Preparation & priming

Q. I bought Resene Quick Dry. I am going to repaint plasterboard (GIB®) and was wondering if Resene Quick Dry could be applied directly on painted plasterboard (including holes repaired with filler).

A. Bare plasterboard/GIB® should be sealed first with an appropriate plasterboard sealer such as Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer. This product can be applied over the correct fillers.

If you were to use it anyway, you may need to do a spot prime coat over filler followed by two full coats of Resene Quick Dry and two full coats of topcoat.

However, if the plasterboard is already painted, Resene Quick Dry is the correct product.

November 2023

Q. Is there a product I can use so I don't have to completely strip down the polyurethane finish so I can paint over it?

A. Yes, Resene Waterborne Sureseal is the product for that.

Ensure the surface is clean and dust free. Apply one thin coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal. Allow 24 hours before topcoating.

November 2023

Q. We need to paint over some smoke damaged walls. What should we use?

A. Our recommendation for dealing with a smoke damaged surface is to apply Resene Emulsifiable Solvent Cleaner and scrub then thoroughly wash down using fresh water. This will remove the majority of the stains that may be solubilised when overcoated and also odour causing materials. Then apply a full coat of Resene Sureseal (solventborne version) to the affected areas followed by your selected topcoat – Resene Zylone Sheen is a good option for general interior areas.

November 2023

Q. I waterblasted a wall which has exterior native cladding from 1905. Can I use non-oil based primer over exposed native timber and existing paint?

A. You need to remove as much of the lifting coating back to sound/well adhered paint. You may need to totally remove the existing coating. Otherwise, when new paint is applied, the tension may lift any older paint off.

Have you done a lead test at all? This is for safety during preparation as you will only be able to do dustless sanding or liquid strip. If it has lead in it, the removed coating will need to be disposed of by local council guidelines.

For the greyed areas, apply one coat of Resene TimberLock, then apply one coat of Resene Wood Primer (oil based, but this is the best system for older timber) followed by two topcoats of either Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

For painting over existing paint – the topcoat can be directly applied (still advise to totally remove the existing coating).

I advise not changing the colour too much as this will cause heat stress (even with the use of Resene CoolColour). Heat stress can cause the timber to cup/bow/kink/split etc.

You will likely see the new paint cracking (even with good prep) on the weatherboard joins as these have already moved and will likely move again with the seasons.

November 2023

Q. I am an artist that works primarily with regular acrylic paint on canvas but have been wanting to try out house paint for new projects due to the range of colours/depth and properties (gloss/matte etc.), I'm just enquiring to see if there is any specific undercoat/primer that will help regular Resene house paint adhere better or just increase longevity on canvas?

A. Using a base primer could be beneficial such as Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat followed by your choice of topcoat. Most of the Resene testpots are filled Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. You could apply one coat of Resene Clearcoat UVS over the top of the finished artwork to help with fading over time but this is a high gloss coating.

November 2023

Q. Is Resene Wood Primer required and suitable for use under a spray painting product? The substrate is finger jointed pine.

The Resene branch recommended this primer under an acrylic topcoat but the coating suffered from cissing. I’ve never had this before – what do I need to do?

A. Was it the Resene Wood Primer or the acrylic topcoat? Sometimes, Resene Wood Primer needs to have a light wipe down using turps to remove any residue from drying if conditions weren't ideal when it was applied.

November 2023

Q. Can I use Resene Quick Dry as a sealer on new Hardiflex cladding? Your technical info seems to recommend Resene Sureseal, but I would prefer to use a product with a faster drying/recoat time if possible.

A. Resene Sureseal is best as it will be a thin seal coat binding the porous substrate ready for the topcoats. Second best would be to use Resene Concrete Primer.

September 2023

Q. Can I use Resene Sureseal on MDF? I'm painting an existing MDF kickboard that previously had laminate glued to it.

A. Resene Sureseal is not the best product for MDF. Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat is best. For a sound paint application, all glue residue needs to be removed.

September 2023

Q. How do I prepare and paint a weatherboard home that is in very good condition but seven years old. I need to clean it obviously, but do I need to sand if the paint is very sound? There are a few rusty nails leeching through - what is the best treatment for those?

A. Firstly, wash down using diluted Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. This is a soft wash that will assist in removing and dust, debris, and chalking present.

If the holes are not exposed but you can see rusting, remove paint layer. Apply one spot coat of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer. Fill using Resene EzyFill or Contract Filler. Apply a spot coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat followed by two full coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

If you find any light cracks, sand to a feathered edge and fill using Resene EzyFill or Contract Filler, prime using Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat followed by two coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

September 2023

Q. What type of prep product should I use before restaining cedar cladding?

A. If any areas of moss or mould infestation exist then treat them with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash. Don’t waterblast as this can damage the cedar.

September 2023

Q. I am preparing my Hardie smooth plank for painting. I have treated it with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. I have also treated it with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash which was scrubbed with a soft brush and hosed off. But it is still chalky. Is it ok to paint?

A. Try to remove as much chalking as possible. This may require multiple washes using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. It will be good to paint when less chalking is sitting on the surface.

September 2023

Q. I am after some cold galvanised paint that is required for touch up job on existing galvanised structural steel. Do you have this item available?

A. We recommend Resene ArmourZinc 110 applied to achieve a dry film thickness of 75 microns.

September 2023

Q. Please recommend a primer for cypress timber (outdoor pergola area).

A. Resene Wood Primer is best suited followed by either Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101. Consider using Resene CoolColour technology if selecting a darker colour. Resene Wood Primer can take longer to dry on knots or sap in the timber.

September 2023

Q. I have large three storey house that I painted the front and one side of a few years ago. Last time, I cleaned the house and painted Resene acrylic straight over the top of what I think is enamel. Aside from a few rust spots on the corner joins, the finish is fine and has lasted. Now I plan to paint the other side of my house (my planned break took a little longer than it probably should). I fully acknowledge that due to the size of the house, I refuse to sand it, so, is there a primer that I can paint on top of the enamel that will seal the enamel for me to paint my acrylic on top of?

A. Try a test area after a good wash using Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat. Wait 48 hours and see if it scratches away. If it does, in theory, paint coatings will not adhere well unless sanding is undertaken.

September 2023

Q. We are looking for a solution for dry rot under a building - can we use Resene TimberLock to treat the healthy wood close to the area where the rot is removed?

