How to paint joinery & cabinetry / trims & rails

Q. We have a wooden kitchen at the moment, and are looking to paint our wooden cabinets etc. What kind of paints would we need and what kind of prep would need to be done?

A. Ensure the cupboards are cleaned thoroughly to remove all dirt, grease and debris. Check to make sure there are no soft spots on the existing varnish. Apply one coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal. Allow 24 hours to dry. Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. Allow 48 hours to dry. Apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom.

Leave for at least five days for the paint to reach a hard dry before use with good ventilation. Up until 28 days be gentle, do not use harsh materials or cleaners on the paint as they paint reaches full cure after 28 days.

Paint will scratch from sharp objects.

November 2023

Q. We are painting MDF kitchen cabinets with Resene Uracryl 402. Should we undercoat with Resene Acrylic Undercoat or Resene Quick Dry primer?

A. Using Resene Quick Dry Primer Undercoat is recommended. Allow a minimum 24 hours to dry before topcoating with Resene Uracryl 402.

November 2023

Q. I'll have finished painting my bathroom, laundry, and kitchen, and I'll still have paint left. Can it be used on my front door?

A. Unfortunately, no. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom is interior only and will break down faster outside.

November 2023

Q. I have a concrete benchtop. It looks like it needs sanding and reselling. What product do you recommend?

A. Once the existing coating has been removed, Resene Concrete Wax is suitable for this application. After the system has cured wipe down with a damp cloth then it can be used. These are no recognised components in the cured film that are toxic.

Note that the clear coated system will not be suitable for cutting on or for placement of hot items, but it will withstand coffee/tea mugs.

November 2023

Q. I have old iron/steel railings outside my house that have rusted. I have used flap discs to remove most of the paint and rust. I intend to apply Resene GP Metal Primer. Can I use a waterborne enamel paint (instead of a solventborne enamel)? Will the waterborne enamel be as impervious to moisture as the solventborne enamel?

A. You are on the right path. Apply one full coat of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer, two coats on any rusted areas that are still present. Apply two full coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or Resene Enamacryl gloss.

September 2023

Q. I have some rimu skirting boards which I am coating with Resene Danska Teak Oil finish to give them a slightly richer finish to match the other skirting in the house. I want to overcoat all the boards with Resene Aquaclear polyurethane finish. Is it ok to overcoat the Resene Danska Teak Oil with Resene Aquaclear polyurethane? Is there a minimum cure time?

A. Resene Danska Teak Oil can only be overcoated using Resene Qristal Clear (solvent varnish). Leave the Resene Danska Teak Oil for a minimum 48 hours in perfect drying conditions. Allow a minimum 12 hours between coats of Resene Qristal Clear.

September 2023

Q. I have painted my kitchen cabinets in low sheen, but they show dirt. Is there a semi-gloss I can put on top to make it look better, without having to remove the handles etc?

A. Yes, if you have used Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen then you can apply two full coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss over the top. Ensure the cabinets are clean from any dirt/grease and a light sand using 220 grit will assist.

September 2023

Q. Is this what you would recommend for a wooden benchtop in a kltchen? Apply a pre-treatment of Resene TimberLock (ensure any excess is wiped from the surface) and allow to dry for at least 48 hours then follow with 3-4 coats of Resene HD Poly-Satin varnish.

A. Our best system is to topcoat with Resene Polythane or Resene Uracryl clear, depending on the finish needed. Clears on a timber benchtop won’t prevent the timber from denting etc if something is dropped on it.

August 2023

Q. I'm currently doing a commission for a client. It's a bar top out of a macrocarpa live edge slab. With the timber being quite soft it needs something that will give it a hardwearing finish. I also need some kind of base stain to colour match it to a kitchen bench and shelf finish located close to it.

A. We have a range of interior fully penetrating waterbased stains called Resene Colorwood. As a final finish, we would recommend either four coats of Resene Polythane, which is a moisture-cured full gloss finish (and the hardest wearing option) or four coats of Resene Uracryl 400 Series clear, which is a two-pack urethane, available in a low sheen, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Please note, when it comes to clear finishes on timber if something is dropped onto this system it will still dent the coating/timber.

August 2023

Q. I have a timber window that has needed a timber patch putting in. The window is finished with Resene Super Gloss enamel and the patch primed with oil based primer. Are there any negative consequences if Resene Acrylic Undercoat is used on this with a Resene Super Gloss enamel topcoat?

A. There should not be any issues applying an acrylic primer. Use Resene Quick Dry and give it plenty of drying time in good conditions. Resene Super Gloss can be applied over Resene Quick Dry.

July 2023

Q. I have recently bought some Resene Waterborne Uracryl to paint some bare MDF kitchen cupboard doors. Do I need a special undercoat for this or can I use up some standard undercoat for wood/plasterboard etc that I already have at home?

Can this paint also be used to paint over some old melamine cupboards I have?

A. Resene Quick Dry is the primer you require for MDF. It's a waterborne acrylic - but also, importantly, cross-linking to provide solvent resistance to two pack urethane type products.

Allow to dry for at least 48 hours with air flow prior to applying Resene Uracryl 802.

For melamine type products you'll need an adhesion primer. Use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and then a coat of Resene Quick Dry prior to Resene Uracryl 802.

It is best to leave Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer for a couple of days to dry to aid adhesion, and then Resene Quick Dry for 48 hours to develop solvent resistance prior to Resene Uracryl 802.

July 2023

Q. What can I use to touch up kitchen cupboard doors and drawers where there has been slight expansion of the MDF along top and bottom edges?

A. If the plan is to only touch up the exposed MDF, we recommend the following: Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. Apply two topcoats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or a Resene testpot which is Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, depending on the sheen level needed.

Please note this is not a waterproof system that will tolerant consistence moisture contact but will protect the MDF from absorbing future moisture and provide a layer of protection.

An oil-based topcoat and primer would be slightly better. You would have to keep the first coat as Resene Quick Dry as oil-based primers cannot be used directly over substrates like MDF. For this system, apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry, then one coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and two topcoats of Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss. This may give you slightly longer between recoating, but it’s hard to say by how much.

July 2023

Q. I'm looking to repaint my laminate cabinets and would like to understand which system to use and method to go about it. I would also like to paint some bare timber to use for floating shelves as well.

Currently, some of the cabinets are painted and some are unpainted. Reason I would like to paint them is because I have changed my mind and would like to paint them in an off-black colour (thinking of Resene Nero).

For my requirements above, which primer and topcoat would you recommend?

Can I paint straight over the painted cabinets? Do I need to sand in between coats? What is the shelf life of the primer and paint? Given it is winter now, should I wait until it is warmer or perhaps leave the heater on?

A. For the bare laminate we recommend - sand and scuff the surface lightly with sandpaper approx 180 grit. Clean with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner focusing on high contact areas. Apply one thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, the thinner the better. Leave for 48 hours to begin curing. Then apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Then two coats of either Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel in your desired colour. Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss is the most popular.

Be gentle with the paint system for a further five days while it finishes curing. During this time it will be susceptible to chemicals and scratches.

Please note this paint system will not replicate the same hardness properties as the original laminate.

For the areas that are currently painted and clear coated, we recommend the same as above, except we recommend a light sand to degloss the surface of the clear coat with 150-180 grit sandpaper. Please note this system is reliant on the adhesion of the original primer directly used on the laminate.

For the floating shelves, if the timber is pine or the like (rather than a native such a Kwila or cedar), we recommend one coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by two topcoats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

You only need to sand between coats if there are imperfections you wish to smooth.

Most paints can be stored for three or more years if the containers are sealed correctly and they haven’t been contaminated (e.g. by brushing directly from the can). Our Resene ColorShop staff are always happen to place paint cans on our shakers to mix when you are ready to use them.

When you are planning to paint, a good rule of thumb is - if your washing is able dry on the line then your paint can too. Otherwise, be mindful of the room temperature and heat the area if needed but also ventilate and create airflow to allow all the added moisture that evaporates as the paint dries to leave the room.

July 2023

Q. I have recently had a new kitchen fitted and the units are black. Six months down the track, the colours are looking washed out/faded. These were professionally finished. Have you seen this happen before? Do you have any ideas what it is or what has happened?

A. It could be a number of variables, depending on the paint system used. It’s most likely it hasn’t cured properly.

July 2023

Q. I have spray painted my bathroom countertops but want to put a clear sealer over them for extra protection.

A. You could try Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K, a waterbased varnish. It is a satin finish. We still recommend to do a trial area before committing to the entire bench. Apply one coat in a small area and leave for 48 hours. If everything looks fine, it has adhered and hasn't had a reaction, then continue on.

July 2023

Q. I want to make wooden benchtops from recycled rimu framing for the bathroom vanity and kitchen/dining island bench (not the sink bench).What clear coatings do you recommend?

A. Assuming the timber is uncoated, apply a pre-treatment of Resene TimberLock (ensure any excess is wiped from the surface), allow to dry for at least 48 hours then follow with 3-4 coats of Resene HD Qristal Poly-Satin varnish.

While this paint system does have a degree of heat resistance it will be damaged if hot pans are placed direct on the surface or if the surface is used for cutting. If possible envelop seal with the first coat, then apply an additional three coats to the exposed areas. It is critical to ensure the full system is applied to cut edges such as those around a sink placement.

Allow to cure for two weeks then wipe down with a cloth and warm water before using.

Using clear finishes in high use areas such as these, you will need to do maintenance every few years especially if sunlight is prominent.

May 2023

Q. What is the best white paint that you supply for painting plywood? It is bare and being used for shelving. I am looking to use a sprayer to apply it.

A. We recommend one coat of Resene Quick Dry water-based primer undercoat. Followed by two topcoats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

Both can be sprayed, brushed and rolled.

March 2023

Q. How do I paint powder coated banister rails in our apartment?

A. Clean and dry. Then apply one coat of Resene Pre-Coated Steel Primer followed by two topcoats of Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel semi-gloss.

March 2023

Q. We have ordered raw MDF doors for our new kitchen cupboards so we can have them in a Resene paint colour. Please can you advise the best Resene paint product and method for best finish for kitchen cupboard doors, kick boards and end panels. A kitchen supplier has mentioned a two pack lacquer system they use?

A. I think Resene AquaLaq is the 2-pack system your kitchen supplier is referring to; this is a specialist applicator-approved product system that can be applied for you.

March 2023

Q. Do you have a product that prevents/reduces formaldehyde off-gassing? I have cheap flat-pack units assembled three weeks ago and the off-gassing of formaldehyde is still really bad. My thoughts would be to apply an appropriate sealer to the hidden from view surfaces.

A. Please note this will add maintenance over time to the drawers and will not replicate the hardness properties of the drawers.

Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease and pay particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow it to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating.

The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better.

Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl - this is a waterborne semi-gloss.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until a full cure occurs. In the early stages, the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion, as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

March 2023

Q. We are looking at sealing plywood shelving - we want it to stay white most polyurethanes go yellow. Can you recommend a product that won't discolour the plywood?

A. Traditional oil based polyurethanes do yellow with age and often start off with a slightly honey undertone. For this reason I would recommend Resene Aquaclear which comes as a satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Or Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K which is a satin finish which is usually used for floors but can be used for horizontal shelving. Both of these are waterbased options that we describe as 'water clear' and being waterbased will not yellow with age.

