How to care for your paint work.
Important in the first 4 weeks:
Avoid cleaning the paint finish until at least four weeks after application to ensure it has had sufficient time to fully develop its properties. Keep any cleaning to a minimum to avoid damaging the paint film.
Do not allow water or steam to build up on walls or ceilings. Open windows and use ventilation fans if fitted.
Most homes are prone to normal movement and as such cracks can occur in your paint work over time. Interior cracks are not something to worry about as they are usually only cosmetic and can be repaired easily. Care should be taken to ensure any cracks in exterior paint are sealed and repaired as soon as possible to ensure moisture does not get in.
Eastern Painters offer an annual paint work WOF after painting your home and we will come and inspect the paint to ensure no remedial work is required to the paint work to protect your home. Any repairs can be quickly and easily repaired and the cost for this can be advised once inspected.
Cleaning interior paintwork
Always test the cleaning method in an inconspicuous area to ensure the cleaning process you plan to use does not alter the finish of the paint. Wait until the test area has dried before using the same technique on more conspicuous areas. Walls may appear discoloured as they absorb the water, but should dry back to their original colour.
Do not vigorously scrub the surface nor use an abrasive or strong cleaning agent as you may burnish the paint surface and mar the paint finish. Do not wash walls for four weeks after painting, as waterborne paints require this period of time to fully cure and develop their ultimate film properties. Cleaning of fresh paint films will damage the paint and this may require repainting to restore the desired level of finish.
We do not recommend rubbing spots off your ceiling as they will show up. The best method for walls and ceilings is to use Sugar Soap wipes (available from Mitre 10) and dab the moisture onto the spot and wait for 60 seconds. Then go back and lightly wipe the spot away. Do not scrub the surface as it will mark the surface.
Steps for cleaning interior paintwork:
Step 1
Mix a solution of water and sugar soap as per instructions on the bottle or obtain sugar soap wipes. There are also interior paint work cleaning solutions available from Resene and they will be able to advise you of these.
Step 2
Dip a soft lint free cloth, into the solution. Do not saturate the cloth as this could lead to runs and streaking.
Step 3
Using light strokes, gently wipe the area to be cleaned turning the cloth frequently to maintain a clean edge. Wipe away any excess solution. Wring the cleaning cloth out into an empty bucket before dipping it into the detergent solution again. This will minimise the appearance of streaks. You may have to dab the solution onto the spot to be cleaned and allow to soften the stain for 60 seconds before wiping.
Step 4
In order to achieve an even finish, dry the surface with one final wipe using a soft dry lint-free cloth in the direction of the paint flow. If trying to remove a localised mark, start from a radius wide of the mark and work towards it. This will minimise any ‘tide mark’ that might develop.
Step 5
Be aware that walls, like windows, can accumulate a faint layer of dust or grime. A seemingly minor job of cleaning a small spot can lead to a major cleaning job. If unwillingly caught in this predicament, a feather duster can sometimes minimise the boundary between the cleaned and uncleaned areas.
Cleaning exterior paintwork
Airborne contaminants, including salt deposits, which settle on your paint film, can attack the surface and cause premature breakdown. Cleaning of exterior paintwork on an annual basis is recommended to help maintain the fresh appearance of the paintwork. Pay special attention to areas that are not subject to regular rain washing.
Moss and lichen can penetrate the surface of the paint film, damaging its integrity and reducing the useful life of the film, while mould growth can destroy the chemical entity of the resin system that holds the paint system together. The presence of moss, mould and lichen will hold moisture on the surface longer, promoting further growth of these organisms and increasing the risk of damage to the coating. Removal using the appropriate washing procedure will increase the life of the coating and maintain the aesthetic properties of the paint finish.
If you are planning to wash down a freshly painted house or building, wait at least four weeks from the completion of the painting job to give the paint time to fully cure. If debris are being carried onto the building during painting, cease work and restart when the air is clear. Debris carried onto a wet building may be trapped into the paint film and will be impossible to remove later without removing the paint finish itself.
If all this sounds like hard work, simply give Eastern Painters and call and we can arrange for your house to be cleaned using our low-pressure washing service on an annual basis to protect your paint surface.
The first few months post painting
Resene paints are developed and manufactured to exacting quality standards to ensure every can of paint is full of Resene quality. During the first few months after your paint has been applied, any of the following may occur, all of which are quite natural and do not imply inferior quality or accelerated wear:
Excess moisture
An enemy to your paint finish is excess moisture. Well constructed modern buildings with aluminium doors and windows are almost 100% airtight. Unfortunately this has disadvantages in that any moisture generated in the building from showers, kitchens and even occupants breathing will not be able to escape unless special ventilation is provided. Rooms on southern aspects can get quite damp and often mould results. Moisture can be reduced through the installation of dehumidifiers or specially ventilated aluminium windows. Large amounts of moisture are generated during the interior decorating process. It is critical that good ventilation is maintained throughout the drying period.
The best way to achieve this is to open windows to encourage airflow and use heaters to warm the air temperature. If ventilation is poor, the paint finish may not fully cure. Excess moisture can lead to surfactant leaching, blistering and mould problems. While dampening a porous surface can ease paint application in exterior situations, paint will never cure over a permanently wet surface and blistering may result, particularly on horizontal surfaces where water is liable to pond.
Fading
In common with all exterior surface coatings, the colour of your paint finish may be affected by U.V. light. Resene uses the finest pigments commercially available, but even these are liable to change after constant exposure to sunlight. Any changes will be gradual, but after a few years the difference between shaded and exposed areas may become noticeable. The extent of fading is often only seen when part of a wall area requires touch up with the original colour.