Walls should take twice as long to prepare then to paint. New bare timber should be primed first, and then cracks and holes filled with an exterior wood filler or putty. Brick and cement render should be rubbed down to remove lose sand then cracks and holes filled with an exterior filler. Settlement and render shrinkage cracks should be filled with an Elastomeric wall putty or filler. This will shrink into the crack as it loses moisture and the process needs to be repeated before a sealing compound is applied. All peeling paint should be stripped using a wire brush then primed. A heat stripper can be used to soften the old paint so it’s easier to scrape off with the stripping knife. A chemical stripper can be used around windows where heat may crack the glass.
One liter of paint should cover approximately 16 square meters but allow for an extra 20% for porous or rough surfaces. Prime any exposed metal on gutters and down pipes before painting. Doors are painted from the outside in, doing the molding first. Paint the edges then the face, returning to the edges to lightly feather off any surplus paint with the tip of the brush. When using enamel paints it is better to remove the door completely and paint on two tressles.
We recommend using a roller on flat surfaces which goes on four or five times faster than a brush. When using a roller work steadily, in an area perhaps one or two square meters working steadily from the unpainted areas back into painted areas in one direction, maintain a wet edge to avoid lap marks.
It is generally best to paint exterior surfaces in the morning and afternoon avoiding the heat of the mid day sun which could cause the paint to wrinkle. When using acrylic based paints in hot temperatures one can hose down the surfaces and paint the wall while the wall is still slightly damp and cool. However, if using enamel paint the surfaces must be completely dry. Even a small amount of moisture trapped under the new enamel will vaporize and cause blisters and peeling.
Remember it is best to paint the shaded areas first and stay in the shade as the sun moves around. Always remember to clean brushes and rollers thoroughly after use. Cans of paint can be stored inverted to prevent a crust forming on the surface when reused. Where possible make a note on a can where this paint was used and keep a record of the paint brands and numbers for future reference.
CRJ - 26 July 2009