A. Yes, you could use the Resene TimberLock for the healthy sound wood adjacent to where the rot has been removed.

September 2023

Q. I have just finished taking off the wallpaper in a room. I plan to add a coat of Resene Sureseal. After applying the Resene Sureseal is it best to skim the wall or can I use Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal as an alternative to skimming? Or is skimming and then adding the Resene Broadwall the best practice? Also is another coat of Resene Sureseal after the Resene Broadwall required? Is a primer required after applying the Resene Broadwall and before applying Resene SpaceCote?

A. If the wall doesn’t have larger imperfections such as gauges or divots, then proceed with the following paint system. Apply a full coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal followed by a full coat of Resene Broadwall Prep & Seal.

Surface reinstatement after stripping wallpaper: Apply Resene Waterborne Sureseal and allow to dry for recommended time. Lightly sand with 180-220 grit sandpaper then apply Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal.

You can apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen directly over Resene Broadwall Prep & Seal.

If you have gauges or divots then resurface using GIB® stopping compound, sand smooth and apply Resene Waterborne Sureseal followed by Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

September 2023

Q. I am about to paint the exterior of a new workshop clad in CCA 3.2 treated plywood cladding using white Resene Lumbersider. Do I need a primer/undercoat for this CCA treated plywood?

A. Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat would be best as a first coat/primer. However, Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen can also be applied direct if you use three coats.

September 2023

Q. I want to paint the downpipes off our water tanks (they're standard white plumbing pipes) to a darker shade (likely black). Would I need to prime before painting? Or do you have a paint that would adhere ok without that (there are a lot of pipes, so double coating will be a lot of work. I’m not liking the idea of having a third coat to do but just checking if they'd require a primer too?)

A. If the pipes are PVC, and they sound like they are, then they do not require a primer. A high-quality acrylic topcoat is recommended such as Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

Two coats are fine. Often, we recommend three coats to give the correct level of 'film thickness' to help guard against the paint being knocked and chipped. If your downpipes are out of the way and unlikely to be knocked into often then two should be fine.

Please consider the use of Resene CoolColour technology when you order your paint. This technology helps to reduce the heat-related risks of using dark colours (but does not eliminate them).

September 2023

Q. We have had some professional exterior painters do some work on our plaster house. They painted the entire house with Resene X-200. They did not do any cleaning of the house apart from using a hose and brush and have painted over any moss and mould. Can you please tell me what effect this has on the paint and if it would still be warrantied? We're not happy with the work they've done so just wanting another opinion.

A. Any moss and mould present will continue to grow through your coating.

In cases like this we always advise for you to raise your concerns with the painter and ask them to come and address them. Since they have purchased paint from Resene they can engage with their trade rep or local branch to invite us to join them on site if they require our assistance.

September 2023

Q. I have a concrete block house that I want to repaint. Can you please explain the steps for prep and painting, the type of paint I would need etc? I thought the first step would be a good waterblast, 1 coat of primer, 3 coats of colour. I have testpots to try out before deciding what colours to get.

A. You are correct, we recommend a gentle waterblast and washing with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. Treat any moss and mould present at this time also with Resene Moss & Mould Killer.

Allow the bricks to thoroughly dry out all the way through, not just visibly dry on the surface.

Spot prime any bare areas of brick with one coat of solventborne Resene Sureseal. Follow with two coats of topcoat. The most popular option is Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen.

September 2023

Q. I have new weatherboards on my old villa, and I want a Resene exterior painting system. The boards are finger jointed H3 boards. What do you recommend? Various painters have given different solutions, but I want to specify the correct Resene recommended regime, so I can get comparable quotes. It is treated pine. The colour will be Resene Quarter Ash.

A. We recommend you ensure everything is clean and thoroughly dry, especially in winter as timber can hold moisture and then shrink in summer. Prime with one coat Resene Wood Primer (oil-based), followed by two topcoats of either Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss in your desired colour.

August 2023

Q. We are renovating a rough plasterboard, painted space that has multiple joint cracks and many uneven walls/corners. We have sanded, patched with drywall and retaped over cracked painted surfaces in part. Before we paint should we patch prime or do the whole wall? What with?

A. Yes, any bare new plasterboard or plaster/filler will need to be sealed before the topcoats.

If this area is in a dry area (not a bathroom) you can seal using one coat of Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer. If it is a bathroom or wet area, we recommend sealing with one coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal.

August 2023

Q. I have a brick fireplace that has been painted years ago. It is now looking pretty shabby and I am not sure where to start in order to repaint it. How do I get rid of the old paint? Or at least make it ready for a new coat of paint? I don’t know what the existing paint is. It is no longer used as a fireplace – it’s purely decorative.

A. I recommend testing the white paint that is currently there to find out of it is water or oil based.

To do this, clean an area thoroughly, apply methylated spirits to a clean rag and rub a small area of the paint. If the paint softens and smudges, and colour is transferred to the rag it is water based.

For repaints on the assumption it is waterbased, we recommend you clean the whole area first. Then apply one coat of solventborne Resene Sureseal to any bare areas that have gone back to brick. Then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in your desired colour over the entire area. Alternatively, you can use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, though it won't be as cleanable as the semi-gloss.

August 2023

Q. We have a new house partly clad with Hardie Ezilap panels. This will be painted with Resene Concrete Primer and Resene X-200. The question is: what should the aluminium joiner extrusions that join the top and bottom of sheets be primed with.

A. When painting aluminium we recommend priming with one coat of Resene Vinyl Etch.

August 2023

Q. I have some freshly cast plaster cornices made to match existing ones. How should these be prepped/undercoated before painting?

A. We recommend priming with one coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal followed by two topcoats of your choice.

August 2023

Q. Yesterday I purchased a pail of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen to paint a new fence. I asked for undercoat to go with it. The assistant asked what type of wooden fence. I said it was pine. I was sold a 10 litre pail of Resene Quick Dry. I've now read the instructions on the side of the Lumbersider pail. It recommends that I should use Resene TimberLock underneath. Have I been sold the incorrect undercoat?

A. Resene Quick Dry is the correct primer/undercoat to be using under Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen on a pine timber fence.

Resene TimberLock is recommended occasionally for old, weathered timber. This isn’t needed for your project.

August 2023

Q. I am currently about to paint a room, two of the walls are old fibrous plaster which will require a coat of Resene Sureseal before plastering, the other two walls are new plasterboard, which I typically use wallboard sealer on.

My question is, rather than buy a tin of Resene Sureseal and also a tin of Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer to use on each different wall type, can I use Resene Sureseal on the new plasterboard (after plastering) before the coat of Resene Quick Dry undercoat and two coats of Resene SpaceCote? Or would Resene Sureseal not do as good a job on the new plasterboard as Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer?

