would like to use our waterblaster to complete a 'soft wash'. Our grunty waterblaster has 4 nozzle attachments incl 0, 15 and 40 plus a soaper nozzle option. Can you please advise whether I am better to use just water or some sort of detergent? The professional waterblasting services all mention their 'special' detergent. A. The role of the detergent is to aid with removal of dirt and surface chalk. Resene has a product for preparing painted surfaces before repainting, Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. Care is needed when waterblasting timber to avoid damage to the timber surface. March 2016
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Q. I have just moved into a new house and my small room for office space has been refurbished. It's been a few months now and the paint smell is so strong I get headaches and a bad taste in my mouth when I am using that room. I keep the window open when possible. I have tried sliced onions to soak up the smell, as well as a bucket of water, baking soda, and candles. The smell is still quite strong. Do you have any suggestions on how to make the room ok to be in? Also is it oil based paint that I smell? I don't know anything about it but is there a possibility that the paint contains lead and am I breathing it in? Any suggestions on making the paint smell disappear would be great. A. It is highly unlikely that there was any lead in the paint recently as local manufacturers don't use lead in decorative paints. Residual odours may or may not be associated with paintwork. If lead was used in paints, it is not there as a gas so there is no chance of inhalation. Both water and solventborne paints are capable of a residual odour but with ventilation this disappears within 7-14 days. It may be something to do with the flooring, depending what it is and how it was applied. March 2016
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Q. Can Resene Colorwood Whitewash be used on raw cedar (kiln dried)? I want to find a suitable product to limewash some cedar plantation shutters. A. Not for exterior exposure. For exterior exposer use Resene Woodsman Whitewash. With both products there will be the possibility of tannin bleed, orange brown discolouration. However this will disappear if the exterior product is used. For interior you will have to apply a seal coat of Resene Qristal Polygloss (solventborne varnish) then the white wash. March 2016
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Q. We have just built a new shed which has one clear light strip in each bay to let the sun in. Problem is its way too hot and now I want to paint the clear sheets to block out the sun. Which paint system would you recommend, the darker the better? A. Any Resene exterior acrylic is suitable for this application. March 2016
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Q. I am planning to use Resene Lumbersider CoolColour™ on existing painted weatherboards and have a couple of questions: Do I need to use Resene Quick Dry undercoat? Can my local Resene store make up CoolColour paint or do they need to order it? A. Yes to Resene Quick Dry if the existing acrylic paint is unknown and a dark colour. Your local Resene ColorShop should be able to tint most colours. Some of the very dark blacks are tinted at our Head Office and dispatched to store for customer orders. March 2016
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Q. I have used Resene Wood Primer general purpose wood primer exterior solventborne to prime a number of window sills. Am I able to use waterborne acrylic paint as a topcoat? A. Resene Wood Primer can be overcoated with Resene acrylic paints. If left for more than two weeks give a light sand and dust off before applying the waterborne paint. March 2016
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Q. I have walls that are painted in acrylic that need to be repainted. Husband bought paint, got waterborne enamel. Can I just paint over existing acrylic? A. In principle yes but due to the unknown existing paint I would suggest a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat first then the waterborne enamel. March 2016
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Q. I have vinyl wallpaper and wish to now paint with the appropriate Resene paint. What do I need to do? Can we paint over or do I need to strip and prepare the surface? A. Apply a seal coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer then finish with two coats of an interior Resene wall paint such as Resene Zylone Sheen or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Resene SpaceCote is best used where a harder wearing finish is required. March 2016
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Q. Can you please advise if the following two colours are current and readily available and if they are suitable for kitchen cabinets - Resene True Blue and Resene Blue Night. A. Both colours are available and can be used for painting any surface as long as the correct paint is used. March 2016
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Q. I am currently facilitating a mural project. The mural is on concrete breeze block, on a building at the beach with lots of sun and salt winds. We have used Resene paint. I want to get the most longevity out of the mural. Is there a waterborne Resene clear topcoat that will protect the mural against UV fading and salt wind abrasion? A. Resene Clearcoat UVS (UV protection) overcoated with Resene Concrete Clear to achieve a higher build for abrasion resistance. However this system is not recommended for anti-graffiti. March 2016
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Q. I want to paint some bare wood shelves, gloss white. Is there a suitable acrylic no undercoat? A. Sorry but no. Timber is absorbent and if not primed you will need to apply multiple coats beyond the standard two topcoats over a primer. March 2016
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Q. We are looking to coat our outdoor dining table which is made of concrete. We are unsure which product is most suitable. That is should we use the Resene Concrete Wax, or the Resene Concrete Clear? Are they the same product, or do they give a very different finish? A. You can use either. The Resene Concrete Clear will give you a range of gloss options. In either case I would apply a coat of Resene Concrete Clear Gloss thinned 10% with water as the first coat. March 2016
