Painting is more than colours

A long weekend is the perfect time to kick off, or tick off, a few DIY projects around the house. With Labour Weekend on its way, it’s time to get your list of things to do under way and Mitre 10’s Stan Scott says October is a great time for painting or staining.

“Paint needs warm weather to dry—if it’s too hot, it can crack or bubble because it dries too quickly; too cold or wet and it won’t dry,” he says. “Over a long weekend, you can get quite a bit done on a painting job, particularly with a few hands on deck.

Scott, the Mitre 10 builder of television and internet fame, says painting and staining is not only about sprucing up a space or bringing a deck back to life, it’s also important for home maintenance, preventing damage and prolonging the life of the home.

“If exterior paint is peeling or cracking, or if you haven’t repainted or stained for a while, it’s important to attend to it quickly to prevent any major damage.” He says it’s generally recommended that stained areas, such as decks or fences, are freshened up every 2-5 years. Outdoor paint ideally should be reapplied at least every 10 years.

“Depending on the climate and the weather, paint needs time to dry before the next coat, so a long weekend gives you time to get the job done.

“As a rule of thumb, outside painting should only be done in temperatures between 10° and 40°C. In summer, the best way is to follow the sun around your home and paint only on the shady side. One of the best times to paint is around October, weather permitting, and – if it is sunny – the idealtime is often after sunrise when any dew has had a chance to dry out.”

The Mitre 10 Easy As guides will help if you haven't painted before or you are up for a few tips that will help a lot.

Click here to view the guides.

Tips like: “One litre of paint covers about 14sq m (check the paint can as this can vary between brands), but allow an extra 20 per cent for rough or porous surfaces, and an extra 10 per cent for weatherboard edges."

A fresh coat of stain or paint on furniture can upcycle it and Scott explains it’s important to use the right paint or stain product forthe job: “Grab a few test pots of the colours you are looking at and spot test the paints in different lights. The paint specialist at Mitre 10 will have great advice on colours and can supply small test pots.”

There are all sorts of tricks of the trade to apply – if you’re painting the kitchen, for example, make sure it’s a hard wearing paint. For decks, make sure you get a deck-specific product because they are more hard-wearing and keep it looking better for longer.

“Each area of the home will require different types of paint. Wet rooms, ceilings, skirting boards and kitchens all have distinct paint requirements and novice DIYers may need help making the right decision around paint choice.”

Scott says one of the key elements in a successful paint job is preparation: “It’s hugely important to fix every fault before you begin “because if there’s a fault or defect before you start, they tend to be magnified when painted.”

• Scrape away all peeling paint, then prime.

• Fill cracks and holes - use an exterior filler for brick and concrete, flexible filler for timber. Sand the filler level with the surface.

• Thoroughly sand the area to be painted to clear uneven spots and give the new paint a slightly roughened surface it can stick to, especially if the existing paint is a gloss enamel.

• Punch ungalvanised nail heads below the surface and fill the hole, sanding it smooth.

• Sugar soap removes grease, dirt and dust. Wire brushes will deal with rust on metal guttering, down pipes, gates or metal window frames (not aluminium); coat the metal with a rust dissolver.

• Repair gutter leaks and seal with a silicone sealant (use a PVC cement on PVC guttering).

Scott says one of the key advantages of shopping at Mitre 10 is that it’s open seven days and is a “one stop shop” for all painting needs.

Everything from drop sheets to ladders and brushes, as well as useful guides for many projects around the house, is there.

“People just need to pop in and talk to our paint experts about any paint job,” he says, “and they will be able to guide them through the whole process.”

For more information: https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/paint-decorating