Off the Wall
Edition 18: 4 February 2010
Two decorating tips ...
In this issue of Off the Wall, we focus on:
- One exterior painting tip; and,
- One other tip relating to interior skim coating.
Question: Do I need to prime pre-primed timber?
Summer is often a time when building work occurs. Frequent good weather is almost guaranteed and the longer days means more time outdoors.
Your builder or you may have used pre-primed timber. Regardless, prior to painting, you will still need to prime the timber surfaces with one coat of undercoat.
The primer that is applied to pre-primed timber is only manufactured to last for 28 days from the time it was first applied. Consequently, this type of primer is not suitable to provide a foundation for further coats of product and paint.
Topcoats of paint that are applied directly over the pre-primed timber will not adhere well. Within a short period of time, the paint will flake off.
Recently, we were asked to provide an exterior painting quote on a villa in Epsom. The garage had been added on a few years ago. Pre-primed timber was utilised but was not coated with a suitable undercoat prior to painting. Now, the paint is already flaking off.
Question: When is skim coating required and how can I protect my belongings?
Lately, we have undertaken several projects where stripping existing wallpaper has been necessary to achieve an optimal paint finish. Often, such situations arise when the:
- Wallpaper is textured ;and/ or,
- Joint lines between rolls of wallpaper are obvious.
In both instances, if we paint over the wallpaper, the texture and joint lines are still visible. Further, if a dark colour or higher sheen of paint is applied, these become more obvious. Some people may not mind this. Others do.
| If ... | Then ... |
| The wallpaper has not been painted over | Stripping it is an obvious option. However, this is a laborious activity. Our most recent project involved removing five layers of wallpaper before we got to the gib! The top layer, which is decorative, is often easy to remove. The backing paper, often brown in colour, is often the tricky one to remove. This is especially so if the walls were not sized prior to wallpapering or re-wallpapering. If you do intend to wallpaper or re-wallpaper, it pays to size the walls prior to doing so. Always use a steamer, rather than scraping the paper off. If used incorrectly, the scraper will damage the gib, resulting in more skim coating required. |
| The wallpaper has been painted over | Stripping it is not easy, especially if the wallpaper is well adhered to the gib board. Sometimes, the wallpaper may be plastered over. However, an optimal result can only be achieved if the wallpaper is not textured. An alternative is to replace the wallboards. |
Pre 1970s walls will generally require some form of skim coating or plastering. This is because walls do move over time.
When any form of plastering or skim coating occurs, a significant amount of fine dust is created. This is because there is a lot of sanding.
The best way to protect your belongings is to remove them from the room that is being worked in. Covering them will not protect them from the fine dust. If there is a gap between the edge of the door and the flooring, seal that so that the fine dust does not travel to other parts of the house.
After the skim coating is completed, use a commercial grade vacuum cleaner to absorb the fine dust. You may need to do this daily for a few days as the dust does take time to settle. Only relocate your belongings after dust has settled.
Readers’ poll. Did you find this information helpful?
Click on your choice below and type in 'yes' or 'no' in the subject line. It will come back to us as return mail. Of course, please feel free to share your comments with us.
- Yes, I have forwarded these tips to my friends.
- No, I was hoping you'd cover other topics. (Please let us know what they are.)
Next edition
The next edition of Off the Wall will be published on 1 April 2010. Until then, ask us a painting related question. Give yourself the opportunity to WIN enough paint to recoat the walls within an average sized room.
About Wall Treats
Wall Treats is the 2009 Master Painter of the Year. We go the extra mile to ensure all our clients receive a blue chip service.
We are registered Master Painters who promise you a stress-free and enjoyable painting experience.
Many of our clients have either introduced us to others or invited us back because of the peace of mind we provide them.
About this newsletter
Off the Wall is a two-monthly newsletter that Wall Treats puts together.
Off the Wall aims to share information about painting and home and décor.
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Regards,
Daniel and Ashley