A. Yes, you can use Resene Sureseal on the new plasterboard after plastering. Do ensure you are using the solventborne version of Resene Sureseal.

July 2023

Q. What primer can I use over a resin coating? Also, what can I use as an oil based gloss topcoat?

A. You can use Resene Waterborne Sureseal as a thin sealer coat over most resins used for interiors. Allow at least 24 hours before recoating. Apply a small test area first to ensure the paint system will adhere.

If the item you are painting is interior, you can use Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss or Resene Super Gloss.

July 2023

Q. Please recommend product (preferably paintable) to permanently repair and seal exterior brickwork on chimney. It is leaking, probably through the grouting/bricks.

A. We advise having a professional look at what repairs are needed. Resene sells a product called Multistop which is a thin masonry compound. This may work for your project but it is hard to tell if this is enough to thoroughly repair any issues that the chimney may be having. A professional repairer should be able to advise the best way forward.

July 2023

Q. What do I need to use as undercoat/primer on new copper guttering?

A. To prime copper, Resene Vinyl Etch is recommended.

May 2023

Q. My new cladding will be dura sheet fibre cement. Do I need to undercoat with a sealer or can I just paint with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen?

A. An undercoat is required. If the dura sheet is less than six months old, you can use Resene Concrete Primer. If it is older than six months, please use Resene Solventborne Sureseal (Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen can be applied direct over this).

May 2023

Q. We just removed old wallpaper from the lounge walls and had a plasterer skim coat them. We're just wondering what product do we need to seal the plaster and any other primers we will need to apply before we do the topcoat.

Also I've just learned that we should have sealed the plasterboard prior to getting it plastered, but our plasterer didn't mention this and just skimmed over the top. He said it will be fine. I hope this is correct.

A. We recommend sealing with one coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal followed by two topcoats of either Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen in your desired colour.

In regard to sealing prior to a skim coat, the plasterer is the person providing the guarantee for this work. To the best of my knowledge some plaster compounds require it while others don't.

May 2023

Q. What sealer coat to use on unpainted Pinex softboard?

A. For bare Pinex softboard we recommend a sealer coat of Resene Solventborne Sureseal followed by two topcoats in your desired colour.

May 2023

Q. I have some 0000 steel wool ordered to remove traces of water paint from glass. Do I use it wet or dry?

A. It is best to use steel wool on a surface that is wet. Steel wool may work to remove paint drops but please proceed with caution so as to not damage your glass. Often, I suggest trying a sharp blade to scrape and lift the paint off or some methylated spirits.

May 2023

Q. I have a first-floor veranda that has a waterproof sealant. Due to the sun, the surface is getting dry and causes black powder to get stuck to shoes and feet. I would like to know if there is any Resene product that I can use as an undercoat or some sort of treatment I can use before applying an outdoor paint on top?

A. This can be painted, provided that water does not pond on the surface for a long period of time, as this will cause the paint to lift and peel. If the water drains away effectively, we recommend treating any moss and mould present with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Once removed washed and dried. Apply one coat of Resene Membrane Primer. Followed by two topcoats either Resene Walk-on or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in your desired colour.

May 2023

Q. I have been advised to use Resene Quick Dry undercoat under CoolColour using a topcoat colour of Resene Element or Resene Nero. Does it need to be tinted to get good coverage?

A. We don’t recommend tinting the undercoat.

We use two different black pigments in our CoolColour range, ‘U’ tinter that reflects infrared light and ‘Z’ tinter that allows infrared light to pass through without absorbing the heat energy. A CoolColour made using ‘Z’ tinter must have a ‘solid’ base of CoolColour primer/undercoat (such as Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat) applied underneath it. This CoolColour primer/undercoat beneath then reflects the heat energy back through the CoolColour topcoat. ‘Z’ tinter is usually used for cleaner blacks, like Resene Nero. The CoolColour primer/undercoat must be opaque with complete coverage to be effective. This often means two coats of the CoolColour primer/undercoat will need to be applied.

For a CoolColour made using ‘U’ tinter, the ‘U’ tinter will enable the topcoats to reflect more infrared light and heat than a standard version of that colour. A CoolColour primer/undercoat is optional. Using a CoolColour primer/undercoat will provide optimum heat reflection.

March 2023

Q. What undercoat is required on white electrical conduit pipe before applying paint over?

A. Conduit pipes are made from PVC. All Resene exterior waterborne paints can be applied directly to clean PVC, full adhesion takes a week to develop.

Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions then apply two coats of your selected Resene topcoat.

If selecting a dark topcoat colour use the Resene CoolColour version of the 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. I would suggest that you restrict the colour chosen to colours with an LRV of greater than 40% to minimise heat related issues.

March 2023

Q. Please tell me what primer undercoat I should use for a wooden shelf in my kitchen. The sill gets quite oily and sticky from the nearby cooking fumes. I have cleaned it prior to painting, which removed quite a lot of the paint. I don't know what kind of timber the shelf is. It was built 30 to 40 years ago with what looks like ordinary timber.

A. I believe an oil based system would work best here and have more resistance to different and harsher cleaning products. I recommend one coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat followed by two coats of Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss in your desired colour.

March 2023

Q. What do you recommend for a safer more natural paint stripper to strip paint off a baby’s cot that has been painted green?

A. We have great water based, biodegradable, low odour, Neutral Ph option for you - Sea to Sky coating remover. It is applied as a thick gel, and left in the shade away from the sun or excess heat and after a few hours the coating will have reacted and you can scrape the coating and the paint layer off. The gel encapsulates the paint and stops small particles flying off.

March 2023

Q. I am painting new Linea weatherboards and have a number of external corners which have soakers which appear to be pre-primed/etched. Do these require specific treatment prior to applying topcoats of Resene Sonyx 101? The internal corners are untreated aluminium. The corner soakers are coated with some sort of primer out of the factory.

A. Without knowing the preprime we would recommend a test patch of one coat of Resene Galvo One. If this has adhered well after 24 hours continue on with two topcoats.

One coat of Resene Galvo One can be apply without a test patch on the bare soakers, followed by two topcoats in your desired colour.

March 2023

Q. What options do Resene have for stopping rain seeping through a concrete wall and whether there are prerequisites around preparation of the concrete blocks etc for painting – i.e. needs to be dry or no rain for 2 days before painting etc. It used to be a chimney that we need to seal to stop rain seeping through. It is wind driven rain hitting the bricks and seeping into the bricks, resulting in water moisture popping up out the other side of the brick or leaking down to the bottom of the wall.

We’re trying to resolve this by making the outside of the bricks as waterproof as possible

A. Unfortunately, we do not have a paint system suitable for holding back this kind of moisture. Anything we recommend would require a repair to the blockwork to stop water from funnelling down.