March 2023

Q. I accidentally dropped a heavy object. My laminate kitchen bench now has a hole through the laminate. Could I use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, then a drop filler, and depending on how it looks a drop of low sheen paint the correct colour?

A. If the plan is to repair without painting or filler outside of the dent, I would recommend you fill the hole with a wood filler, like PAL wood filler or Resene EzyFill Quick ( as both are white and will help with coverage). Fill to level the dent without overfilling onto the outside laminate and sand carefully to smooth. Dust off all sanding dusts. Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by 1 or 2 coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

February 2023

Q. What products would you recommend to paint a wooden handrail and stairwell trim white?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner. Lightly sand to remove the gloss then apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for 24 hours. Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry and leave to cure for 48 hours. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or Resene Enamacryl gloss.

January 2023

Q. I've bought some MDF to replace a particle board top of a work bench which was falling apart. I was thinking of using two different Resene Colorwood stains to create an artificial grain texture. How might I varnish this? I was thinking Resene Polythane for durability and solvent resistance (occasional turps or alcohol spills).

A. I have double checked and a first coat of Resene AquaLAQ on top of the stain would be a safe option - even though MDF styles are not stated on the data sheet.

This does add another coat which should be spray applied and Resene Polythane is brush/roll applied.

Resene Polythane remains our toughest wearing clear, the best single pack clear would be Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K but while it has good wear resistance for a waterborne clear, it does not match Resene Polythane.

When using Resene Polythane, ventilation to vent the solvent to an exterior area is the only way to reduce/prevent odours from being absorbed into furnishings and the like.

It is a good choice for your project, if solvents sit on the finished surface for a long period of time, you will see deterioration.

January 2023

Q. Can Resene Waterborne Uracryl 802 be brushed? I’m redoing kitchen cabinets and require a hand painted look (subtle brush marks) with the durability of a two pack. Also, can Resene Waterborne Uracryl 802 be painted over most primers or is a special primer required?

A. Yes, Resene Waterborne Uracryl 802 can be brushed and can be applied over most primers with a few exceptions (not over Resene Vinyl Etch, Resene ConcreteSeal 3 in 1 and Zinc based primers).

December 2022

Q. We have bought some new cabinet doors and the colour isn't right but it took so long to get these ones we are hoping we can just paint them. We were told to ask about an primer to go over shiny melamine then we could paint with the colour we need?

A. Using Interior Paintwork Cleaner, clean down to remove grease/oil paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl using the kitchen and bathroom versions. The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

June 2022

Q. What is the best paint to use for inside of rimu kitchen cupboards and drawers? They are old and not painted.

A. Sand to a smooth finish, wiped off sanding dusts then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

June 2022

Q. I am looking to spray some Resene Uracryl 402 onto some kitchen cabinets. I have sprayed this product before on my own kitchen cabinets, but found the masking out process was quite detailed and complex. I see this product can be applied with a brush or roller and am therefore considering brush/rolling the cabinet carcasses then spraying doors/drawers etc off site.

Will the Resene Uracryl 402 flow out (if brushing or rolling) to give a spray like finish or would it be more conducive to just stick with one application method?

A. Spray application will always give the best finish.

June 2022

Q. I am looking for recommendations on what type of paint I should use to paint my kitchen cupboards? I believe they are laminate.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, clean down to remove grease/oil paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Wet sand using 400 grit wet and dry sandpaper, to achieve maximum primer adhesion, after sanding wipe down with a damp cloth to remove sanding residues. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom versions.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate, the paint system is considered to be decorative.

June 2022

Q. I am hoping to paint a brass drawer pull with a metallic gunmetal colour paint? It will be used in a hotel kitchen. Can you please advise if you have a suitable paint?

A. Use Resene Armourcote 220 and Resene Imperite Metallic with a Resene Uracryl Clear overcoat to protect the metallic finish.

April 2022

Q. We need to paint some MDF kitchen cupboard doors. They were originally covered with a plastic covering which has lifted off nearly completely. The MDF looks clean underneath without glue residue. Please can you advise the paint system we best to use?

A. Strip the overlay back to bare MDF. Carefully sand the MDF using 220 grit sandpaper to achieve a smooth finish. Dust off and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl, both in the Kitchen and Bathroom version.

April 2022

Q. What can I use as a primer on metal cupboard handles?

A. We recommend you use Resene Vinyl Etch.

April 2022

Q. I have used Resene Lusta-Glo on my trims 7 years ago. It has yellowed a bit. Can I redo them using Resene Lustacryl? And what prep do I need to do?

A. Solventborne enamels do yellow over time. To move to Resene Lustacryl, sand to de gloss, dust off and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom in your topcoat colour.

April 2022

Q. Just wondering if you can recommend which paint type is best for painting a small timber trim around the outside of a fireplace hearth? We want to paint the timber black to match the matt black tiles. I wasn't sure if needed a specific type of paint considering it’s near a heat source. The trim is pine.

A. Apply a prime coat of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of Resene Super Gloss or Resene Lusta-Glo Black.

April 2022

Q. I have a Rimu wooden kitchen bench that I want to refinish it in a sunny spot. The last time it was refurbished it was coated with some sort of polyurethane coating which is now cracking and easily removed with some heat. What can I use to recoat it?

It is exposed to UV light with north facing windows. There is some water contact as it is a kitchen bench but it has a stainless steel double sink insert. I don’t know what the existing coat is but it’s coming off easily now.

A. Strip the existing clear coating by sanding back to bare timber.

Sand the timber to achieve a smooth finish.

Altex Timbercote Clear would be the only product that would give both water and UV protection.

April 2022

Q. What varnish would you recommend for wooden kitchen benchtop? I am concerned about food contamination.

A. Apply a pre-treatment of Resene TimberLock (ensure any excess is wiped from the surface), allow to dry for at least 48 hours then follow with 3-4 coats of Resene HD Poly-Satin varnish.

While this paint system does have a degree of heat resistance it will be damaged if hot pans are placed direct on the surface or if the surface is used for cutting. If possible envelop seal with the first coat, then apply an additional three coats to the exposed areas. It is critical to ensure the full system is applied to cut edges such as those around a sink placement.

Allow to cure for two weeks then wipe down with a cloth and warm water before using.

April 2022

Q. I have several service benchtops (wooden) that are exposed to cleaning agents 70% Ethanol, 100% Propanol and Detergents on a daily basis. The benchtops have factory varnish on them which is wearing out an I would like to repaint them in a solid colour, white on several and one in black as a contrast colour for visualising product. Can we use Resene Lusta-Glo as it would be easy to touch up if required. Do you see any issues with Resene Lusta-Glo with these chemicals?

A. I think that Resene Polythane would be our simplest clear option, thoroughly sand the existing factory clear and apply at least three coats. The exposure to alcohol rules out solvent or waterborne enamels and Resene Uracryl 400 topcoats.

For a pigmented finish sand as above, then apply two coats of Resene Imperite 413, for brushing Resene Imperite 413 can be thinned with Resene Thinner No 8.

April 2022

Q. I have just made a shelving unit with 800x50x50mm shelves, 50 mm apart horizontally and vertically and it has grey pebbles on it. It is painted white but I don’t like it. I was thinking about painting it orange Resene Adrenalin but was wondering if it might be better in some kind of matt finish?

A. Choosing the appropriate sheen level can be difficult, Matt/flat is definitely an option as the lower the sheen level the more imperfections are hidden and the colours appear muddied and darker. Keep in mind a flat finish will not be as cleanable as a semi-gloss , especially if this is a high contact wall.

February 2022

Q. I have a compressed bamboo benchtop. Can you advise how to care for it?

A. We struggle to get a paint system clear or pigmented to adhere to bamboo. Bamboo isn’t a timber but a grass so timber coating principles do not apply.

Our only suggestion is to thoroughly sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper, dust off and finish with a wipe using a wet cloth. Apply a coat of Resene Aquaclear Gloss and leave to dry overnight then lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper then apply a second coat of Resene Aquaclear Gloss.

October 2021

Q. We are doing some conservation work on a heritage building. How would we prepare iron balustrades for repainting?

A. Prep is the key:

Treat any areas of mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Leave for up to 48 hours to achieve full kill. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed.

Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Thoroughly scrub the surface with a stiff Nylon broom to ensure complete removal of all grease, moss and mould residue, and any other contaminants, then rinse with copious amounts of fresh water or high pressure water blast ensuring all loose paint and salts are also removed.

All paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods (3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc), chemical stripper or high pressure water-blast taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable and all paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods (3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc), to leave only tightly adherent corrosion products taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Where under-film corrosion is taking place, the existing paint must first be removed as previous methods including under film corrosion products taking care not to damage sound zinc coated areas. All paint edges must be feathered to a smooth finish.

Note: The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage.

October 2021

Q. We have had the interior walls of our new build painted in Resene White Pointer. We have sought to have the curtain rails powder coated in the same colour.

A. We don't make powder coatings and the powder coatings available tend to be in very limited colour ranges different to what paint suppliers supply for wall paints. The powder coating colours tend to be more in line with the colours you get for roof and joinery work, not what is commonly chosen for walls. You can use (liquid) paint to coat a curtain rail as an alternative to get a consistent colour finish. Powder coating is cheaper to do but you have less choice of colours.

The other option, depending on your joinery colour, is to get the curtain rail to match that so that the look is consistent. That way when you may want to change the paint colour later the curtain rail will still match something else in the room and won't need updating.

We find most customers prefer to do that or opt for a metal look curtain rail, rather than trying to match the wall, because wall colours tend to be changed more regularly.

October 2021

Q. What can I use to repaint a countertop? It’s a wood top that has previously been painted but the paint it coming off, so we want to strip it and redo it.

A. Sand to remove the existing paint system and to achieve a smooth surface, then apply a prime coat of Resene Quick Dry, allow the Resene Quick Dry to cure for at least 48 hours and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 802 or Resene Uracryl 803.

October 2021

Q. What’s the whitest white I can use to repaint my old enamel painted skirting boards? There are some dings in the boards (hence the repaint) but only a few spots where the paint has flaked off. Will a primer be necessary?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease. Sand to degloss and profile for recoating, dust off and wipe with a damp cloth. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl White. Resene White is the brightest white we produce.

August 2021

Q. We wish to purchase a quality clear coat hardwearing product for an indoor handrail made of Maple. We would prefer this clear product to not yellow over time.

A. I recommend you use a two pack Resene Uracryl UVS Clear system. Apply a seal coat of Resene Uracryl 403 UVS Clear, allow to cure then lightly sand to de nib then apply three additional coats of Resene Uracryl 400 Series UVS Clear in your chosen gloss level.

August 2021

Q. I have some old metal handrails outside on my terrace. They had previously been galvanised and painted. I have removed all the flaking paint and painted with Resene Galvo One. I want to paint them black and have Resene Lustacryl - is this the best product?

A. The Resene Lustacryl topcoat is fine but the black will heat up. Normally we would suggest the Resene CoolColour version of the Resene Lustacryl applied over a full coat of Resene Galvo-Prime. Application of a Resene CoolColour system will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch.

August 2021

Q. How can I prepare and paint large melamine panel wardrobes? They are a dark colour. Too dark. I wish to change them to white.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Lightly wet sand with 220 grit wet and dry sandpaper.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

August 2021

Q. What’s the best paint to use on skirting boards that will reduce the likelihood of black marks appearing when vacuuming?

