Dealing with complex problems
Chalky wall surfaces occur when the previously painted surface starts to break down due to either UV or environmental action. This results in the film build breaking down and becoming unstable characterised by a chalky or dusty feel to the surface with some areas of obvious flaking. This can occur on both internal and external surfaces.
The critical element in painting these surfaces is correct preparation.
Internal Walls
Preparation: Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry and sand back.
Primer:
- Use Optiva Primer to help stabilise the surface
Top Coat:
External Walls
Preparation: Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully.
Primer:
- Use Hydrosol Primer to help stabilise the surface
Top Coat:
Damp is indeed a tricky and multifaceted problem. There are many causes with wind driven penetrating damp, poor ventilation causing condensation or rising damp due to poor damp proofing being the most common. In each of these cases the root cause of the damp needs to be addressed first and fully resolved before considering redecoration, there are no decorative paint products that will resolve or hold back damp.
Preparation:
Wash and thoroughly clean the surface using our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry and sand back.
Primer:
Top Coat:
For bedrooms, hall and living spaces:
For kitchens and bathrooms:
Distemper paint predates the advent of modern latex and acrylic based paints and is an older more traditional paint covering made from chalk or lime powder mixed with a traditional animal derived glue. It can be easily identified by rubbing your hand or cloth over the surface where it will leave a white chalky residue.
Its chalky nature and chemical properties make adhesion of a new paint covering difficult. We would advise patch testing the below process before embarking on the entire surface as there are may factor that will lead to a stable and long lasting finish.
This is a difficult substrate so please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Preparation
Wash and thoroughly scrub the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. The aim is to remove as much of the unadhered paint to provide a stable surface.
Primer:
- Use Optiva Primer to help stabilise the surface
Top Coat:
Efflorescence is a powdery deposit of salts often visible on the surface of masonry. The root cause involves water ingress or dampness causing the natural salts with the wall substrate to come through to the surface. It can cause unsightly discolouration.
Care needs to be taken to ensure the root cause is addressed through either proper damp management or ensuring the surface is fully allowed to dry ie on newly constructed brick or concrete walls. Failure to so do so will result in the failure of the paint layer over line as the natural salts will cause adhesion issues.
Preparation: Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface, allow to dry fully. Our Mould Removal Solution is an hypochlorite based product which will help dissolve the salt stains more readily and provide a cleaner surface. Ensure all of the crystalline salt deposits are scraped and cleaned off before proceeding.
Primer:
Top Coat:
This is a difficult substrate so please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Water can ingress through a structure for multiple reasons, fundamentally this needs to be resolved first before any consideration is given to decorating. Paint will not prevent water ingress. Once solved the surface must be allowed to thoroughly dry before preparing and painting.
Preparation:
Wash and thoroughly clean the surface using our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry and sand back.
Primer:
Top Coat:
For bedrooms, hall and living spaces
For kitchens and bathrooms
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Fire can discolour and damage walls and previously painted areas often leaving a soot residue or staining. It is important to properly prepare and clean these areas before decorating as this will prevent discoloration and future problems
Preparation:
Use a stiff brass brush to remove as much soot as possible first, then wash and thoroughly clean the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry fully and sand back.
Primer:
- Use our AkroStop Sealing paint to prevent bleed through
Top Coat:
For bedrooms, hall and living spaces
For kitchens and bathrooms
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Cement based renders, concrete walls and some plaster finishes are alkaline in nature making the selection of primer and paint ever more important to prevent any unsightly reaction between the coating and substrate. In most cases using an alkali resistant primer will help neutralise the surface for subsequent top coating.
Internal Walls
Preparation:
Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry and sand back.
Primer:
- Use Optiva Primer to help stabilise the surface
Top Coat:
For bedrooms, hall and living spaces
For kitchens and bathrooms
External Walls
Preparation: Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully.
Primer:
- Use Hydrosol Primer to help stabilise the surface
Top Coat:
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Mould and mildew are forms and names for a fungus, left untreated these can cause unsightly staining and patination. Moulds appear in shades of black, blue, red, and green, whereas mildew is white. When seeking to paint an area that has an area of mould or mildew it is important to seek to understand what is creating the conditions for mould growth. Most common causes are cold areas with poor ventilation or excessively damp or steamy locations such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Wash and thoroughly clean the surface using our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry and sand back.
Primer:
- Luja Universal Primer with mould-inhibiting properties
Top Coat:
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
A porous surface is one that has pores and will naturally wick and absorb water, a good example is brickwork or plasterboard. These pores are tiny, microscopic holes or crevices that allow liquids and air to penetrate it. Using the correct primer on these surfaces is really important and will even out the absorption rate over the whole surface and prevent a patch look when top coated.
Internal Walls
Preparation:
Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully. Fill any areas required with Presto F Renovation Filler allow to dry and sand back.
Primer:
Top Coat:
For bedrooms, halls and living spaces
For kitchens and bathrooms
External Walls
Preparation: Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully.
Primer:
- Use Hydrosol Primer to help stabilise the surface
Top Coat:
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
There are two primary reasons for rust staining in external masonry. First is the natural Iron Ore oxidising within the actual substrate itself the second is from ferrous fixing withing the wall rusting and leeching to cause the staining. Both cause unsightly marks and with a little time spent on proper preparation a long lasting finish can be achieved.
Preparation:
Remove if you can the metal fixings causing the issue, if not our FAQ page on How to paint rusty surfaces will help prepare the rusting items and protect them from causing future discoloration.
Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent, if mould is present be sure to use our Mould Removal Solution. Allow to dry fully.