All moss and mould need to be treated, Resene does make a water repellent called Solventborne Aquapel, which will not hold back water, but is a penetrating clear finish that is not visible on the surface and will help control mould growth.

We refer to moisture as anything water that can seep in from the top of the block work on the inside area of the chimney and travel through the bricks to and push the paint coating off from the inside. It's best to address this and resolve any cracks etc in the blockwork before painting.

Once anything fixable is repaired, we recommend one coat of Resene Solventborne Aquapel, followed by one full coat of Resene Sureseal and then three topcoats of Resene X-200. This is the best system available to weathertight your blockwork. Unfortunately, we won't be able to give a definitive timeline for how long this system will last before maintenance is needed, especially if water is able to get in at any place, travel through the brickwork and force off the paint, which would appear as 'bubbles'.

March 2023

Q. I have to repaint a cement block factory: the existing Grano paint has let water through and is blistering. I am intending to water blast as much paint off as I can. What do you suggest the next steps should be? Should I water blast it or acid etch?

A. Water blasting would be the more practical form of removal, we don’t recommend acid etching vertical areas.

It looks like there are significant moisture issues, that will need to be repaired before any paint system can perform.

Our paint system once the above is complete is: Treat moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, followed by one coat of Resene Sureseal then three coats of Resene X-200.

March 2023

Q. Resene Membrane Primer - can I please confirm that this goes over waterproof sealants - rubber surface (not under them) allowing paint to then be applied to the surface?

A. Resene Membrane Primer is to be applied over substrates such as membrane sheeting, butyl rubber and bituminous surfaces, to allow for adhesion of the topcoat.

For example: Clean the bitumen waterproofing. Apply one coat of Resene Membrane Primer, followed by two coats of selected Resene topcoat in your desired colour.

March 2023

Q. There is quite a large dent in our container roof which holds water. Being a reefer, I can’t get at it from inside to hammer it out. Do you have a filler/sealer product I could use to fill and/or seal it?

A. A filler isn’t likely to be able to fill the depth of a larger-sized dent.

Resene won’t have a product for this, water ponding will lead to problems long term. Could a solution like welding a patch over the top work, perhaps a roofing repair company may have some good ideas.

March 2023

Q. What undercoat should I use on 1920s weatherboards, with various paint colours as well as wood showing through when sanded?

A. The primer depends on what timber the weatherboards are made from. For pine, totara, matai we recommend Resene Quick Dry. For cedar, Rimu and Kauri, we recommend Resene Wood Primer.

March 2023

Q. I'm replacing my barge boards and fascia boards and am wanting to know what to seal the cut ends with. I have epoxy resin available but have been impressed with Resene Sureseal in the past. I'm not worried about drying times as I can manage that myself but am just after the best product to make sure the ends of the boards don't split.

A. If the new boards are made from pine, we recommend Resene Quick Dry water-based primer undercoat. If they are Cedar, Rimu, Kwila, we recommend Resene Wood Primer (oil based).

February 2023

Q. I am after a product that will join weatherboard together before painting (to cover the joins along the house). I have used builders bog, contract filler, a filler product and no more gaps etc and everything has cracked. The weatherboards had a lovely finish before Christmas and now with the heat they have opened up again. Do you have a product that I could use that would last a bit longer?

A. I would possibly contact PAL to ask about their recommendation for A gaps style weatherboard silicone or a MS Silicone (please note some MS silicone are not paintable).

Below is a paragraph from The Master Painters website (MPNZA) with some added info.

We are regularly asked at Master Painters NZ about whether to gap timber weatherboard underlaps. There are definitely positives and negatives to filling the weatherboard underlap. Our advice is currently as follows: Existing Timber weatherboards: Due to the movement timber weatherboards can experience through both high and low concentrations of moisture, filling the underlap can cause problems. General movement of the building, including ground movement, can also cause the weatherboard to flex and move. These problems are highlighted by the squeezing out of the gap filler from the underlap and appear as lengths of chewed gum. The timber movement can be exacerbated by the use of darker coloured paint, such as colours with a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of less than 45 LRV. The dark colour absorbs the heat from the sun expelling moisture from the timber and contracting the weatherboard. However, if the gap is not filled then it is likely an unaesthetically pleasing black line can be seen (the black line being the gap between the boards) which many consumers do not expect to see. The black line is not visible if the gap to the underlap is filled. If a gap filler is to be used to fill the underlap, it should be one that is recommended by the gap filler manufacturer for the use on weatherboards. It should have the maximum elasticity possible to deal with the likely movement of the timber weatherboard. MS Silicon is often used in this instance. It is the belief of MPNZA that painting contractors should point out the pros and cons of filling the weatherboard to the consumer/home owner. This will provide them with the knowledge to make an informed decision of what is best for their needs. This decision should then be documented with the consumer/home owner advising the painting contractor in writing their decision prior to work commencing.

February 2023

Q. I have removed a wallpaper border from a painted wall but have been left with a residue of the paste or glue which was used by the previous occupants of the house. I intend to repaint the room but do not know how to proceed at this point. The residue cannot be felt when running the fingers over the wall, but can be seen as a light beige haze. I have tried removing it with meths, rubbing alcohol, sugar soap, etc. and have only got down to this level with hot soapy water and elbow grease, but I am pretty exhausted. It would be great if you could advise me of the best way to proceed as I don't want to spoil the new paintwork through lack of proper preparation.

A. To be on the safe side, when it comes time to complete the repaint, sand this area with 180 grit sandpaper, followed by a finishing sandpaper like 220 grit. Once clean, prime this area of concern (and any other bare or plastered patches also) with Resene Sureseal (solventborne), followed by two topcoats in your desired colour.

February 2023

Q. I brought a couple litres of pigmented sealer. I gave the surface a rough sand wiped with a dry cloth, then painted. I had no problems putting it on. But as it started the dry, certain areas started to crack and peel. Kind of like what happens when you apply paint stripper to something. I tried painting over it as is, while drying and fully dry, sanding till touch smooth then painting but nothing seems to solve it and the peels just get bigger if I'm too rough.

A. It looks like there is contamination on the surface, sanding alone will not decrease the surface especially if this is a bathroom or kitchen. Another cause could be a cleaner that hasn’t been thoroughly removed such as sugar soap. This sealer is not intended to be applied thick or create a solid colour, we recommend this sealer be applied with a microfibre sleeve.

February 2023

Q. Pine Jenkin A-lign weatherboard ex factory are pre-primed with oil based paint. Can I apply Resene Quick Dry primer over this?