A. There is no specific paint for skirtings, however a traditional solventborne enamel topcoat such as Resene Lusta-Glo cures to be harder than a waterborne enamel such as Resene Lustacryl and this may make cleaning to remove rubber marks easier.

August 2021

Q. What do I use to paint a Formica® bench?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Lightly wet sand with 220 grit wet and dry sand paper to lightly profile the laminate. Wipe clean.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

August 2021

Q. I plan to roll waterborne enamel onto my joinery. Can you use brushing additive if you are rolling and does it leave a better finish, or is it just for use with a brush?

A. The Resene Brushing Additive was introduced to extend the open time of the WB enamel paint to allow for better flow and levelling. With the latest version of Resene Lustacryl the flow/levelling properties are very good without the Resene Brushing Additive. But it can be added if you see a requirement for it. For rolling use the Resene No.4 sleeve for doors, depending upon joinery to be painted brushing may be the better option.

August 2021

Q. Is there a product suitable for painting over kitchen cupboards wrapped in an acrylic finish?

A. If the surface is in fact an acrylic recoating should not be difficult. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas, then lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper. Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

July 2021

Q. What do you suggest we use to paint timber balustrades in a house? We are painting them black. They are currently varnished.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Sand to degloss with 220 grit sandpaper.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl topcoat colour.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

My preference is to do the same prep but apply a coat of Resene Acrylic Varishade Undercoat No 5 then the two coats of Resene Lustacryl topcoat colour.

June 2021

Q. I have just made up a large breakfast bar out of heart recycled rimu. Very old, very dry. I want advice as to the best finish for a breakfast bar. I have 4 litres of Resene Danska Teak Oil. I use it with great success on native timbers that aren’t work surfaces. If I were to apply it to this benchtop would it pose a problem for any subsequent topcoats to give durability? Should I opt for a different grain enhancement prior to topcoats?

A. Resene Danska Teak Oil would highlight the natural colours in the timber. I have used the product myself, it will require a light sand and a maintenance coat after a few years to maintain the finish.

Like any clear coated timber it will scratch damaged if used as a cutting surface, and not be resistant to hot items being placed onto the surface. Coffee cups are fine but not hot pans.

June 2021

Q. I have client who has a macrocarpa slab cut up for a bar leaner in his house. An installer of metal blinds has put a few hairline light scratches on the surface. Maybe five or six fine scratches around 6mm long.

The owner has used an epoxy (can’t find tin) and finished up with a anti UV top coat which has made the surface slightly opaque. The slab does not get a huge amount of sunlight. I am thinking that removing the coating chemically and with maybe a 250 grit light sand. The thought of having to strip the thing hacks me off but I cannot see an alternative.

A. We have Resene Uracryl 400 Series UVS Clears which will give the UV features you are seeking. To the best of my understanding the Carbothane clears do not have an added dedicated UV package.

June 2021

Q. We have brought a house with varnished wardrobes. Do we need to sand the doors and skirting boards or clean them and go straight over with Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer?

A. Use Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of topcoat paint.

June 2021

Q. I am building a kitchen with Hoop pine plywood. I would like to know the best stain I could use to cover the cabinets and the bench. I prefer a natural (light) colour for the cabinets and a black colour for the bench.

A. Resene Colorwood Stain is the stain to be used. This is a brush/roll on then wipe off stain. I recommend that you obtain a piece of the ply and test your preferred stain colour.

There is no clear that will be completely scratch and heat resistant, a clear will withstand hot cups of coffee being placed on to the clear coat but not hot pans or the like.

May 2021

Q. I am using a piece of 10mm H3.2 plywood as a special curved shape skirting board around a raised curved shower tray and I was wondering what paints you would recommend to use to get a nice smooth enamel finish look.

A. A traditional alkyd-based system would be the best for this application. Apply an envelope prime coat of Resene Wood Primer followed by an envelope coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo topcoat colour. This is given on the assumption that the timber can be pre primed/undercoated then installed. Ensure all end cuts are also primed/undercoated.

May 2021

Q. What Resene paint/combination of paints should I use to paint Melteca® wardrobe components?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Lightly wet sand with 400 wet and dry sandpaper. Wipe clean.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

April 2021

Q. We have a macrocarpa timber slab that we want to use as a vanity top. Do you have a Resene product that would work in this environment?

A. We recommend four coats of Resene Polythane, applied to the entre slab, front, back and edges.

March 2021

Q. I want to renovate the inside of old kitchen cupboards and paint them white. Can you please tell me the best undercoat and topcoat to use for inside drawers and cupboards?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas. If already painted sand to degloss/profile using 220 or 240 grit sandpaper, dust off and wipe down with a damp cloth then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom White. Allow the paint system to dry with good ventilation between coats and after completion.

March 2021

Q. I need to overpaint some skirtings/windows and doors in our (old) house. The old enamel paint on them is presumably lead-based (it looks to be over 40 years old). It's in good condition. I have tried a water based undercoat but it isn't bonding sufficiently. Some research online suggests finding an epoxy or polymer undercoat to encapsulate lead paint. Do you have any suggestions? I am planning on putting Resene waterborne enamel as a topcoat/s.

A. The prime requirement is to achieve adhesion of the new paint system. Wet sand the existing enamel paint using 180 grit sandpaper, dispose of the sandpaper by placing in a sealed plastic bag. Wipe down the sanded surface to remove sanding residues and again place the wet cloth in a sealed plastic bag for disposal. Wear gloves and a dust mask when sanding. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry or Resene Enamel Undercoat then topcoat. Note, this will in essence encapsulate the lead based paint.

February 2021

Q. To repaint a handrail that has a sound paint finish would we have to completely sand back or could we seal and paint over?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Prepare areas of flaking/peeling by sanding back to a sound feathered edge. Then sand (180 or 220 grit) the existing clear to profile/de gloss for recoating. There’s no need to sand back to bare substrate.

Then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl for a total waterborne system. Otherwise you can replace the topcoats with Resene Super Gloss or Resene Lusta-Glo enamels.

November 2020

Q. I am planning to paint the pantry cupboards that are about 20 years old. I have removed all doors etc and will sand them. Do I have to apply a primer before I start painting them?

A. Yes, Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Sand to profile then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom in your topcoat colour.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

September 2020

Q. We are installing solid oak timber trim in a high end house who want to use Resene Colorwood Rock Salt. The timber is all getting kiln dried and to stop any extra drying in a modern house.

A. This is usually achieved by application of Resene Colorwood Rock Salt stain then overcoated with a clear varnish such as Resene Aquaclear. If the stain coat does not achieve the desired level of whiteness then the Resene Aquaclear topcoats (one or more) can be modified with an addition of a pottle of Resene Colorwood Enhance White. I recommend you try it on a piece of timber first to determine if the Resene Colorwood Enhance modified coats of Resene Aquaclear are required.

August 2020

Q. I am wanting to paint my night store heater. What should I use?

A. This can only be painted if you can maintain full hand contact when it is warm. Sand the existing paint work to de gloss (220 grit) then apply a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo or Resene Super Gloss enamel topcoat colour.

For a week or so after painting there will be a solvent type odour released from the painted surface this will require good ventilation to vent to exterior until the release is no longer noticeable.

June 2020

Q. What is the best product to recoat exterior powder coated balcony rails?

A. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Then apply two coats of Resene Armourcote 221 and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 colour.

June 2020

Q. I’m looking at making a laundry cabinet and wonder what base paint I should use: acrylic or oil. It will get wet sometimes. I also want it to be white with a gloss but also not too glossy. It will be made of ply or pine.

A. For pine and plywood, prime with Resene Wood Primer then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before topcoating with two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom. For MDF apply two coats of Resene Quick Dry then the Resene Lustacryl topcoats. For MDF it is essential to ensure envelope sealing, all sides and edges especially cut edges as water ingress will cause what is called weetbixing of the MDF. Envelope sealing also recommended for the other timber substrates.

June 2020

Q. I am painting a skirting board. I have an old oil based skirting board. Can I paint over it with Resene Lustacryl with no primer? Or do I need oil based primer?

A. Clean down to remove oil/grease/dirt then sand to degloss/profile and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before overcoating with two coats of Resene Lustacryl topcoat.

May 2020

Q. I am working with a restaurant/bar who would like to refinish their wooden bar top. What product do you recommend putting on it?

A. If timber, sand down then apply three coats of Resene Polythane (assume it is an existing clear finish). The surface will not suitable for hot pans.

May 2020

Q. We have some 16mm standard MDF that we want to use to replace the cabinet faces in our kitchen. What can we use please to seal and protect from moisture before we paint the MDF. After we have sealed the MDF we can then just paint or do we need to prime before?

A. Prime the MDF with two coats of Resene Quick Dry then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Envelope prime the MDF (paint on all sides) with Resene Quick Dry prior to installation.

May 2020

Q. We have a large Tawa kitchen and would like to enhance it, at least close to how it looked on installation. We clean it regularly as it is a very busy kitchen for supplying guest breakfasts and dinners. What can I coat it with to brighten the joinery up?

The previous owners used to use a wood polish/cleaner at the end of each season.

A. Given this, then the following system can be used; pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

May 2020

Q. I have four cedar kitchen bench tops to seal and make as tough as possible, I know cedar is not great for benchtops but the wood was gifted to me. Cedar is quite soft and I would like to apply a polyurethane style of finish, due to it being a damp area, what would you recommend for sealing and protecting the bench tops?

A. We would recommend four coats of Resene Polythane. Ensure you envelope seal the sections with at least one coat on all sides. The clear coated system will not resist hot items being placed on the surface or if the surface is used for cutting.

May 2020

Q. I am looking to repaint my bathroom vanity white and looking for some advice on the best way to do this. The cabinet is varnished.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom or Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom. The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

May 2020

Q. What should I use to repaint my rimu kitchen cabinet?

A. Thoroughly sand, then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

April 2020

Q. I am wanting to paint some doors and pantry cupboards/drawers. What product do you recommend?

A. We recommend Resene Lustacryl as the topcoat.

If already painted, use Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner to ensure that the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease. Pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Sand using 220 grit sandpaper, dust off and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before applying two coats of topcoat colour.

April 2020

Q. We are polyurethaning some kitchen cabinets – sides and drawers. We have some Resene Qristal ClearFloor 2k. We have a base and a hardener. We were wondering if you could just use the base for this or if it would need to be mixed. Or if you would advise a different product?

A. You could use Resene Aquaclear – available in satin, semi-gloss or gloss (not Resene Aquaclear Natural).

April 2020

Q. My question is regarding painting timber joinery. They are currently painted with enamel paint. I have scraped away the old flaky paint and then sanded using a small triangular multitool. I have applied one coat of enamel undercoat. However, I can still see through the undercoat back to patches of bare wood. Does it need another coat of undercoat? My plan is to apply two coats of waterbased enamel as a topcoat. But I’m unsure if this will hide the patches of bare timber.

A. Undercoats and primers are not designed to give opacity, this comes for the two coats of topcoats so one full coat of undercoat is normally sufficient.

April 2020

Q. We are painting internal cedar joinery which has previously been varnished. Is it ok to sand back, and use waterbased enamel paint? Or should we use oil based?

A. The existing varnish will need to be well-sanded. Cedar contains tannins which can be dissolved and end up in the waterborne topcoat. To avoid this, apply a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat before topcoating.