Primer:
Top Coat:
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Surface salts or efflorescence to give it is technical name is a powdery deposit often visible on the surface of masonry. The root cause involves water ingress or dampness causing the natural salts with the wall substrate to come through to the surface. It can cause unsightly discolouration.
Care needs to be taken to ensure the root cause is addressed through either proper damp management or ensuring the surface is fully allowed to dry ie on newly constructed brick or concrete walls. Failure to so do so will result in the failure of the paint layer over line as the natural salts will cause adhesion issues.
Preparation: Wash and thoroughly scrub (using a wire brush if necessary) the surface, allow to dry fully. Ensure all of the crystalline salt deposits are scraped and cleaned off before proceeding.
Primer:
Top Coat:
The common term used to describe a wood boring insect is Woodworm refers to the larvae of all wood boring beetles. There are several species found in the UK, but most of the damage is caused by the offspring of the Common Furniture beetle. Left untreated they can cause extensive cosmetic and structural damage. An infestation is characterised by small round holes, fine powdery dust around hole areas or crumbly edges to joists.
If the timber has not been too damaged and retains sufficient structural integrity treatment using our Valtti Base Wood Preservative will help prevent any further damage and offer protection against further infestation.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Painting wooden floors is quite a common aesthetic, giving a really fresh look to old, tired floors. Keeping them looking great however, is a real challenge especially in high traffic areas. Often it is the actual wood that erodes away leaving unsightly patches and a marks.
Given the high mechanical stress that the floor paint will receive it is really important to invest time and effort in the preparation stage to ensure a long-lasting finish. Previously painted floors could have been waxed, varnished or painted with oil based products.
Preparation:
Ensuring a clean well prepared surface is critical, give the surface a really good clean with our using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent ensuring all grease and oil residue is removed, do this twice if required. Secondly give the surface a really good sand using a 100 - 200 Grit sand paper. This will remove any bits that were unstable and also provide a good key for adhesion.
Priming:
- Otex Akva Adhesion Primer (Waterbased)
- Otex Adhesion Primer (Solvent Based)
Allow 24 hours before applying the top coat, this ensures maximum curing time for the primer improving adhesion. If using the water based top coat use the water based primer.
Top Coat:
- Betolux Akva (Waterbased) Super quick drying
- Betolux (Solvent Based)
It is particularly important when painting interior floors to allow the paint to dry and cure before use. Consult the technical data sheet of each individual product for details but in general you should be able to walk gently on the floors within the first few days, but it can take several weeks before the paint is fully cured.
Lacquer Coat:
For really high traffic areas consider using a clear lacquer top coat to improve the durability of the surface our waterbased Parketti Assa Floor Lacquer has a number of different sheen levels or if using the solvent based system our Unica Super range will provide the same protection.
- Unica Super 20, Unica Super 60or Unica Super 90, depending on sheen level required (solvent based option)
- Parketti Assa 20, Parketti Assa 50or Parketti Assa 80, depending on sheen level required (water based option)
Bubbling or Blistering is an unsightly defect in a painted surface. There are a number of causes and very much dependant on what substrate is being painted. However, the common mechanism that causes the bubble is something is ‘off-gassing’ and unable to penetrate the paint film covering it.
Blistering or bubbling is quite common and can be caused by several factors:
- High temperature of substrate, air or painting in direct sunlight
- Reaction between substrate and new paint film (cissing)
- Loss of adhesion between coats
- Excessive moisture content in the substrate
- Resin or Resin gasses
- Direct moisture ingress from an architectural defect
It is key to identify and appropriately treat the cause. Application of the right primer is an important step in this process as is following the application conditions within the relevant products technical data sheets allowing sufficient curing time between coats.
Preparation:
- Remove any flaky paint and sand back any effected areas feathering the edges to prevent any sharp lines in the final finish.
- For Knots - Treat the knots with direct heat
- For Metal - abrade back to bare metal any rust patches and prime using Rostex Super or Rostex Super Akva
- The best way to avoid any possible reaction is to ensure all surfaces are thoroughly clean and stable using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent. If chemical contamination is left on surfaces there is a probability localised cissing will occur, an example would be localised cissing blistering on a kitchen in an area where oil or contamination was left.
Priming: Otex Adehsion Primer
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our technical team on 0131 334 4999 or send a message here.
Composite GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) doors essentially have a compressed plastic surface with either gloss or wood grain effect finish. The plastic is designed to provide a durable pre-coloured finish that is not usually designed to be painted. The colour pigment within the plastic is treated to be UV stable so that it lasts the life time for the door. However, with the right approach and preparation you can achieve a new look !
Preparation:
Ensuring a clean well prepared surface is critical, give the surface a really good clean with our using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent ensuring all grease and oil residue is removed, do this twice if required.
Priming:
Allow the primer to fully cure in accordance with the products technical data sheet before applying a top coats
Top Coats:
- Two coats of Panssari Akva
Water leaks leave behind mineral deposits which are dry and discoloured. To prevent this stain bleeding through the paint system we recommend using the system below, however the water damage must be fixed and surfaces dry before treatment
Preparation:
Give the surface a really good clean with our using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent and allow to dry.
Priming:
- Two coats of AkroStop Sealing paint to prevent bleed through. This product needs 24 hrs to fully cure between coats. It encaplustes the stain which will not bleed through to the top coat
Top Coat:
For Ceilings
For bedrooms, hall and living spaces
For kitchens and bathrooms
Greasy marks or surfaces require real attention prior to painting as improper preparation of the surfaces will prevent the newly painted surface adhering properly. This is a really important consideration when painting anything in a kitchen. However, regardless of what you are painting if you suspect it has been exposed to grease give the surface a really good clean using our Maalipesu Cleaning Agent and allow to dry. Do this a couple of time using new cloths to really ensure you have degreased the surface well.