A. In most cases, for pre-prime, an oil-based primer such as Resene Wood Primer is recommended, unless the weatherboard supplier states that a water-based primer undercoat can be used.

In your case, I would prime areas of pre-primed timber with Resene Wood Primer. For the bare areas that do not have pre-primer, I would also use Resene Wood Primer (unless the weatherboards are Totara or Matai timber, in which case use Resene Quick Dry).

February 2023

Q. Can Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer can be directly topcoated onto or does it require another coat of Resene Broadwall or Resene Sureseal before topcoating.

A. It is fine to apply the topcoat direct. If the wallpaper was dark and the paint colour is light a coat of Resene Quick Dry will help with coverage.

February 2023

Q. Can I use Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer to seal chipboard/particle board or do I need particleboard sealer?

A. Particleboard does need a specific sealer. Resene Particle Board Sealer has been replaced with Resene AquaLAQ Quick Dry Sealer.

January 2023

Q. Exterior laminate posts on a 1980s Lockwood are starting to split due to sun damage I presume. I want a filler that will adhere to the wood, fill the small gaps and provide a base for paint finish.

A. Use RepairCare Dry Flex SF for filling, this is a two component filler that comes in a cartridge and with a cartridge gun delivers the right quantities of base and hardener which you then mix to a homogenous mix before using, then sand smooth when hard cured. The easiest paint system is a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and two waterborne topcoats, for cladding use Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, for windows and joinery use Resene Lustacryl as the topcoats respectively. Builders Bog dries very hard and does not flex as much as timber hence the popping out of the filler.

January 2023

Q. I have removed the wallpaper in our living room and it is now back to plasterboard with plaster. There are a few holes that need filling. How do I fill these holes? Do I do this before or after sealing? Do I just need to use Resene Sureseal or should I use the Resene Broadwall 3 in 1 which has primer and sealer?

A. Fill all cracks or holes with Resene EzyFill GP or PAL Contract Filler, applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once dry sand smooth. Once prepped, apply a full coat of Resene Sureseal, to prevent water-soluble stains from residual glues, yellowed plasterboard and water stains (from the stripping process). Allow to dry for 48 hours with good cross ventilation. Apply 2 full coats of either Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Zylone Sheen (only in dry areas) in desired colour.

Keep in mind that when removing wallpaper, there may be imperfections in the wall that will show with critical light. To get a better uniform finish, after applying the Resene Sureseal you can use a thick almost plaster like paint product like Resene Broadwall Prep and Seal (roll/brush apply) or Resene Broadwall 3 in 1 (spray only) followed by the topcoats.

January 2023

Q. We are about to repaint our house with a much lighter colour. We have areas of mould and wonder if the hypochlorite is the best solution. Also which would be the best filler to use in three small areas where water has seeped into the wood around knots and caused internal rot. The house is Lockwood Landseer and has thick boards so not an issue if we would need to cut out timber and replace.

A. Sodium hypochlorite is the best option, we recommend treating mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. I would remove any compromised timber and fill using PAL Contract Filler. The primer/sealer required is dependent on what timber you have – use Resene Quick Dry for Pine, Matai and Totara or use Resene Wood Primer (oil based) for Cedar, Rimu and Kwila.

The filler needs to be sealed though before topcoats are applied over it.

December 2022

Q. I'm painting exterior Axon cladding with Resene Sonyx 101. The exterior corners have an aluminium Axon flashing which we will want to paint. I guess we will need to prime this first? What should we prime it with? Can I use Resene Galvo One?

A. If the flashings are new, you will need to degrease and clean the surface with Resene Roof and Metal Wash. It is fine to use Resene Galvo One to prime these.

December 2022

Q. I have recently removed wallpaper, removed the glue, washed them and sanded them. I am then getting a skim coat. At what stage do I need to apply pigment sealer and what do you recommend?

A. It depends if your plasterer would like a sealer on the wall before he does the skim coat. If he does want a sealer, we recommend Resene Broadwall water-based sealer, them the skim coat, then to seal the plaster and block the staining from the old yellowed plasterboard apply one coat of Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer (oil based), then two topcoats of your choice. All of our water-based topcoats can be applied directly over the Resene Sureseal.

If the plasterer is happy for the old plasterboard to not be sealed prior, we recommend one coat of Resene Sureseal (solventborne) over the skim coat then apply two Resene topcoats.

October 2022

Q. How do to coat timber where sap is coming out of the timber?

A. Follow these steps:
1. Treat moss and mould using Resene Moss & Mould Killer.
2. Thoroughly wash and scrub using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, a Scotchbrite pad is ideal.
3. Sand any flaking paint and inside facings of the window and frame:

• Remove or strip any perished or unstable paint - typically the windowsill
• Condition stripped areas with Resene TimberLock.

Next, follow these steps:

1. Spot prime using Resene Quick Dry Primer or Resene Wood Primer.
2. Replace any putty using Red Devil synthetic putty, fill any nail holes etc, spot prime putty using Resene Wood Primer after allowing 24 hours to cure.
3. Topcoat options:

• We recommend two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.
• Alternatively for high gloss finish we recommend two coats of Resene Enamacryl waterborne gloss.

The sap may come back over time as this is a natural feature of timber and cannot be removed as such.

October 2022

Q. We have random rusting along the edge of panels that look like weatherboards.

A. It sounds like this was galvanised metal originally, what has happened, is the Zinc coating that is applied to the metal to galvanise and provide a protective layer has corroded away and now the bare metal is corroding.

This is difficult to stop, and any basic paint primer can slow it down but not stop it.

And anything we can sell you at a DIY level won’t be guaranteed and the rust could reappear fairly quickly.

I think the best way forward is to engage with a professional painter who specialises in rust repair or metal substrates. There are specialist products that we sell that can be applied to help reinstate the Zinc coating, adding more protection back to the metal. The preparation for this requires power tool cleaning to remove as much of the present rust as possible.

October 2022

Q. Is it possible to use an oil based full gloss enamel over an existing acrylic paint finish? If yes, is there any special preparation required?

A. Depends upon the existing waterborne paint. A solventborne enamel will stress an existing waterborne paint and often the outcome is a wrinkling of the topcoat. The potential for this to occur can be reduced but not eliminated by applying a full coat of Resene Quick Dry to a clean existing paint surface, allow the Resene Quick Dry to cure for at least 48 hours before topcoating.