April 2020

Q. How should I repaint a badly weathered and cracked pine handrail?

A. You will need to do a total strip of all existing paint work and a thorough sand to restore the original timber colour. Fill cracks using a RepairCare filling system (available from all Resene ColorShops) then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl.

If selecting a dark topcoat colour, we recommend application of the Resene CoolColour version of the topcoat colour. Application of a Resene CoolColour will reflect more heat than the same colour made using non-cool pigmentation and reduce heat related stress on the substrate; it will not make the painted surface cool to touch.

April 2020

Q. I have repainted my house, stucco, last painted about 30 years ago. I have redone the windows several times, but the walls were in good condition. The paint isn't peeling, but it has lost its gloss. I'm about to repaint the spouting, most of it is copper. In places Verdigris has started. What treatment do you recommend before repainting?

A. You can remove the verdigris by carefully sanding with 400 grit wet and dry sandpaper or make a paste of equal parts vinegar, flour and salt. Rub it all over the affected area and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Once removed and dry, apply a coat of Resene Vinyl Etch then topcoat with an exterior waterborne topcoat.

April 2020

Q. We have an existing cabinet intended to be reused as a bathroom vanity with a sink that will simply be placed on top. We would ideally like to preserve the top surface of the vanity and its look, and are looking for a way to waterproof the surface. Could you please advise if there is a Resene varnish robust enough for the situation?

A. The only system we would offer would be Resene Polythane, four coats.

The existing surface would need to be degreased (if furniture polishes have been used this may be difficult). Then sanded to profile for coating.

March 2020

Q. I am coating my trims and skirting with clear enamel polyurethane (Resene Qristal Clear). This is Rimu that has been sanded back to bare timber. Is it best to apply the first two coats satin/matt and one coat (final) gloss, or just the first coat satin/matt, and final two coats gloss (sanding in between?

A. If you want to bring out the red tones in Rimu apply the gloss as the first coat. You should only need to sand prior to application of the final coat.

March 2020

Q. I have doors and trim in my house painted with Resene Lusta-Glo. I am wondering if I can touch up using Resene Lustacryl as water-based paint is easier to work with. Would this work? I guess I am worried about differences in gloss level and colour – I don't want the touch ups to be noticeable.

A. We recommend that you stay with Resene Lusta-Glo to get the best chance of a seamless touch up.

March 2020

Q. I have timber joinery but am not sure if I need to use Resene TimberLock and Resene Quick Dry.

My reason for asking is that there may be different types of joinery timbers around – I have a whole lot of window frames on a rental house needing repainting so need to know if we should be using Resene TimberLock on all bare scraped timber joinery then Resene Quick Dry over that as well as over all the previously painted frames – or, just Resene Quick Dry?

A. Resene TimberLock is not technically a primer but a timber pre-treatment to consolidate weathered timber. Resene TimberLock also has a package to inhibit timber decay organisms. Primers such as Resene Wood Primer and Resene Quick Dry should be applied over Resene TimberLock when pigmented paint systems are being developed.

Tannin containing timbers such as Cedar should always have Resene Wood Primer used, native timbers such as Totara and Matai must be primed with a waterborne priming system, such as Resene Quick Dry, as the oil based primers do not dry over these timbers.

March 2020

Q. I have a stained and varnished wall unit that I want to paint. What is the best process and products to use? Also what is the best way to spray Resene Lustacryl enamel? I have a compressor and spray guns.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. A light sand of the varnished surface will always be beneficial but not essential.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is formulated at water like viscosity so spray application is not recommended.

We recommend using Resene Lustacryl Commercial Spray when spraying Resene Lustacryl.

March 2020

Q. I am looking to paint over my green skirting with a waterbased paint in a grey/charcoal colour.

What type of paint would you recommend?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand to profile, dust off and apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by two coats of Resene Lustacryl tinted to your topcoat colour.

March 2020

Q. After applying Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer are we supposed to sand it before applying Resene Lustacryl? I know you would normally sand between a primer and topcoat but I thought this product might be different and I haven’t found anywhere that says to sand. I have put it on laminate cupboard doors.

A. We do not recommend sanding Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer before overcoating, The Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer is thin and sanding can remove the adhesion primer film.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better.

February 2020

Q. Which products would you recommend for DIY repainting/spraying aluminium joinery (outside windows and doors)?

A. For weathered surfaces scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. For the most durable system apply a coat of Resene Vinyl Etch (if there are signs of corrosion pitting substitute the Resene Vinyl Etch for Resene Armourcote 221) and finish with two coats of Resene Uracryl 402 tinted to your required colour. For elevations that are subject to severe weathering you can overcoat the Resene Uracryl pigmented topcoat with a coat of Resene Uracryl 402 UVS Clear. The UVS clear (ultraviolet stabilised) protects the tinted colour from UV and weathering. All products are designed for brush application.

February 2020

Q. We have a vanity design for which our clients would like a timber top that appears ‘whitewashed’ or scrubbed, like an old table top, within a ‘Hamptons’ style interior design. American White Ash has been recommended as a light but durable timber.

A. We recommend you apply Resene Colorwood Rock Salt stain, leave for 48 house to cure than apply three coats of Resene Polythane for the best clear over coat option.

February 2020

Q. I want to repaint our bathroom vanity cupboards. I think they are made of chipboard. They have deteriorated on the edges. I have touched them up but now want to be brave and repaint them. What paint should I use please and should it be enamel paint?

A. Ensure the existing painted surface is degreased and then sand using 220 grit sandpaper to profile for recoating. Then apply two coats of Resene Quick Dry and lightly sand after the application of the second coat. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom.

February 2020

Q. I want to paint the handrail on my balcony and am looking for advice on how to go about this. It is a polished stainless handrail. It has been installed for around 20 years now.

A. Wash down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Then apply two coats of Resene Armourcote 221 epoxy primer and finish with two coats of Uracryl 402 tinted to your required topcoat colour.

January 2020

Q. We want to paint stair and landing exposed steel stringers (covering glazed balustrades) to match the wall colour Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Eighth Rice Cake. Which paint do you recommend?

A. Our recommended system would be to abrasive blast to near white metal then apply Resene Armourcote 220 to achieve a DFT of 75 microns then topcoat with a Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat system.

January 2020

Q. I have a slab of timber: macrocarpa which I am using to make a kitchen benchtop. Can you use Resene Aquaclear to seal/protect the wood from moisture/water? Would you recommend another product?

A. I would recommend using Resene Polythane, at least three coats for this application.

January 2020

Q. I have some stair balusters and rails that I want to paint white. They currently have old worn varnish but I don’t really want to spend the time stripping them. Is there a product I can use to paint directly on to them?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. The sealer is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. If the clear coat has worn away to leave essentially bare timber sections an alternative system may be required. Sand to profile for recoating (do not need to sand to remove the clear coat) then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat and again finish with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl. Resene Lustacryl will give a harder wearing finish due to its higher gloss level.

January 2020

Q. We have Tasmanian Oak cabinetry in our 30 year old house. I would like to lighten the colour reduce the yellow/gold colour, which stain shall I use?

A. Our recommendation would be Resene Colorwood Rock Salt. If the cabinetry is varnished you will have to sand it back to bare timber before staining.

December 2019

Q. I have a workbench with a new mdf benchtop. What finish could I apply to give good durability? My first thought is moisture cured polyurethane.

A. I agree with your selection of Resene Polythane. If you are after a clear system, apply four coats.

December 2019

Q. We are installing plywood shelves in a pantry. What would you suggest I paint them with and will it damage easily loading and unloading the shelves?

A. The simplest paint system would be two coats of Resene Quick Dry followed with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

December 2019

Q. I want to paint some Lundia bookshelves which have previously been coated in clear solvent-based polyurethane. Can you please suggest the paint system and would you suggest using a solvent based paint on the shelves or will a waterbased paint such as Resene Lustacryl be OK?

A. Sand to profile using 220 grit sandpaper, taking care not to causes deep scratches,dust off and apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. We need to coat macrocarpa slabs to use as tabletops in a bar.  The tables will be inside but subjected to sunlight coming through a large open door for about five hours each day.  We are after a finish that is scratch resistant and will not yellow from UV.  The slabs have already been sealed with a two part epoxy sealer that anything can be put over - resins, varnishes and even oils.  The sealer was applied by someone else and they are not willing to disclose the name of the product. Can you please recommend the best product to use as a coating?  I would prefer a low sheen finish.

A. Epoxies will yellow if exposed to light so there may already be a degree  of yellowing occurring.

Best recommendation is to sand the epoxy coating and apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 UVS Clear. The UVS version of the clear will give UV protection but will not correct existing UV induced yellowing.

Q. I want to use Resene Polythane to paint my hardwood kitchen countertops. Can you please advise if Resene Polythane is safe to use on countertops where food will be prepared?

A. No issues once the Resene Polythane system is fully cured.

Q. We have just painted our kitchen countertop with Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, then Resene Acrylic Undercoat and topcoat in white. Once well dried we have spot dabbed Resene testpot paints in three colours. What is the best water-based clear to seal the countertop to a kitchen surface hard finish? We do have a tin of Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K Waterborne Flooring Urethane, could that be used as the sealer?  Does it yellow?

A. I recommend Resene Concrete Wax.

Q. I'm looking for a polyurethane type coating for some indoor plywood cabinetry. I've used solventborne in the past, never used water based - not sure if waterbased is as tough, and up to the job?

A. Waterborne polyurethanes do provide a good level of protection and durability however typically the solventborne options are still a notch above when it comes to durability.

The benefits of waterborne coatings are that they are low odour, can be washed up in water, don't yellow the timber like solventborne products do, and they will still provide a good level of durability.  However, if durability is something that's top of mind for you, you may want to stay with a product like Resene Qristal Clear.

Q. I am making a kitchen benchtop out of Totara. What product do you have to seal and provide a hard wearing clear surface finish? I thought perhaps an epoxy resin.

A. Resene Polythane would be the only clear we would recommend for this application. Apply two envelope coats (coat all sides) then finish the top/exposed surfaces with an additional two coats.

The clear will not fill depressions/cracks in the timber and will not be suitable as a clear coat for cutting purposes or for placing hot pots onto.

October 2019

Q. What is the best paint to repaint an outside powdercoated galvanised deck railing? The existing colour is Lignite and we want the same colour. There is no corrosion or chalking.

A. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Wet sand using 400 wet and dry sandpaper to profile, wipe clean and then apply a full coat of Resene Armourcote 221. Then apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 tinted to your chosen colour.

October 2019

Q. We are having a kauri bench top in our bathroom. What would be a good clear coating for this? The Kauri benchtop is new and currently being made.

A. Our only recommendation is four coats of Resene Polythane and at least 1 of the coats as a full envelope seal.

Q. Can Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel be used over oil based enamel on skirting, architraves and doors, after a clean and light sanding without problems in future?

A. Yes, but to achieve the best possible adhesion you will need to ensure the existing enamel paint is clean and sanded to profile for recoating. To give the best adhesion of the Resene Lustacryl topcoat, apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry to the sanded surface.

With skirting/architraves it is essential to install a system to give maximum adhesion to reduce the chance of chipping.

Q. If I have got a musty smell out of my drawers, can I paint them to stop it coming back and if so, what paint do I use?