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Q. I'm after the mixing codes/formula to give your shop to make me up one litre of 'Gray 18' (middle gray). This is a colour used to meter colour and exposure for photographic calibration in post production. A. Gray 18 as defined by 18% gray card is the same as our Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey. Note that the colour will vary with the screen monitor. We recommend trying a testpot of it. March 2016
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Q. Our baseboards have been painted with a gloss waterbased paint. Can I paint a Resene Lumbersider paint directly over or do I need to undercoat? A. As long as the gloss acrylic is chalk free and sound then yes. March 2016
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Q. I have some pine trellis that I would like to paint with Resene Lumbersider. It has been installed for two years and is weathered but otherwise clean. Would it be sufficient to do a light waterblast clean? A. Care is need when waterblasting timber to avoid damage to the timber surface. Given the time that has elapsed since installation for long term adhesion I would recommend application of Resene TimberLock before applying the Resene Lumbersider. March 2016
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Q. I have previously stained my deck with your Resene Woodsman oil based stain. Can I use your waterbased equivalent stain over the top? I put on two coats last year. A. Yes, scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label instructions then apply the decking stain. March 2016
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Q. Is the Resene Colorwood Whitewash suitable for new timber furniture? A. Yes it can be used on interior timber. We do not recommend this product for exterior timber that is subject to weathering or U.V. We do have Resene Woodsman Whitewash for exterior timber. March 2016
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Q. Are Resene products formaldehyde free? Are they quality? A. Resene Environmental Choice paints are all formaldehyde free. See our product range. March 2016
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Q. What is the best undercoat to use on old shiny enamel paint on doors and skirting boards? We have lightly scuffed the surface with sandpaper. A. We recommend Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, which can be topcoated with waterborne and solventborne enamels. March 2016
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Q. My 10 year old house has Insulclad plastering (cavity system). What paint do you advise to repaint it? The current paintwork is good. There are some small cracks in window corners and in between the walls and soffits. A. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Then apply a coat of Resene LimeLock and two coats of Resene X-200. Your painter should be able to deal with minor hairline cracks with Resene Brushable Crack Filler, and also reseal penetration like pipes, windows and doors. March 2016
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Q. I am trying to remove the spray on paint style product with sand and/or stones in it from the exterior of my house. There is a lot to remove and it needs to come off so I can check how my rimu weatherboards are. There are two coats of the 'paint' used and both have the sand effect on them. At this stage heat takes the product off but is painfully slow. There must be something else. We think the original paint went on in about 1970 and then again in more recent times. My house is double storey and just over half the weatherboards are covered with this product. The rest has new weatherboards. A. The coating may be Rhinocoat which was available in the 70s but has since disappeared from the NZ market. Your only other option is to use a paint stripper such as Sea 2 Sky, but this will still be a slow process. This paint stripper is available from Resene ColorShops. March 2016
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Q. I want to paint exterior weatherboards in a dark navy i.e. like Resene Midnight Oil. Is this possible given its LRV? A. You can use any colour for painting timber weatherboards but due to surface temperature attained the darker the colour the greater the chance of warping and cupping. For this reason many people aim for LRV 40% or higher. Application of the Resene CoolColour™ version of dark colours will reduce but not eliminate the potential for both these effects to occur. A CoolColour version of a colour will reflect more heat. March 2016
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Q. Can you please advise the recommended paint to use on a new lightweight concrete fence panels? A. Apply a coat of Resene Concrete Primer then finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider. If a dark colour is chosen then we recommend application of the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour. CoolColours do not feel cool to touch but reflect more heat than the same colour made using non CoolColour pigments. March 2016
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Q. I have a deck that has steel framing. I think the framing was previously painted with an oil based paint, although I can't swear to that. I have cleaned up some rust spots on it and applied a rust proof primer to them. What would be the best paint to use for topcoats and do I need to do any more preparation work? A. Sand the remaining paint and then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 for best long term results. March 2016
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Q. I intend painting the lower exterior level of my house which is of concrete breeze-block construction. Can you recommend a sealer primer undercoat and preferred topcoat paint? The blockwork is around 45 years old and no water-tightness issues. A. Ensure the blockwork is clean and then apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal then three coats of Resene X-200. March 2016
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Q. I need to paint over old lino tiles in a shop. What do I need to use? A. Painting old lino can be a challenge. The best system we have is to apply a seal coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Walk-on. However we cannot guarantee adhesion to the lino so suggest a test patch is done to confirm adhesion of the Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer. Ensure the lino is washed down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label directions before priming. March 2016
