Paint/Paint Preparation
How far 1 litre of paint goes.
Primers and undercoats 12sqm on smooth surfaces and 6-10sqm on rough surfaces. Topcoats 14-16sqm on smooth surfaces and 8-12sqm on rough surfaces.

The difference between acrylic and enamel paints.
Acrylic (water based paint) is faster drying and easier to paint with, there are less fumes and it is a very flexible coating. Enamel (oil based paint) takes longer to dry, gives off more fumes but does provide a harder paint finish. Enamel paints tend to be used for exterior woodwork, interior trims, doors, hand rails, shelves and in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries or areas where there is likely to be moisture.

Where to use an undercoat.
You should use an undercoat on bare interior timber and a primer undercoat on most exterior timbers. Porous surfaces such as plaster or stucco should be treated with an undercoat as well as when changing paints i.e. enamel to acrylic.

Whether an existing paint surface is enamel or acrylic.
If the colour comes off by rubbing the surface with meths, the surface is acrylic, if not it’s enamel.

Preparing your paint surface.
Painting is 75% preparation and 25% painting. Take time and effort to ensure the surface you are going to paint is well sanded and clean. If it isn’t, the paint won’t adhere properly.

Where to use a sealer.
On new gib board, use an acrylic sealer undercoat. On old gib board or where wallpaper has been removed, use an oil based pigmented sealer. This should also be used when the wallpaper is being painted over.

Painting weatherboards.
Wash the surface thoroughly killing any mould with a mould killer, sand off flaking paint, lightly sand gloss paint, wipe off dust, prime areas that are bare then apply two coats of enamel topcoat.