A. The musty smell is usually indicative of bacteria or mould being present.

Wipe the surfaces down with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions, then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

Q. I have two faded rimu cabinets painted with two pot lacquer.  I would like to renovate them with a colour. Is it possible to paint with a coloured two pot or will they have to stay lacquered?

A. Degrease and a through sand should then allow re painting with a two pack topcoat. However as the solvent resistance of the existing lacquer cannot easily be checked there may be a possibility that the solvents in the two pack topcoat may react with the lacquer.

Q. Do you have, or can you recommend a clear finish suitable for use on a timber vanity top?

A. We recommend Resene Polythane.

Q. I have a previously polyurethaned wooden benchtop to sand back and recoat. Which clear product is best suited for this area? The bench surrounds the kitchen sink and has a little water wear to the previous coating around the edge of the sink.

A. Assuming that you are wanting to recoat with a clear system, the best product for this application is 3-4 coats of Resene Polythane.

Q. I have a wooden stairway banister varnished in 'rimu' coloured polyurethane. I want to change the colour to a dark wood finish without major sanding work. Is there a Resene product that would suit and how would it be applied (brush, sponge etc.)? 

A. I recommend you can visit a Resene ColorShop and look at the Resene Colorwood Enhance samples on the Resene Woodcare stand.

You will have to degrease the hand rail and sand to achieve a profile for recoating. You do not need to sand the existing varnish system off to bare timber.

Then apply 1-2 coats of Resene Colorwood Enhance colour that suits what you are trying to achieve. One Resene Colorwood Enhance colour pottle is added per litre of Resene Aquaclear waterborne varnish (can be added to any of the sheen versions available in the product, but I recommend that the semi-gloss would be the best to achieve good wear characteristics).

Q. I have a pine stairway balustrade about 40 years old. I've stripped the polyurethane off it and I intend to paint it. What undercoat and topcoats should I apply?

A. For a waterbased system, we recommend one coat Resene Quick Dry primer and two coats Resene Enamacryl (gloss waterborne enamel).

Q. What's the best paint to use on MDF bookshelves?

A. For bare MDF apply a primer coat of Resene Quick and then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. There is a wooden trim around my benchtop which gets quite a lot of traffic and water splashes and this is where the paint is scratching off. I want to go over it again with something hard wearing and a friend suggested oil based paint? I am wondering if you could give me some advice.

A. Sand back the existing paintwork to a sound base and apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry, then finish with two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo enamel.

If water is getting in behind the paint system there may still be an ongoing adhesion issue.

Q. What type of finish should I use for a bookcase? I have plenty of matt finish paint that we used for the walls and I was going to use that for the wall bookcase or should I get matt enamel?

A. Standard waterborne wall paints do not have great wear resistance so may be damaged if used for painting a book case, however this is not to say they can't. We would usually recommend either Resene Lusta-Glo or Resene Lustacryl for this application.

Q. Can you recommend a low sheen hard wearing paint suitable for interior woodwork such as skirts, doors and windows?

A. Typically we specify semi-gloss or full gloss enamels on timber joinery as the higher the sheen level the better the abrasion resistance etc.

You can use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen also as it also a waterbased enamel and suitable. Point to note though - lower sheen products can be more susceptible to burnish marks when darker colours are selected so this would be something to keep in mind. If you do choose darker colours consider applying Resene SpaceCote Clear over the top to protect against burnish marks.

Q. I have prepped my room completely and undercoated the whole thing with Resene Quick Dry. I have bought Resene Ceiling Paint and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for the walls but have not started putting it on.

Can you please advise if it's okay to paint the scotia on the room using the Resene Ceiling Paint and also the skirting boards using the Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen?

A. Resene Ceiling Paint can be used for the scotia, the higher the gloss level of the skirting paint the better wear.  We would normally suggest Resene Lustacryl as the topcoat for skirting.

Q. Do you have you some tips for repainting skirting that sits along/against carpet? Looking for ways to pull carpet away/hold back etc. without removing the carpet.

A. Use a wallpaper ezy trim edge as a straight edge, place edge against the skirting then push back to expose the edge to be painted. After completion of a section, wipe the edge to remove wet paint before repositioning.

Alternatively, use a strong masking tape to cover the carpet, smooth out to get close to the skirting line.

Q. I have some rust spots (staining) coming through a painted handrail. I would like to paint over the handrail with the same colour as our house is painted. How should I treat the rust?

A. We don't recommend 'painting‘ over rust spots as this does not address the cause.

Typical preparation for this situation is as follows; Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed.

All paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods e.g. 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable and all paint that is flaking or unsound must be removed by using mechanical methods e.g. 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc,  taking care not to damage either the substrate or the surrounding areas.

Where under-film corrosion is taking place, the existing paint must first be removed as above and remove under film corrosion products taking care not to damage sound zinc coated areas. All paint edges must be feathered to a smooth finish.

Note: The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage.

Ensure all edges of damaged paint are sound and immediately spot prime all areas of corrosion and any other bare metal with a full coat of the specified primer.

Q. We are putting in a macro cooktop bench top inside and want to know what you recommend to seal it with.

A. For a clear coat system to achieve a water resistant clear finish, use four coats of Resene Polythane, and envelope seal with at least two coats.

Q. I have a dark coloured exterior door. Can I repaint it with a 'CoolColour', or do I have to strip the old paint off first for the 'CoolColour' to be effective?

A. Wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions, then sand the existing paint system to profile for re-coating, and do not need to completely sand off the existing paint system.

Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and then finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl CoolColour or Resene Lustacryl CoolColour.

The Resene CoolColour™ topcoat will not render the painted surface cool to touch but the CoolColour version will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

Dark colours may cause the rapid drying of damp timber with the ensuing danger of warping, though this effect will be lessened when a CoolColour is selected in place of a standard colour.

Q. What paint should I use for skirting and architraves?  They have previously been painted.

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner following label directions then sand with 220 grit sandpaper, dust off and the apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and then two coats of Resene Lustacryl tinted to your required colour.

Q. Thanks to Resene SpaceCote Flat our house looks terrific. The next job is recoating the interior steel handrail in the stairwell. We are looking for a pewter/silver finish - must be hard wearing. Do I need a two-part epoxy or similar or does Resene have yet another great product for me?

The rails are painted and in really good condition - just the wrong colour. Not sure of paint system. Finish is light metallic grey; I suspect it's an oven-baked system, rather like a car. Our house is one of 24 identical units and I reckon all the rails were made on a production-line system.

A. Ensure the rails are thoroughly degreased using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand using 240 grit sandpaper, dust off and apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of a Resene FX Metallic colour. Allow the metallic base coat to cure for at least 48 hours then apply a coat of Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield.

The application of the metallic colour to small areas should give a uniform effect.

Q. I need to paint a kitchen laminated cabinet, so I'm enquiring about a two pack pot paint for spray or roller. Area isn't great, approx. 3x panels 2000 x 600 mm.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. The sealer is formulated at a water like viscosity which really rules out spray application, and is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film thickness or give opacity, the thinner the coat the better. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

This system is aimed at DIY applicators.

There is a spray option, with the same prep but use Resene Vinyl Etch as the adhesion primer and then topcoat with any of the Resene Uracryl 400 Series top coats. Allow the etch to cure for a few days in a well ventilated area before applying the Resene Uracryl Series topcoats.

The Resene Uracryl topcoat uses an isocyanate cure so the required spraying precautions for application of an isocyanate containing paint must be followed.

Q. 10 years ago we built our house using Resene paint systems. We have floor to ceiling double glazed aluminium windows with curtains. The walls have a matt paint. Due to condensation on cold nights mould has built up on the walls along the edges of the aluminium.

I wonder if after cleaning the mould I should run a line of Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint along the edges - or what is your best recommendation for both cleaning, preparation and future prevention? At this stage of course, there is no requirement for a full repaint.

A. The issue you report is due to either poor ventilation build-up of internal moisture or a combination of both. The only way to address the mould growth is to treat the mould infested areas with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom. The topcoat will inhibit mould growth but not kill existing mould infestation.

Q. What primer or paint is best for painting a wooden kitchen bench? Would I need urethane over the top for durability? Also, how many coats of each would I need?

A. Apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry and leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 802.

Q. I need a water based paint (white) to use for bookshelves. I need it to be hard wearing and ideally an acrylic/enamel.

A. We recommend Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel.

Q. What clear finish would you recommend for plywood kitchen bench tops?

A. My recommendation would be for four coats of Resene Polythane.

However, the clear coated bench tops will not withstand hot pots/pans being placed on the surface or cutting.

Q. I have acquired a piece of kauri which I have filled with a clear resin with a green pigment. I am almost finished as I’m not sanding it and am getting to the process where I varnish/oil. What oil/varnish would you recommend to make the wood and also the resin pop and make it really stand out plus protect the tabletop?

A. You cannot oil the clear resin areas as the oil will not be absorbed into the cured clear. Tithe only possible clear is a waterborne clear such as Resene Aquaclear but you will have to sand first to achieve adhesion. Some single pack solventborne varnishes do not dry over an epoxy resin.

Q. I have a Formica® benchtop in excellent condition and hate the colour.  I would like to paint it, then protect with three coats of Resene Aquaclear.  How should I proceed?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate and this cannot be restored by application of clear overcoats.

Q. How do I prepare a cabinet finished in furniture lacquer ready for repainting? I would like a low sheen/satin finish.

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner then sand using 240grit sandpaper to profile for recoating.

Q. Is there an odourless/low odour, washable paint which would be suitable for repainting larder shelves? Would I need to do any special preparation first, apart from normal cleaning of the existing (rather worn, forlorn looking) surface?

A. You could look to use Resene Lustacryl  and allow for curing with ventilation for at least seven days.

Q. I want to paint a galvanised steel frame internally. What system/product should I use? The steel is all new and smooth. We hope to paint the portal frames in a black satin or semi-gloss that won’t scratch too easily and the remainder we are lining with plywood.

A. I suggest Resene Vinyl Etch Black. It will achieve the best adhesion but application to very smooth galvanising is always a challenge.

Q. We have a new rimu benchtop we want to get a satin finish on. Can we use Resene Qristal ClearFloor on a kitchen bench as this comes in satin?

A. Suggest you look to use Resene Qristal Clear Polyurethane. Resene Polythane would still be my go to product for this.

Q. I am currently renovating the cedar joinery in my sunroom in advance of the installation of replacement double glazing units and require advice as to the most suitable enduring clear coating system for the joinery. The sunroom is 4m x 3.5m, faces north and receives all day sun. The walls are double glazed as is 60% of the roof.

A. Sand the cedar then apply a saturation coat of Resene TimberLock. Wipe the excess off at time of application and leave to dry for 48 hours then apply Altex Timbercote marine varnish following the data sheet recommendations. The Resene TimberLock will add to the UV protection to the cedar.

Q. I have a concrete composite bench top in my house and just want to give it a coat to keep it sealed. Do I use the Resene Concrete Wax or Resene Uracryl 402?

A. We recommend multiple coats of Resene Concrete Wax.

Q. If I have oil based paint on my skirting boards, and I want to paint over this with non-oil based enamel, do I need to just sand back the paint, or do I need to sand back the paint and undercoat?

A. Thoroughly sand and prime with a coat of Resene Quick Dry before topcoating.

Q. Which product would you recommend to apply to a wooden benchtop in a semi-gloss colour? Obviously water resistance and durability are a factor. This benchtop is still as it was - bare wood that was stained and varnished but has seen better days. The timber has water damage in places and will have to be sanded back. It`s white pine which was new when the top was made 40 years ago, so it has no resin.