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Q. We have a room that has had wallpaper stripped back to the lining paper and residual wallpaper paste washed off. This has then been covered accidentally with Resene Broadwall waterborne wallboard sealer which was thinned with turpentine. What's our best approach to fixing this? The surface looks a bit patchy and we're not sure what the effects of using turps on the waterbased sealer will be. Would it be ok to just go over it with Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer or should we work the surface back? A. Sand back to remove the sealer and then re-apply the Resene Sureseal. You may need to use 180 grit sandpaper but be careful not to fur up the paper face. March 2016
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Q. What would be the best product(s) for painting an interior garage floor? The concrete is about 50 years old with quite a bit of grease/oil stains which will be waterblasted as well as possible. A. We recommend Resene Aquapoxy for Flooring applied over a coat of Resene Sureseal. You will have to remove as much grease contamination as possible to ensure system adhesion. Waterblasting alone will not achieve removal of grease or oil. March 2016
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Q. What is the technical 'description' that describes the best possible interior paint finish, particularly with regards to a ceiling that gets sunlight reflected over it? A. Critical lighting is the term used to describe areas where light falls on the surface at low angles. A level 5 plasterboard finish is required and painted with a matt or flat paint. The best finish will come from spray application irrespective of the paint used. March 2016
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Q. What is the best elastomeric paint system on exterior rendered concrete walls and interior gypsum rendered concrete walls please: A. In our opinion elastomer paints are over specified in New Zealand; their benefit is when there are propagating cracks (cracks that continue to open and close) or when there are wide variations in temperatures from less than freezing to higher temperatures. When there are propagating cracks the elastomeric paint must be applied at a dry film thickness of 2x the expected crack width. This can see very high DFTs (fry film thicknesses) being specified if the elastomeric paints are correctly specified. We would not recommend application of elastomeric paints for interior use for areas that are subject to hand contact or abrasion. By nature elastomeric paints are soft compared to a conventional acrylic resin and prone to dirt pick up. New generation elastomeric reins systems are case hardened to improve surface hardness but they still remain softer than conventional acrylic resin systems. What is your project as we can then recommend the appropriate coating system for you? March 2016
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Q. I plan to use Resene TimberLock on condensation damaged cedar window casements and prime with aluminium primer. This is to improve the performance of the coating against moisture penetration. My question is can Resene TimberLock be used with a partial stripping of existing coatings to bare timber (as in the bottom rail where most damage is) or do I have to strip the entire casement to bare timber. i.e. can Resene TimberLock be used akin to spot priming on patches of damaged timber surface? A. Resene TimberLock is used for spot priming; apply and leave for a few minutes then make sure you wipe the excess off at time of application. March 2016
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Q. Is roof paint suitable for use on timber as well as the iron roof? A. Most waterborne roof paints can be applied to appropriately primed timbers. March 2016
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Q. I am replacing existing stucco walls with AD grade structural plywood. Could you please recommend the right paint for the exterior ply wall? I would like to make it weathertight and long lasting. A. Unlike stucco, paint is not considered to be part of rendering a ply cladding weathertight. Ply will check (small surface splits) when exposed to weathering. This occurs with or without a paint coating. March 2016
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Q. We need to coat timber serveries in a restaurant. Previously they have been coated with a two-pack clear. We require a low to medium VOC level. Are you able to assist? A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paint Cleaner following label directions. Thoroughly sand to provide a mechanical key for the new clear system. Dust off and apply at least three coats of Resene Aquaclear. This will deliver the low VOC requirement, however the coating system will ideally need 2-3 days to develop full hardness. March 2016
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Q. What kind of paint should I use to paint the outside of a cast iron claw foot bath? There is currently no paint on it. A. A 3M Rust and Paint and Rust Removal Disc (fits on a drill) is a quick and very good method to prep rusted steel for painting. Try to remove as much rust as possible. Following preparation apply a coat Resene Rust-Arrest primer, then a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and finish with two coats of any Resene waterborne enamel. March 2016
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Q. Can we paint our deck on top of the stain as is? We have cleaned it with Resene's product suggested by the shop. We have a large area of deck (about 20 years old) that was stained with Red Cedar stain three years ago. We now want to paint it for the colour to last longer. A. The change to a solid paint finish does have its challenges. Unless the existing deck stain can be totally removed the adhesion of the existing stain will determine the adhesion of the new paint system. If the stain is not removed then the following is our best option to change to a solid paint finish: scrub the deck down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash following label directions. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider CoolColour™. Resene CoolColours are not cool to touch but reflect more heat than the same colour made using non CoolColour pigments. March 2016
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Always make sure you read the product label and data sheet prior to application. If in doubt about any aspect of your project, please ask our Paint Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller.