Kerikeri and the Bay of Islands.
Obligation free quote
027 384 4107
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Sealers, Primers,
Undercoats, Topcoats
When repainting take into account the season.
Over the winter months exterior painting can be problematic. The cooler weather and regular rainfall may compromise the end result. Paint likes warmer dryer weather and this ensures good adhesion to most substrates. Also if the job is delayed by adverse weather this will increase the time required to complete the job and may increase costs especially if access equipment is required.
Interior painting.
Interior painting is generally agreeable year round but does present a few issues for home owners especially if residing in the home while the painting is being carried out. A few points to consider:
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The job will progress more quickly if the room is clear of furnishings. While not imperative, savings can be made if we are not required to remove or mask / cover furnishings.
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Dust: while we have vacuum equipment to reduce sanding dust it is often not possible to eliminate all dust. However if the room is not in use we are able to isolate the area and upon completion of the job remove all reminants.
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Exterior painting.
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Substate condition: paint is a coating designed to protect against the weather, however it will not have any long lasting positive effect if applied over substrates in poor conditon. Peninsula Painters have the gear and knowledge to strip, sand and renew timber cladding to ensure the new paint work is enduring. Many older homes with timber joinery such as windows can be prone to rot, especially if the paint work has been neglected. We are able to repair most timber joinery as required.
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Colour choice: Genarally the darker the colour the more prone the surface will be to the effects of the sun. Timber is especially prone to cracking, cupping or splitting if exposed to long hours of direct sunlight. Fencing and decking built from timber is also at risk of sun damage. Each paint colour is given a value representing its ability to reflect light. The higher the value the less likely it is to deteriorate. We will be happy to discuss colour options with you.
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Product choice: Water based paints offer some advantages and have found favour with many painters due to their ease of use and clean up. However while adequate in many situations we prefer oil based (turps) for joinery such as exterior doors, windows frames and shutters. Oil based enamels offer superior protection and allow for rigorous cleaning. Again we can provide you with all the information required when considering your next project.
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Sheen level: Exterior claddings are generally coated with water based acrylics such as Wattyl Solagard. Acrylics are generally supplied as a gloss, semi-gloss or low sheen product. Gloss tends to reflect light, is easier to clean but does have the disadvantage of showing up more imperfections than lower sheen levels. Semi-gloss offers a good compromise between light reflection and ease of cleaning. Low sheen is more suitable on rough cladding such as board and batten type construction.
Often there is some confusion regarding primers and undercoats. Topcoats seem obvious but now days many are marketed as being self priming which can be misleading.
Sealers: Sealers are often specialty coatings and generally oil or epoxy based products that are designed to seal the substrate be it timber, plasterboard (GIB), metal or concrete. Sealers generally provide water or solvent impermeability to the substrate. Often full cover is not achievable but these products are not designed to provide any aesthetic quality, rather a sound membrane that penetrates the substrate providing a base coat for subsequent coatings. Sealers are not generally designed to be sanded vigorously but may require keying prior to applying subsequent ascetic coatings.
Primers: Primers are designed to provide a sound base to timber, steel and concrete surfaces that may or may not had been previously coated. Primers can be water based, oil based and epoxy based products and are generally easier to apply than sealers and will provide cover (non see through). Again primers are not designed to provide any aesthetic quality nor are they designed for vigorous sanding in order to achieve a smooth substrate. Their purpose is to provide a sound substrate for subsequent coatings.
Undercoats: Undercoats must be chosen carefully to ensure the right product is used for the job at hand and with consideration for what the undercoat is being applied over and what product will be used in top coating. As a general rule it is possible to use water base products over oil and epoxy based sealers and primers but only if the topcoat is also a water base product. If an oil base or epoxy base product is being used to top coat then it is important to ensure the under coats are either oil base or epoxy base to ensure compatibility and adhesion. Most undercoats are designed for vigorous sanding in order to achieve a smooth substrate prior to top coating. Care should be taken to avoid sanding through the previous coatings particularly on edges and corners. Often two or more undercoats may be required to avoid break-throughs on rougher surfaces. Care should be taken to sand with a suitable grit paper. As a general rule 220 grit paper and above will provide a good result and reduce the likely hood of break-throughs.
Topcoats: Topcoats are designed to provide good cover, U.V. protection and an aesthetic quality. Top coats are again supplied as water based, oil (turps) based or epoxy based products. Exterior top coats vary dramatically in their dried appearance and suitability for particular jobs. As these are the finishing coats colour choice is vast compared to undercoats, primers and sealers. As a general rule two topcoats are required to achieve an adequate covering and good protection from the elements. Often a quick rub back with 220 grit sand paper will ensure adhesion between coats if recoating time exceeds 24 hours. However if using water based acrylics sanding will not be required.