A. Thoroughly sand areas of flaking paint back to a sound feathered edge, sand bare timber to restore the originals timber colour and also sand remaining sound paint to profile for recoating. Spot prime bare timber with Resene Quick Dry and then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. The Formica laminate on the kitchen bench has worn though to hardboard in places. Is there a product that I can paint over the whole of the bench?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Use RepairCare DryFlex SF Filler to flush off areas where the laminate coating has worn away, sand smooth after the epoxy has cured.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow curing without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is not designed to achieve a high wet film thickness or opacity.

Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl tinted to your selected colour.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

Q. What products do I need to paint interior and exterior powdercoat joinery? The condition is good. I’m only changing it to get a new colour.

A. Exterior: ensure the surfaces are clean and chalk free, apply a primer coat of Resene Vinyl Etch and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl. If selecting a dark colour, then use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the topcoat colour.

Interior: ensure the surfaces are clean and chalk free, apply a primer coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer (the product is not designed to be applied as a thick wet film or to achieve opacity) and leave to cure for at least 48 hours before over coating, then finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. Can you advise how best to remove greasy fingerprints from kitchen cupboards? I regularly wipe with a dish cloth and warm soapy water but can’t get stubborn marks off. It is most noticeable on the darker coloured cupboards.

A. Suggest you may like to try Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner.

Q. I’d like to paint over some powder coated aluminium trim to match the colour with the rest of the room. Can you please advise on what preparation and primer would be required?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, then apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for at least two days, then overcoat with two coats of Resene Lustacryl .

Painting will not reproduce the original features of the powder coated metal.

Q. We are putting in pine benchtops in our kitchen and bathroom. I have been told about a two step hardener (epoxy maybe?). Could you please advise me on what we should purchase? Also is it clear and/or a darker colour? We want a clear varnish, not paint.

A. Four coats of Resene Polythane would be the best system.

Q. Can you paint old MDF kitchen cabinets? If so what paint do you use and what preparation? I think it is Melteca®.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensures the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Painting will not reproduce the original laminate features.

Q What is the cheapest Resene paint for wooden kitchen cabinets? They are old wooden cabinets.

A. Degrease using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner paying particular attention to areas of hand contact. Sand using 220 grit sandpaper dust off, then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. What prep work and paint would l use to paint over Melamine joinery. It also has PVC edging? It's kitchen joinery so has to stand up to everyday wear and tear.

A. The following paint system can be used for painting laminates such as Melteca.

Scrub down using a cleaner such as Jif and remove all residues. Wet sand with a 400 wet and dry sandpaper, taking care not to unduly scratch the laminate surface. Rinse clean and allow to dry, then apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer (this only needs to be a thin coat and will not achieve opacity over the laminate colour). Allow to cure for 48 hours then undercoat with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

For best results, roll the topcoats using a Resene No.4 roller sleeve. The paint system will take at least five days to develop adhesion and harden, full cure requires a month. The painted surface will not have the hardness properties of the original laminate.

Q. I'd like to paint over my Formica® laminated kitchen counters. Do you have a product that would work for this?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease and pay particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours, before overcoating (note only a thin coat is required, the adhesion sealer is not formulated to give opacity or wet film build). Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages, the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

Q. I am painting the interior of the house and I would like to know, what is the hardest white Resene product for painting the skirting boards? The rest of the doors and frames, I have painted with Resene Quick Dry undercoat and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel topcoat.

A. The only 'harder' finish is Resene Lusta-Glo but the white is not as white as Resene Lustacryl and as a solventborne enamel, Resene Lusta-Glo will yellow over time.

Q. Can I use acrylic undercoat over (probable) oil based wooden trim?

A. Yes, after a clean down and a sand to provide a mechanical key for the new paint.

Q. How can I remove waterborne paint marks from old anodised aluminium joinery?

A. If it’s old it can be very difficult. I suggest you try meths and a cloth. Can’t give an ironclad guarantee that the substrate will remain untouched, so it’s best to try it on an inconspicuous area first.

Q. Is pigmented sealer ok to be used in a pantry? I have a pantry cupboard that has a really bad old musty smell. The shelving is not laminated with anything.

A. I suggest that you wipe the interior surfaces down with bleach and leave for 48 hours then wipe down with warm water and a cloth.

Then apply 2 coats of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Maintain good ventilation for 4-5 days before re stocking the pantry.

Q. I'm painting some old metal Dexion shelving, and wondered if I can use interior/exterior waterbased enamel (Resene Enamacryl) or if I need to use roof/metal paint? They're for a garage, so they don't need to look perfect. They are quite rusty in places, so I'll use a rust kill primer where they've been sanded back to bare metal.

A. Remove all loose red rust, using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc then spot prime using Resene GP Metal Primer then apply two coats of topcoat. For shelving, conventional solventborne enamel such as Resene Super Gloss will cure to a harder finish.

Q. I have a 50 year old plywood cupboard that became smelly, as it was in a house with liquefaction. It has strong family connections so I want to save it. I have washed down the inside with a bleach and dishwashing mix and it smells a lot better. What can I use to seal the inside? We don’t want paint, as we want to keep the wood finish, is there a varnish or waterbased varnish or something else we can use?

A. I suggest four coats of Resene Polythane.

Q. Can you apply a coating to help contain formaldehyde?

A. Yes but to hold back the formaldehyde the full number of coats would be required to all surfaces, envelope coating (all four sides).

Q. What preparation and paint should I use to paint a glass shelf? Do I use primer and undercoat?

A. The best product is Resene Imperite IF 503 applied direct to clean glass.

Q. I need to stain a work bench with a black stain. It has been well coated with polyurethane (at least a couple of coats). Do I need to strip it right back or can I simply stain over?

A. Yes, as the stain coat needs to be applied to the timber.

Q. My painter used a low sheen on trims and it is coming off. If wiped or I run my fingernail along it, it comes off easy. I don't think he sanded back the trims. I was told another way to fix it was to put Resene Lusta-Glo enamel over it and it would harden as it is a high traffic area. Is this right or what is the correct way to fix?

A. Sorry but application of more paint over the poorly adherent existing paint will not solve your issue. The existing paint will need to be removed by sanding and the surface then sanded before priming with Resene Quick Dry and re-topcoating with Resene Lusta-Glo or Resene Lustacryl.

Q. Some of my joinery has some scratches from renovation. Is it possible to paint it or touch up with any Resene paint to match the same colour?

A. We would need to see if the colour can be matched using a Resene colour. Then sand back the scratch, spot prime with Resene Quick Dry and then apply two coats of the matching colour.

Q. Why does my bottom trim feel rough to touch? Our painter painted over original trim with low sheen paint. Which I didn't like and asked him to paint it the same as the doors and doorways which he did with semi-gloss enamel but it feels rough, He also used an oil based primer.

A. It is difficult to say exactly why it feels rough from this description.

It is possible there is dust or grit in the paint. This can easily be picked up from the floor around the skirting during painting and drying. Or it is possible there are brush marks that have dried in the paint. A product like Resene Brushing Additive is specially formulated for addition to Resene waterborne enamels to reduce brush marking and produce a smoother finish on trim and joinery. It could also be the skirtings were rougher (more imperfections) in the first place. This could have been a consideration when the painter painted them with a low sheen finish initially.

Q. Can I use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel exterior/interior as an undercoat for an indoor cupboard I want to paint?

A. Resene Lustacryl is always used over a primed substrate. The product is a topcoat only and does not have the features required to act as a primer or undercoat.

Q. I am in the process of making a concrete bench top for an outdoor BBQ area. I intend to grind and polish the concrete and would like some help with what I should do with regards to sealing it.

A. We recommend a Resene Concrete Clear system, gloss first then another 2-3 coats of your preferred gloss level.

Q. What Resene paint would you recommend for a plastic (acrylic) vanity? I would need a very small quantity.

A. Any Resene topcoat will develop very good adhesion to methacrylate plastics; for small quantities I suggest a Resene testpot.

Q. Can you paint over the colour on aluminium joinery? There is no apparent pitting or corrosion.

A. Wash down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions then lightly abrade using a red Scotchbrite pad. Then apply Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl.

Q. I have varnished woodwork, window frames, skirting, and doors that I want to paint in waterbased Resene Lustacryl. What is the recommended sealer?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, and pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

Q. I want to paint existing aluminium powder coated exterior joinery. It involves painting over the current, very faded, New Denim Blue colour (16 years old) with Silver Pearl. What is the recommended system?

A. Clean down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions. Then apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One and follow with two coats of Resene Enamacryl tinted to your required colour. For colour fade control finish with a coat of Resene Clearcoat UVS.

Q. Can you paint wardrobe shelves in Resene Zylone Sheen or will objects stick to the paint? What paint is recommended? I've used Resene Zylone Sheen on the bedroom walls and wanted the wardrobe to be the same colour and preferably the same paint.

A. We would recommend using Resene waterborne enamel such as Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss) or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for this application.

Q. My daughter has an old white Formica® benchtop in her kitchen which is stained and horrible. Is this able to be painted? The cupboards are painted in Resene Truffle.

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas.

Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing. Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate.

Q. We purchased cheap melamine coated shelving and it attracts mould growth. This is the only surface in the room that attracts mould growth.

A. Mould growth is usually an indication of environmental conditions and not generally related to substrate type. Mould growth can occur on any substrate under cold, dark and damp conditions, you could possibly use the following system to paint the melamine surface; using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, pay particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before over coating. Then apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve.

The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes. However the paint system will not reproduce the features of the original laminate.

Q. Can you apply oil based Resene paint over acrylic water based paint that has been on doors, ceiling and trim for 15 years.

A. Yes but a base coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat will be required after degreasing the doors.

Q. Can I achieve a wet look on a concrete benchtop using Resene Concrete Wax?

A. Not with Resene Concrete Wax. You will need to use a solventborne clear such as Resene Walk-on Concrete Clear Wet Look.

Q. My house was completed in 1990 and the interior woodwork i.e. window frames, skirting boards etc are painted in a cream which appears to be oil paint straight onto the wood. When rubbed with meths the paint doesn't come off. There are a few small areas perhaps 5% that have begun to peel after 26 years. I have sanded these back to solid paint. I then used a primer for water based paint over oil. I put two coats on, then two coats of gloss finish (water based). The problem is a big difference in the thickness of the paint. The patched areas are covered but are really obvious because the paint isn't the same thickness as the original oil paint. I really don't want to have to remove all the oil paint in order to deal with 5% that has come away from the wood surface. What am I doing wrong?

A. What you describe usually occurs when re painting older properties with a build up of paint layers over many years. If you feather the edges where paint is flaking when sanding back to a sound edge this can reduce but not eliminate the appearance of these areas. The other option is to use a product like Resene Timber Surface Prep.

Q. What are the options of paint for window frames, skirting and doors. And also is there a special ceiling paint too? Is there a list of most popular shades of white for bedroom walls?

A. The most popular paint options we have for bedrooms are - Resene Zylone Sheen or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for walls, Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss for trim and joinery and Resene SpaceCote Flat or Resene Ceiling Paint for the ceiling. The Resene SpaceCote options are more washable and durable than Zylone Sheen/Ceiling Paint.