June 2022

Q. I have new unpainted soffits at my salt water laden bach, is there a special paint I need to apply for my first coat?

A. Apply a saturation coat of Resene Sureseal before topcoating with Resene Sonyx 101.

June 2022

Q. How long can Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat be left on a fence before topcoating?

A. It’s best to be overcoated with at least one topcoat layer within four weeks.

June 2022

Q. What is the recommended paint system for treating patches of surface rust on corrugated iron?

A. Scrub down using Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are 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-blasting 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, to leave only soundly 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 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.

Prime prepared areas of red rusting and any bare metal with two coats of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer then finish with two coats of Resene Summit Roof in your topcoat colour. If located close to the sea, apply a coat of Resene ArmourZinc 110 to the prepared areas of red rust and then apply the above paint system, with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer over areas primed with Resene ArmourZinc 110 only.

June 2022

Q. I am painting a Lockwood house. It has previously been painted but there is some corrosion. I have removed the corrosion and old paint mostly back to the original powder coating or through to the aluminium foil. The corrosion doesn't appear to be right through the aluminium. What is my method going forward given I have multiple surfaces to overcoat, i.e. bare aluminium, powdercoat, previous paint. How much of the previous paint do I have to remove given I could do more damage to the aluminium trying to remove the old paint in the tricky hard to get at grooves.

A. The fact that there does not seem to be any corrosion breakthrough of the aluminium skin is a bonus. This is not always the case. You should not have to remove any areas of existing paint that are sound and showing no signs of breakdown either from weathering or corrosion.

If you haven't already done so treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed.

Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label/data sheet. Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed.

Then prime areas of bare aluminium with a full coat of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer before topcoating.

June 2022

Q. Do I need to use a primer for timber, or will an undercoat serve the purpose? I will be applying white paint to a timber surface.

A. Bare timber requires a primer coat before topcoating. For most timbers you can use Resene Quick Dry but for Cedar and other hardwoods you must use Resene Wood Primer as the primer.

June 2022

Q. I recently had a lot of downlights installed on the ceiling of my kitchen/living room. The electrician left a lot of holes in the ceiling which the builder and plasterer have filled in and plastered. There were about 35 holes in total.

I need to seal the ceiling before painting and wondered what product to use. I have half a can of Resene Broadwall wallboard sealer left from sealing a recently plastered wall. Can I use this on the ceiling?

A. Yes, Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer can be used as the sealer for stopped plasterboard.

June 2022

Q. We are repainting the ceiling in our lounge. We have washed the ceiling as it was sooty above fireplace. There are still soot wash marks in places. Will Resene Sureseal be the right product to paint prior to Resene ceiling water based paint?

A. Resene Sureseal would be the first choice for this situation, however you could use Resene StainLock.

June 2022

Q. I have a weatherboard house which is a mixture of cedar and pine weatherboards. The house has been stripped back and one coat of Resene oil based primer applied. The painter is telling me that for a better finish I should use a water based primer over the oil based primer before the two topcoats. Is this true? Would there be any benefit having the two different types of primer?

A. Application of a coat of Resene Quick Dry over the oil-based primer will upgrade the paint system from the perspective of protecting the timber from decay.

There will also be the chance for improving of the level of finish especially over cedar as the primer is often absorbed into the timber surface leaving only a small film on the timber surface. A traditional paint system was always a primer/undercoat and two topcoats.

June 2022

Q. Please could you recommend one of your sealers to apply on to a fibrous plaster ceiling that got soaking wet in a bedroom from a roof leak. The leak has been fixed, the ceiling is now dry but it is badly stained where it got mould growth. We plan to wash clean with damp rags and then to seal to prevent further mould growth.

A. Resene Sureseal is the only sealer we recommend for sealing bare fibrous plaster, also we give stain blocking which is more than likely required in your situation. There is no waterborne sealer for fibrous plaster. This can be topcoated with your chosen Resene ceiling paint.

June 2022

Q. Do I need any special primer to bond to raw polystyrene? It’s been bonded externally to a shed for insulation. It will see sunlight and rain on it.

A. Our recommendation would be to apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry before topcoating with a waterborne topcoat system. What is the poly being used for? Gaps between the poly sheeting will not be filled with a paint system.

The best system would be to apply a high build waterborne topcoat system such as Wash down the aluminium joinery with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label instructions X-200, 3 coats, over the primed poly. The Wash down the aluminium joinery with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash following label instructions X-200 will protect the poly from exposure to both UV and water, assuming gaps are sealed.

June 2022

Q. I have an old villa and the rust from the nails is coming through under the balustrade timber. I have used a CRC rust converter where I can get at nail heads but want to know the best product to put over the treated nail head and best product to seal/block existing rust staining on timber.

A. Despite those that sell these products we do not have great faith in rust convertors holding back rust. If you have already used the convertor, wash down with water allow to dry and then overcoat with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer.

This is our recommendation for dealing with rusted nail heads. Re punch nails and spot prime nail heads with Resene Rust Arrest. Allow the primer to dry then flush fill the nail holes using Dry Flex SF Filler.

April 2022

Q. I have a lot of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat interior/exterior paint left over from a job and am wondering if it is suitable as a basecoat on MDF board?

A. Resene Quick Dry is our recommended primer for MDF.

April 2022

Q. Can Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat for exterior and interior use be used to undercoat a metal trailer that we want to repaint?

A. Resene Quick Dry does not have an anti-corrosive package so can't be used direct to metal. But it can be used as an undercoat over an appropriate metal primer.

April 2022

Q. If I apply Resene Quick Dry sealer undercoat and one coat of Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel how long can I leave it (max time interval) before painting the next coat?

A. I would not leave application of the second coat for more than two weeks.

April 2022

Q. Has anyone had any issues with Pre-Coated Steel Primer looking ‘mirror like’ glossy and semi-transparent?

A. The primer is never expected to give total opacity, if the primer was not well stirred before use there may have been a degree of pigment settlement, this would give a glossier film and possibly a reduction in hiding.

April 2022

Q. Can Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat be used on top of Resene Vinyl Etch primer?

A. Resene Quick Dry can go over Resene Vinyl Etch.

April 2022

Q. Do I need a primer on cement board on the exterior of a garage?

A. If the cement board is bare, then the answer is yes. For new, less than 6 months, use Resene Concrete Primer. If it's old Resene Sureseal is best. Finish with two Resene topcoats.

April 2022

Q. I have a quantity of paint to remove from timber. What is the difference between SPC 202 and 203 please?

A. Sea To Sky is used for many other coatings beyond decorative paint systems, for example, marine, 2 pot system, industrial, anti-graffiti coatings and antifouling.

Either version of Sea to Sky is suitable for use on Decorative paint systems and basic 2-pack systems.

