General

How do I clean a paint spillage?

All surfaces nearby painting should be covered prior to painting. However, if paint does spill, action must be taken immediately as if it is left too late there is little that can be done. Use a hard flat surface (e.g. spoon, piece of card, edge of dustpan) to scrape up as much surface paint as possible. Then with old cloth, wipe up the residual paint. If the paint is water-based (i.e. brushes can be washed out in water) clean the area well with water, repeating until clean. If the spill occurs outside, hose down with water and scrub until clean. If the paint is solvent-based try and lift to lift up and wipe off as much paint as possible as above, washing down preferably with a detergent. If the spillage is outside, wash down preferably with a detergent and rinse with water. Contaminated rags should be disposed of safely. Where solvent-based paints have been used, rags should be damped down with water and sealed in a metal container, to avoid self-combustion.

Do you offer finance?

Yes, we have partnered with Klarna to offer finance on all our paint, tools, and spray equipment.

We have 3 options available at checkout:

  1. Financing, spread the cost of your purchase into equal monthly payments over 6, 12 or 24 (minimum spend £250, maximum spend £4000)
  2. Pay later in 3 interest-free instalments (minimum spend £35, maximum spend £1000)
  3. Pay later in 30 days (no minimum spend, maximum spend £300)

Read our Klarna FAQs here

If you prefer to discuss finance and order over the phone, give our team a call on 0131 334 4999 who will be able to assist.

Minimum Contents

Some of our products will have a minimum content noted beside the unit of measure. Our products are all canned in Finland and at the point of filling the volume in the can is 10% less than the unit of measure. This is the measured volume at the point of supply into the UK, therefore we need to place this figure on the can. Once the base paint arrives at one of our depots it is stored ready for tinting. We do not manufacture ready-made shades, we use tinting systems to make our colours which provides flexibility and colour accuracy. In order to manufacture the required colour, we need the spare volume for the colourant addition.

Do You Have Technical Data Sheets Available?

Product data sheets are available for download on the product pages. Product MSDS documents can also be downloaded from the same area or are available on request by emailing enquiries@valtti.co.uk.

What’s The Difference Between Water-Based And Oil-Based Paint?

In water-borne products, the thinner in the paint is water, whereas in solvent-borne paints, the thinner is a solvent. Water is a safer choice in terms of both the environment and the health of the painter. Particularly in the painting phase, the environmental impact of water-borne paints is smaller than those of solvent-borne paints. Due to the lower emissions, also the indoor air quality is better and the allergy risks are smaller. Water-borne products dry fast and are nearly odourless. The odour of solvent-borne products is stronger. Water-borne paints are better for your health because almost only water evaporates from them. From solvent-borne products, VOC compounds (Volatile Organic Compounds), i.e. solvent emissions, evaporate. The most significant harmful environmental effect of using paints is the evaporation of solvents, the VOC emissions, which are known to increase ground-level ozone formation and to enhance air pollution, for example.

Is Your Exterior Paint Microporous?

Yes, Finngard Opaque, our exterior masonry paint is microporous. The term 'microporous' is often applied to specialist paints and stains and describes a coating that acts as a barrier to liquid water, but allows water vapour to pass through. The special feature about the coating is that it keeps rainwater out of the substrate, but allows moisture that has found its way into the substrate to escape as a vapour. Although almost all coatings will act as a barrier to liquid water, it is not correct to imply that coatings can be made so that moisture vapour can only travel through them in one direction. Moisture vapour will be able to pass through a coating equally well in either direction: from places where there is more moisture, to places where there is less moisture. The rate at which moisture passes through a coating is controlled by the permeability of the coating, the moisture content gradient, the film thickness, and the temperature.

 

Ultra Primer (for wood) and Finngard Silicone Protect (for masonry) are also considered to be microporous.

 

 

What Type Of Paint Can Be Used On Radiators?

For painting radiators, we recommended using Tikkurila’s Helmi 10 or Helmi 30. Unlike all modern-day solvent-based paints, they are guaranteed not to yellow upon exposure to heat. If you are applying paint directly to bare metal or painting over a radically different colour beneath, use Helmi Primer to build up coverage and maximise adhesion. This robust water-based primer is available in a wide range of colours with a drying time of just two hours.

The full range of topcoat options is noted below:

  1. Everal Aqua 10, Everal Aqua 40 or Everal Aqua 80, depending on the sheen level required
  2. Helmi 10, Helmi 30 or Helmi 80, depending on sheen level required

If you require more advice on painting radiators, give our technical team a call on 0131 334 4999 or send them a message here

Is Your Paint Low Odour, Non-Toxic And Safe For Children?

All our water-based paints are low-odour. When you are painting a kids’ room, choose a paint that does not release harmful compounds even when used for an extended period. Tikkurila’s wide range of products includes both paints and lacquers that meet these requirements, and they are suitable for painting everything in the kids’ room, including the walls, furniture, and toys. All of the Tikkurila paints suitable for kids’ rooms – such as Joker, Helmi, Taika, and Liitu – are in the highest M1 category of surface materials. The M1 Label shows that the products have been tested by an independent laboratory. Joker also bears the Allergy Label, awarded by the Allergy and Asthma Federation of Finland.
Additionally, Helmi Furniture Paints meet the requirements for the surface finishes of toys, meaning you can safely use them to paint children’s furniture and toys.
Please consult the product data sheets for further detail.

How Do I Know If A Paint Is Breathable?

Many products are marketed as ‘breathable’, and whilst all paints are breathable to a degree, what’s important is how breathable. When looking for breathable paint, there are two common ways to check how breathable it is.

The first is the SD (Steam Diffusion) value, which is a German method for measuring breathability. It is widely accepted that for a paint to be classed as breathable it should have an SD value of 1 or lower; the lower the value the more breathable the paint. Tikkurila’s testing is conducted in accordance with PN-EN ISO 7783:2002 and PN-EN 1062-1:2005 standards.

The other method used to measure breathability is the moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR). It measures the amount of water vapour (in grams) able to pass through the paint surface over a 24 hour period. The higher the figure, the more water vapour that can pass through, and therefore the more breathable the paint.

If you’re unsure as to whether Tikkurila paints are right for your project, please call our helpline for further advice.

Can I Trace A Previous Order To Ensure I Buy The Same Colour And Finish?

If you can provide our team with your original order number, from a purchase within the last 4 years, we should be able to access this information for you.
Get in touch via our online chat or by emailing the customer service team at enquiries@valtti.co.uk.

Can't find what you were looking for?
Paint Calculator

How much paint do I need? 

Use this calculator to work out your requirements, if you have any question please get in touch with one of our team who will be more than willing to help you.

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Disclaimer: Tikkurila UK Paint Calculator is provided as a guide only. The coverage rates will vary depending on surface being coated and the particular product range being used. More information on these products can be found on the cans, on the technical data sheets on individual product pages, by using our live chat service or by calling our technical team on 0131 334 4999.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the estimate, however paint requirements may vary depending on the surface, type of paint, sheen level and colour chosen.