When it comes to colour, our most popular whites and neutrals are on our Resene whites and neutrals colour chart. Depending on the depth of colour you would like, the following colours are very popular - Resene Alabaster, Resene Black White, Resene Sea Fog, Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Truffle, Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Quarter Spanish White. These colours also come in darker and lighter variants.

Q. I have applied Resene Lustacryl to an old solventborne enamel system on skirting boards. The skirting boards were sanded and then two coats of Resene Lustacryl applied and allowed to cure for a month. The customer has had a carpet layer come into quote for carpet laying and the carpet layer has tested the adhesion of the new paint and can scratch the paint off, back to the original paint system. What is wrong?

A. Modern carpets have a synthetic plastic backing which during laying will result in scratching to any paint system, irrespective of type and age.

When changing from a solvent to waterborne enamel, sand to a dull finish but always apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before applying the waterborne enamel topcoats.

The alternative is to lightly sand, then apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, leave for a couple of days then apply the waterborne enamel topcoats.

Q. What type of paint should be painted onto new cedar window sashes and sash putty?

A. Use Resene Wood Primer for the bare cedar sashes and after the putty has skinned off use Resene Enamel Undercoat for priming of putties.

Q. I want to use clear Resene Uracryl to paint wooden bench tops inside. Do you have a clear sealer to use underneath or does it have a direct to surface capability? I don’t want to use gloss.

A. Use Resene Uracryl 403 as the sealer coat, followed by the gloss level of your choice.

Q. Is there a reliable paint system available which can be used to change the colour and restore aluminium powder coated exterior joinery?

A. Clean down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions. Use Scotchbrite® on areas of corrosion and then apply a full coat of Resene Armourcote 221 epoxy primer and finish with two coats of any tinted Resene Uracryl 400 Series topcoat.

Q. What paint should I use to paint over Formica® cabinets?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner ensure the surfaces to be painted are clean and free from grease, paying particular attention to hand contact areas. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and allow to cure without water contact for at least 48 hours before overcoating. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl. Roll all coats using the recommended roller sleeve. The new paint system will take five days to develop good initial adhesion and continue to cure for an additional three weeks until full cure occurs. In the early stages the paint surface will not have good resistance to cleaners or abrasion as these features develop as the film undergoes curing.

Note that painting will not reproduce the original features of the laminate

Q. I am painting an external mural (an underwater ocean scene) and your Resene Hi-Glo waterborne gloss paint exterior seems to be the right product to use. Is that correct?

A. Most artists use Resene Lumbersider low sheen waterborne paint for murals (this is the paint that is also in most of our testpots), but you could use Resene Hi-Glo if you preferred a glossy finish.

Q. I'm making a bench and I have bought NZ Oregon natural timber for it. The bench is for use in the kitchen and as a table. The idea is avoid marks on the bench even when you put glasses or cups with hot water on it. 've seen some kind of paint or oil (I'm not sure) on the tables and benches in restaurants and cafes. Can you give me your advice please on what type of product I need to buy to get the results I have described?

A. We recommend Resene Qristal solventborne varnishes.

Q. I want to stain then gloss polyurethane a pine stair handrail (internal) to match an oil based polyurethaned kauri floor. What would you recommend?

A. Not an easy one to answer as unlike some other timbers where we have developed a stain to match this is not the case for Kauri.

I recommend you visit a Resene ColorShop and look at the Resene Colorwood stain samples to see if there is a colour that matches the Kauri timber colour you have. Also be aware that the Kauri has been clear coated and if this was with an oil based varnish then depending upon the age of the clear there may be yellowing that is due to the clear coat and not the underlying timber.

Q. We want to repaint the wooden skirtings in our guest room. They're currently white and we'll repaint in white. They're quite old and haven't been painted in a long time. I understand we need to sand them and then apply a primer, before applying the paint. Is that right? What sort of primer/undercoat should we use? And should we use enamel paint?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner following label directions. Sand down using 180 grit sandpaper, dust off and apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Two coats of a solventborne topcoat can be used but while this will give the hardest cured film a waterborne enamel such as Resene Lustacryl will not yellow over time but will not develop the same hardness.

Q. Should kitchen cupboards, shelves and surrounds be painted with enamel or acrylic paint?

A. Enamel, solvent or waterborne.

Q. We have a newly built server at church that is built out of natural plywood. I intend varnishing the bare wood. What varnish should I use bearing in mind the top will be used to make coffees and teas etc so may get wet frequently?

A. Best product would be Resene Polythane.

Q. Do the door, skirting board and windowsills have to be semi-gloss paint?

A. In principle no but application of a semi-gloss finish has been a long standing convention for these areas.

Q. I have an old kauri vanity unit that I want to redo with waterproof varnish. It would be great to have a gloss finish.

A. Sand back to achieve a smooth timber substrate then apply four coats of Resene Polythane.

Q. I have just built a workshop bench using 18mm MDF as the bench top. I am looking for hard wearing paint that will seal and have a hard durable finish that will take knocks and hammering.

A. MDF is a relatively soft material and even when painted there is a limit to what a paint system can contribute to abrasion resistance and impact damage Our best system would be to apply two coats of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and allow the last coat to cure for 48 hours then apply three coats of Resene Uracryl 403.

Q. I need advice on what to use for a vinyl covered board on a fish tank stand. Would I need a primer of sorts to use regular paint?

A. We suggest a coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer be applied before overcoating with standard waterborne paint finishes.

Q. I want to paint some bare wood shelves, gloss white. Is there a suitable acrylic no undercoat?

A. Sorry but no. Timber is absorbent and if not primed you will need to apply multiple coats beyond the standard two topcoats over a primer.

Q. We need to coat timber serveries in a restaurant. Previously they have been coated with a two-pack clear. We require a low to medium VOC level. Are you able to assist?

A. Clean down using Resene Interior Paint Cleaner following label directions. Thoroughly sand to provide a mechanical key for the new clear system. Dust off and apply at least three coats of Resene Aquaclear. This will deliver the low VOC requirement, however the coating system will ideally need 2-3 days to develop full hardness.

Q. I'm a builder supervising a house repaint for a client of mine. My question relates to painting timber joinery. The painters insist it's fine to mask close to the putty line but I've always preferred to cut in onto the glass. My understanding is that when removing the masking that you're damaging the bond of paint on the glass and encouraging water into that joint. What do you think?

A. Yes it is standard practice to extend the paint system above the putty line to achieve a degree of sealing. If the right type of masking tape is used then there should be no delamination of the paint. Often the masking tape remains attached for too long and the paint cures and in this situation paint can be removed.

Q. Do I have to paint the skirting with enamel if I want to paint it the same colour as the walls or could I use the interior waterborne paint?

A. If you use a waterborne enamel wall paint you can use the same waterborne enamel for skirtings. Conventional wall paints such as Resene Zylone Sheen are relatively soft and will be more easily damaged if used to paint skirtings.

Q. My daughter has skirting boards which have badly chipped paint. Unfortunately someone has painted enamel paint over varnish so sanding and strippers apparently don't work as it just goes gooey. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

A. The comment that the paint goes gooey suggests that there may well be a conventional acrylic paint layer present. Stripping using a heat gun and a tungsten blade scraper will give the best chance of removal. Care needs to be taken when operating hot air guns near floor coatings, especially carpets. If the paint is chipping and brittle I would first check if using the scraper alone will remove the paint layers.

Q. I am repainting exterior joinery on a 35 year old house. The joinery is a mix of rimu and cedar. Most of it I am sanding back to bare timber as I have some pretty good sanders. Should I be using Resene TimberLock on bare timber and which is the best primer to use? I have both Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and general purpose solventborne Resene Wood Primer. The finish coat is Resene Enamacryl. What's the best primer under and on top of the PAL eezee glazing compound on cedar sashes?

A. Due to the potential for tannin bleed when priming bare cedar the only primer we recommend is Resene Wood Primer (oil based). This is also what I would use for the rimu. The PAL putty you are going to use is a linseed oil based putty and must be left to skin over before coating (see the directions of the putty can). Our recommended primer for this type of putty is Resene Enamel Undercoat.

Q. Do skirting boards have to be painted the same colour as the door trims? Or if you have deep reveals on your windows and you have black aluminium windows and you want to paint these black to highlight and frame them, can you paint the architraves a different colour or should they be black too?

A. There are no hard and fast rules that apply; it’s all a matter of personal choice.

Q. I have shelves with aluminium frames. What paint can I use to paint them?

A. Prime the aluminum with Resene Galvo-Prime then you can apply any Resene waterborne topcoats. The paint system will take 5-7 days to fully harden.

Q. We have a tudor style home which requires a black paint on the exterior joinery. Which paint is the best for this as it will get a lot of sun?

A. Two coats of Resene Enamacryl CoolColour™ Black, applied over a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I sanded and painted my exterior window frames 3 years ago and they are already starting to crack and peel back to bare timber. I painted two coats of the correct paint (water based). What could have gone wrong and what would be the easiest way to fix this up? Could I just sand back and repaint the faulty parts?

A. All coatings have a finite life and in some cases on an old house, be it 30–100 years old, the coatings build up, and although they can appear sound it is not until the surface is painted that the instability of the underlying coatings can become apparent.

Old enamel based paints including red lead primers become hard and brittle with ageing. Acrylic paints are more flexible than cross linking enamel paints and this means they can undergo extensions without film cracking. Standard acrylic paints are flexible but not elastic which means that at a certain level of extension the film will break. The extensibility is dependent upon resin features and gloss level. There are paints formulated using elastomeric acrylic resins that can undergo stretching and return to the non-extended state without film breakage.

As the thickness of paint builds up on a substrate there is a corresponding increase in tension on the underlying paint layers. Modern acrylic paints have excellent adhesion to clean, sound old prepared paints. When delamination occurs it is usually at the substrate primer interface. There are two distinct types of failure, adhesive (between layers pf paint) and cohesive (within a given layer of paint).

Upon inspection of these issues the new coatings have always adhered well to the old coatings but the coatings underneath have lost all their adhesion and flexibility properties, in turn causing them to pull away. When investigating a failure the best practice is to check what the failure type is and, if intercoat adhesion, which layers are involved. This can easily be seen by checking the back of a flake and comparing it to what remains where the flake delaminated from. If the failure is cohesive there is usually evidence of the same paint colour being present on the back of the flake and where the flake peeled from.

Even when adhesion tests are done on the old coatings, they still may appear sound but because there are so many layers (sometimes up to 300 + microns) they are brittle and their adhesion becomes limited. A common cause of delamination occurs with a change from a pale to a much darker topcoat colour. The extra heat associated with the colour change is the tipping point and delamination is common.

The issue can be avoided by identifying the age and build-up of existing coatings and fully removing them to a sound substrate suitable for painting. However, this does come at a much higher cost than simply painting over the old paint system.

If this is causing your issue you would be best to remove the old coating back to bare timber and then prime and paint. If the paint on your home is very old we recommend you test for lead as it has specific handling requirements.

Q. Do you stock a food-safe sealer for a polished concrete benchtop? Ideally, heat resistant as well as stain/scratch resistant.

A. Multiple coats if Resene Concrete Wax would meet all requirements other than heat resistance.

Q. We are about to paint bedroom walls with Resene Half Athens Grey and paint the trim (window frames, skirting boards etc) with Resene Half Alabaster. I am wondering what paint to buy? We have four children so we need the paint to be easy to clean. The colours are neutral and light but we do want to get a nice contrast effect. We are going to paint the hallway in Resene Half Alabaster. Should we use the same system for this space?