My main recommendation is Sea to Sky 203, as Resene carries the larger pack sizes of this and the largest pack size is better value for money.

April 2022

Q. Can Resene Vinyl Etch adhesion primer be used successfully on epoxy or polyester resin?

A. Resene Vinyl Etch can be used on both.

April 2022

Q. I have glossy patches on HD galvanising. How do I fix this?

A. Glossy areas on new HD galvanising are an indication of chromate quenching post galvanising and this surface MUST be removed prior to painting.

Sweep blast the galvanised surfaces with a clean non-metallic media, to slightly profile the surface and provide a dull uniform finish. Care must be taken to ensure that no more than 10 microns of zinc is removed from the galvanised surface during this process. Note II: Hand tool cleaning is not a preferred method of preparing the chromate quenched surface, due to the difficulty of achieving the desired and correct level of even preparation. However, if sweep blasting is not possible, then these areas must be sanded using a mechanical sanding with 100 grit abrasive paper to achieve a dull finish. Care must be taken to ensure no excess removal of the zinc layer in this process.

The paint system will be a coat of Resene Armourcote 220 applied to achieve a dry film thickness of 75 microns followed by Resene Imperite IF 503 Blast Grey 1 to achieve a DFT of 100 microns.

For added UV and anti-graffiti protection allow the metallic base coat to cure for at least 48 hours with ventilation then apply Resene Uracryl 402 UVS Clear to achieve a DFT of 100 microns.

Allow the complete system to cure for at least five days before transportation to the installation site. Care during transportation must be put in place to avoid damage to the system as site maintenance/touch ups may not be achieved seamlessly.

April 2022

Q. I am in the process of slowly covering my old indoor oil-based trim with water-based products. I have some internal garage stairs – currently painted in high gloss oil-based paint, with non-slip grit on them.

How do I prep these for repainting (do I need to sand them back and add more grit etc) Secondly, am I better sticking with oil-based paints to re-coat these stairs?

A. Using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, clean down to remove grease/oil paying particular attention to hand contact areas.

Sand as best as possible to de gloss/profile using 180 grit sandpaper, dust off then wipe down with a damp cloth then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry then apply two coats of Resene Walk-on and finish with a thin seal coat of Resene Concrete Wax.

Prep and priming – Allow the system to dry with ventilation for as long as possible before walking on the new paint system.

March 2022

Q. After recently sanding back and repainting our timber Jamb liners in our 80s house, a yellowish-brown spot has appeared in a few places and has begun seeping through the topcoats. After some research my guesses are, these are the tannins in the wood seeping through. Originally the liners were dark brown and I'm assuming it had some form of clear coating overtop i.e. polyurethane.

Do I have to sand off the new paint, right back to timber and seal/lock in the tannins with Resene Wood Primer? Or can it do light sand of the topcoat (Resene Lustacryl) and seal with Resene Sureseal, then reapply two new topcoats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss?

A. Apply a coat of Resene StainLock then re-apply two coats of the topcoat colour. It’s probably best to prime the whole area with Resene StainLock.

March 2022

Q. My house has 5 year-old untreated cedar weatherboard siding which has greyed off. What should I do to prep the surface before staining?

A. Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Thoroughly scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed. Then apply two coats of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

March 2022

Q. We are trying to install a butynol valley but weather has stopped progress. The butynol is applied on top of plywood. Is there a certain primer that we can use to decrease the dry time of the ply, but also allows adhesion for the butynol?

A. Sorry we have no primer to increase the drying out time of the ply.

March 2022

Q. I want to paint some bricks with Resene AquaShield. What should I use as a sealer to stop the paint being absorbed into the bricks?

A. For unglazed exterior bricks use Resene Concrete Primer thinned 10% with water as the sealer.

October 2021

Q. I am wondering if you are able to tint primers to the colour we are painting our house?

A. We don’t generally tint primers as this has the potential to compromise the primer. Topcoat coverage of a tinted topcoat can be achieved by application of two coats at the correct spreading rate. There are some colours that we recommend a tinted undercoat for but never a primer.

October 2021

Q. Is there a primer that will allow acrylic over enamel?

A. Use Resene Quick Dry, ensure the enamel coating is clean and grease/oil free then sand to degloss/profile. Dust off then apply the Resene Quick Dry.

October 2021

Q. How do I treat rusty nail heads showing through fibre board soffits?

A. Scrub down nails using Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed. Where practical remove rust from corroded nail heads using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc to leave only tightly adherent corrosion products. Care is required not to cut the fibre cement around the nail. Alternatively sand the corroded nail head using 220 wet and dry sandpaper again to leave only tightly adherent corrosion products. Then prime prepared nail heads with two coats of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer.

September 2021

Q. I would like to know what I need to do with copper flashings before I paint my house and the copper flashing leeches over the new paintwork again. Is there some special sealer that needs to go over the copper?

A. Use Resene Vinyl Etch for priming bare copper, and then undercoat with Resene Quick Dry before applying two coats of waterborne topcoat.

If there is pronounced verdigris on the copper wipe down using a cloth and white vinegar to restore the original colour then wash well with water and allow to dry before priming.

September 2021

Q. We have to paint some HardiBoard that has been secured with stainless steel nails. What primer should we use on the stainless steel nails?

A. The stainless screws can be primed with Resene Galvo One. We recommend a primer coat of Resene Concrete Primer is applied prior to topcoating, even if the board comes preprimed.

August 2021

Q. Do I need to prime or seal new fibre cement sheet on the sides of a new deck and also under soffits before painting?

A. Yes, apply a coat of Resene Concrete Primer before applying two coats of topcoat colour.

August 2021

Q. I just recently stripped the wallpaper off the wall and am wanting to prep the wall for painting. I just want to check if I should skim coat over it or could I just use the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal over it? My main concern is the patches where the paper of the plasterboard has ripped a little when the backing paper was removed. Should I be applying putty over it first? Or would Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal be alright to cover it off and me sanding it after applying? And also another thing is if I am using the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal, should I still apply a layer of Resene Sureseal before the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal?

A. The decision to skim will be based on the level of finish on the stripped wall, surface imperfections and general levelness of the wall, the latter can be checked by placing a long ruler or a straight edge along the wall and seeing how many sections there are that show daylight along the edge. If you decide not to skim coat, then follow the directions of page 2 of the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal data sheet. You can fill minor imperfections using GIB® RediFilla, sand smooth then seal using Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal before topcoating.

August 2021

Q. I want to paint rimu panelling and would like to know what I need to do prep it and to ensure a smooth finish.

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 sand with 220 grit sandpaper.to profile, you do not need to remove the existing varnish system just degloss.