A. I recommend Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for all areas. The paint takes a month to fully cure and for the first week following application the paint will still be relatively easily marked while it is curing.

Q. What paint would you recommend for painting a built in wardrobe and dresser unit, which has been previously stained?

A. Thoroughly sand the stained finish then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl. A roller is the best way to achieve a uniform finish for all coats.

Q. I am building a laminated macrocarpa laundry benchtop and would like to seal it. As much as I like your oils I would prefer to use a moisture cured non-yellowing polyurethane. Is this the best choice and which one?

A. Would endorse use of an MU polyurethane (four coats). The Resene product to use is Resene Polythane.

Q. We are installing new cabinets and are going to glaze. Do we need to paint the undercoat with a primer and then do we use enamel or flat paint before glazing?

A. We normally recommend priming bare timber with an oil based product before glazing using a linseed oil putty.

Q. I have a Rimu benchtop to coat. We would like to use a polyurethane. What product do you recommend for this?

A. Use four coats of Resene Polythane.

Q. I am working on the skirtings, trimmings, windows and doors. I have sanded them thinking I would use oil based paint. After sanding I have used a pigmented sealer. However, the family now want them to be varnished so we can see the wood grain effect on them. How do I go about this?

A. You would have to strip the pigmented sealer off using a paint stripper or thoroughly sand.

Q. I have an office benchtop along an interior wall, which is constructed out of MDF and was wondering if Resene has a 2-pack paint system that could be used on the MDF benchtop to brighten it up. The MDF has only been coated in an enamel-oil based white paint that has yellowed and dulled over time.

A. Sand the enamel to provide a mechanical key for the new paint then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Allow the undercoat to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 802.

Q. I am painting over my wooden skirting boards. They don't seem to have any covering except for perhaps some varnish. I have been sanding them down well and painting over with Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel but I am concerned that it is going to end up flaking off after a short period of time. Should I be using some sort of sealer? Or is the way I have done it going to last?

A. If the sanding did not produce a good profile than the Resene Lustacryl may chip off the sanded varnish. For the future you can use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as an adhesion primer without the need to sand the varnish (varnish must be clean and free of dirt, dust, wax, etc) but a light sand always assists with adhesion.

Q. What sealing system and paint is designed for raw mdf for cabinet doors? I want to seal the edges well.

A. Use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I wish to use Resene Lustacryl on cupboard doors. They are currently coated in your solventborne satin finish enamel paint. Can I go directly over it or do I need to use a waterbased undercoat?

A. Ensure the cupboard doors are cleaned down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner and then thoroughly sand the existing enamel, dust off and apply an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with the two coats of Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom.

Q. We have a concrete sink bench that we want to use in our laundry. Do you have a product that will seal/waterproof this? We have ground and sanded it back to its raw state.

A. You could use Resene ArmourBond (probably 2 coats), although the product is a clear epoxy and this will give the concrete a yellow-brown colour.

Q. I am stripping old galvanised pipe handrails and need to repaint them. Some of the upright rods are slightly rusty but the main pipes are like new. What do I prime with and is there a recommended topcoat?

A. Ensure that all loose corrosion products are prepared back to a sound substrate. Spot prime prepared corroded areas with Resene Galvo One, leave to dry for 16 hours then apply a full coat of Resene Galvo One. Allow to dry overnight then apply two coats of Resene Summit Roof.

Q. What do you recommend as a clear finish on a 100mm macrocarpa kitchen benchtop?

A. Apply four coats of Resene Polythane and ensure end cuts are well sealed.

Q. I was hoping you can tell me what the best practice is for paint type for skirting boards? I understand it to be waterbased enamel. Can you also tell me what issues might present themselves if I were to use wall paint on skirting boards?

A. There are three types of resins that need to be considered: conventional acrylic, waterborne enamel and solventborne enamel. Paints of the same gloss level made on each of the resins will have different resistance to scuffing and marking with the worst being the conventional acrylic and the best being the solventborne resin. Wall paints are usually formulated using conventional acrylic resins (Resene Zylone Sheen) but can also be available as a waterborne enamel paint (Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen). Generally people opt for a semi-gloss finish on trims and joinery, including skirting boards, for a more durable finish.

Q. I have internal doors, door frames and skirting boards that were stained and polyurethaned years ago. I now want to paint over them, so do I need to use a sealer or do I have to strip the surface first?

A. Clean the areas down with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner diluted and used to label. Then lightly sand, dust off and apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer (not designed to give opacity or film build) and leave to cure for 48 hours with good ventilation. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat then you can topcoat with either a waterborne or conventional solventborne enamel.

Q. I am looking for a solution for painted benchtops with a clear finish over the top. Thinking Resene Lustacryl with Resene Qristal Clear 1K or 2K over. Or is there a better option? A moderate degree of abrasion resistance would be needed.

A. A better option would be to apply a coat of Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield Clear. Leave the Resene Lustacryl to cure for 48 hours then wipe down with warm water and a cloth rinsing the cloth frequently. When dry apply two coats of the clear coat.

Q. My bench is a horrible red and a friend said to me I can buy benchtop paint. Do you stock this?

A. Assuming the benchtop is a laminate such as Melteca® then you can change the colour using the following: scrub down using a Jif type cleaner and wipe all residues off, apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and leave to cure for at least 48 hours. The sealer is not designed to give opacity or film build. Then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl. The system will take at least five days to develop adhesion and hardness. The painted surface will not have the properties of the original laminate and should only be considered as a colour change.

Q. I have some new powdercoated steel cabinets. I wish to paint over them. Can you advise treatment?

A. Apply Resene Vinyl Etch as the adhesion primer then follow with a Resene Uracryl 400 series tinted topcoat.

Q. Please recommend a paint finish for the skirting boards for a busy commercial area.

A. We recommend solventborne enamels such as Resene Super Gloss or Resene Lusta-Glo.

Q. I wish to repaint a set of built-in bookshelves. They have been spraypainted but I would like to recoat them using a brush. Should I use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to prepare the surface?

A. Ensure that the coated areas are grease and free of contaminates then apply a coat of the Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and then undercoat with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat followed by two coats of a solvent or waterborne enamel.

Q. I'd like to paint my wooden kitchen cupboards. I want something white, hardwearing and with a matt finish.

A. We recommend Resene SpaceCote Flat. After removal of the existing paint, sand smooth, dust off then prime with two coats of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, lightly sand to denib then dust off before applying the two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat. Best finish will be achieved using a No.4 sleeve nook and cranny roller.

Q. I'm going to paint our kitchen cupboards which have been painted in two pot white. I'm going to use acrylic enamel. What do I use to undercoat over the two pot?

A. Wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash according to label directions, wet sand with 240 grit sandpaper and wipe down with a cloth and water to remove sanding dust. Allow to dry then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat followed by two coats of Resene Lustacryl. The paint is best applied using a nook and cranny No.2 roller sleeve. The finish will not be smooth like spray application.

Q. We have a bar/counter fascia in our cellar door facility that has been painted with a two pot paint in Resene Cosmonaut. I am wanting to repaint in a different colour (non two pot) and am wanting to know the preparation required (e.g. sanding or some sort of sealer/undercoat) before repainting?

A. Thoroughly sand, dust off then prime with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. You can then apply two coats of any Resene acrylic or enamel paint, or Resene two pack urethanes.

Q. I would like to match a Resene semi-gloss waterborne enamel white paint to an aluminium joinery colour.

A. We have a Resene colour match on file at Resene owned ColorShops for many joinery colours. You could get it tinted into Resene Lustacryl a semi-gloss waterborne enamel. Just something to be aware of is that the colour can look slightly different if you have different gloss levels or textures, so sometimes opting for a darker or lighter colour to complement can be better than trying to match the exact colour in different materials.

Q. I am making an MDF bookcase. Can you advise what is the best paint to use on MDF? Needs to be hardwearing for sliding books in and out. Also, would it need an undercoat or is it ok to just put two coats on?

A. Prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel.

Q. What paint could I use to paint the top bench surface and sink on a resin bathroom vanity unit? We don't like the pink and want to make it white.

A. The only possible system would be to apply Resene Armourcote 221 as the primer then apply two coats of Resene Uracryl 402 or 403 in your chosen colour.

Q. I have painted some shelves with white Resene Lustacryl three months ago. There is a mark on it so I want to do another coat. Will the paint adhere or should I sand with 220 grit or less?

A. Sand with 220 grit sandpaper and undercoat with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then apply the two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. I have white gloss drawers - can I just sand to remove the gloss then paint with Resene Lustacryl?

A. Sand with 220 grit sandpaper before re application of Resene Lustacryl.

Q. Am I able to paint a Formica shelf? If so, what preparation do I need to do?

A. Clean down with an abrasive cleaner such as Jif and then wipe clean and allow to dry. Prime with Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, undercoat with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat and then apply two coats of any Resene waterborne enamel finish. We recommend Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss will give the best balance of gloss and wear. The paint system will take up to 5 days to fully harden and develop adhesion. Please note that the painted Formica will not have the same wear properties as the uncoated Formica.

Q. What paint or coating should I use to paint an old Formica benchtop which has been painted with oil based enamel but which now needs recoating?

A. Assuming the existing enamel is sound, sand with 220 grit sandpaper and prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat followed by two coats of a Resene waterborne enamel. We recommend that the topcoat is Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss waterborne enamel). In warmer weather we recommend adding Resene Hot Weather Additive to waterborne paint to aid application and reduce brush marking.

Q. How do I paint skirting boards without getting paint on the carpet? Is there a tool or trick to this?

A. Using masking tape mask off the edge of the carpet and then using a large wallpaper straight edge depress the carpet and paint, then move the straight edge along the skirting. If you are careful you can use only the straight edge but when you move the edge along the carpet can spring up into the wet paint hence the suggestion to use both the masking tape and straight edge.

Q. I've just completed painting some new cedar joinery. I primed the new cedar with solventborne Resene Wood Primer, undercoated with Resene Quick Dry Primer, and finished with two topcoats of Resene Enamacryl Gloss. The end result looks OK, but I was not fully prepared for the amount of ‘crawling/cissing’ by the waterborne coats over the wood primer. On close inspection of datasheet D40 this paint behaviour is duly noted, and was mitigated by wiping down with turps. Would I have been better using an acrylic primer direct?

A. We do not recommend using any waterborne primer for priming bare Cedar. Application of waterborne paints to Cedar results in the extraction of orange brown coloured materials (tannins) from the timber which continues to appear in subsequent waterborne paint layers. The tannins have low solubility in organic solvents and hence the recommendation to prime with Resene Wood Primer.

The data sheet uses the term 'may' with respect to the crawling/cissing of water borne paints over freshly applied Resene Wood Primer. The cissing issue occurs either when the primer has not achieved a certain level of cure or when applied under cooler conditions and high humidity and will only rarely be an issue. Application at elevated wet film thicknesses can retard the cure of the primer which requires air (oxygen) for curing. The surface of the primer under those conditions becomes hydrophobic due to uncured oil components of the primer. We rarely hear of issues with cissing.

More often than not the Resene Wood Primer is mainly used for exterior priming. For interior applications you can use Resene Enamel Undercoat (turps thinned) instead of the Resene Wood Primer.