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 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. There will be a residual chemical odour so ensure that good ventilation is maintained until the odour is no longer detectable.

For the beams apply a coat of Resene StainLock followed by a coat of Resene Quick Dry before topcoating.

August 2021

Q. What sealer should we use before painting over concrete cinderblock?

A. I recommend Resene Sureseal.

August 2021

Q. Could you please recommend the type of undercoat for the exterior of a new pine timber treated H3.2 sleepout, and also which type of paint I need to use?

A. To stop bleed of colour from the timber treatment apply a coat of Resene Wood Primer if you use a waterborne primer it may look OK initially but over six months a yellow colour will appear, most noticeable with white and pale colours. Then apply two Resene topcoats.

August 2021

Q. Is it OK to use standard Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat to prime plastic downpipes on my house?

A. You can but Resene exterior waterborne topcoats can be applied directly to PVC downpipes/guttering without priming, provided the surfaces are clean and grease/oil free. Full adhesion takes 5-7 days to develop and is temperature dependent. We do know that the PVC suppliers recommend priming before topcoating but this does not apply to Resene waterborne topcoats.

August 2021

Q. We are repainting the interior walls of our home with Resene paint. Do the walls need to be sanded?

A. If the existing wall paint is a waterborne paint and clean there should be no need to sand prior to repainting with a waterborne paint. We do suggest that application of a Resene Quick Dry undercoat can give a better system, especially if you are choosing a very different colour.

August 2021

Q. I'm intending to paint the outside of my Summerhill stone house, last painted around 10 years ago. It’s in fair to average condition currently, with some minor flaking and discoloration. Do I need to use Resene Sureseal as it has already been painted before and if you would recommend anything else for Summerhill stone?

A. Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed. All paint that is flaking or unsound must be prepared back to a sound feathered edge. Spot prime bare substrate with Resene Sureseal then apply two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 in your topcoat colour.

August 2021

Q. I have some plywood cladding that currently has an oil based stain on them. Can I apply Resene Quick Dry straight on to that surface, or do I need to use an oil based undercoat to seal it first?

A. You will need to apply a prime coating of Resene Wood Primer not Resene Quick Dry.

Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed.

Scrub down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed.

Then apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer and follow with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in your topcoat colour. If selecting a dark topcoat colour apply the CoolColour version of the topcoat colour.

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.

A CoolColour system will not necessarily stop resin migration from resin rich timber such as pine which as painted in dark colours.

August 2021

Q. I have a new build underway which has galvanised metal (GIB® stopping bead) on the ends of the GIB® where it meets the window and door frames (no architraves). My builder says the edge that meets the frame won’t be plastered so I need a primer to go on the metal prior to painting. My frames are pre-primed and I am intending on painting them with Resene Lustacryl. The walls will be Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

A. Use Resene Galvo-Prime to prime the galvanised pieces.

August 2021

Q. I am starting to renovate/decorate an old 1960s house. Most rooms had wallpaper which for the most part came off fairly easily. I painted one room and the hallway and the finish is not great due to the old wall board. I had filled all major imperfections but some of them are not obvious until you have actually painted.

I am hoping not to have to skim the walls as this would be quite expensive so I was wondering if there is a product that I could easily apply that would cover up these imperfections. I'm not after perfect, just better then what it is right now. I was thinking perhaps the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. Would this work or would you recommend something else?

A. You are correct, Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal may well achieve what you want. Apply two coats using the recommended roller sleeve. This will fill minor imperfections, note that after stripping wallpaper we require a coat of Resene Sureseal to be applied prior to application of the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. This seals the surface and also blocks reactivation of any residual wallpaper adhesive when overcoating with a waterborne paint.

August 2021

Q. I've been using Resene EzyFill GP over the last two nights (about two hours per night) to fill pine architraves and skirtings, but it's starting to get less workable, i.e. drying slowly in the pottle. Can you add water or meths or something to get the consistency more workable? It would 'wobble' to a good consistency originally (like treading on the spot in wet sand), but that doesn't work much anymore.

A. I'd go with water initially, though a bit of Resene Hot Weather Additive might be an option if you are not filling too deep.

August 2021

Q. I have one wall with a stucco cladding on one side of my house. I've just bought the house and I've noticed rust coming out of stucco, probably because of rusted wire mesh. I want to waterproof it with Resene X-200 or a better product. My question is do I need to apply a rust converter before?

A. Treat areas of moss/mould infestation with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface (this includes window glass and joinery). Rinse clean or hose down with copious amounts of fresh water ensuring all wash solution and surface chalk residues are removed. All paint that is flaking or unsound must be prepared back to a sound feathered edge. Spot rime bare plaster with Resene Sureseal, prime rust stains with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer then apply three coats of Resene X-200.

August 2021

Q. Do you have any information regarding acceptable moisture levels in concrete (precast/tiltslab walls) prior to painting, as one of the painting contractors has been asked to provide details re moisture levels and a 14% moisture level has been bandied about, as the maximum acceptable level? The concrete is fully cured, but is exposed and not fully closed in and it is wintertime, so conditions are not favourable.

A. Surface moisture readings are not the criteria for painting as they don’t give any indication of water content in the concrete thickness.

The plastic sheet test is recognised as the best method to establish in a concrete substrate is ready for painting.

August 2021

Q. Do I need to apply a primer before painting Hardies fibre cement board with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen?

A. Yes, apply a prime coat of Resene Concrete Primer.

August 2021

Q. Our exterior cladding is Harditex with some cracking in the plaster and paint coating. Can you provide technical advice on how to treat and repair the cracks and to repaint the building?

A. Other than minor cracks repairs to cracks in the fibre cement cladding are outside of our expertise, we recommend that you contact James Hardies directly for this advice. If the cracking is at sheet joints then this is not a minor issue.

Painting is not an issue after repairs are made.

Step 1: Treat moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer; use as directed on the label.

Note I: For heavy infestations, an additional application(s) may be needed. Data Sheet D80

Step 2: Thoroughly scrub down using a solution of Resene Paint Prep and Housewash and water to remove all surface chalking, dirt, detritus, moss and mould residue, cobwebs and other contaminants. Use as directed on the label. Data Sheet D812

Step 3: Thoroughly scrape and sand to remove all loose and flaking paint and to provide a good key for subsequent coats. Water blasting is an alternative to washing particularly where large areas of flaking paint require removal.

Step 4: Any rust stains from fixings, etc., should be spot primed with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer.

Ideally remove and replace or remedy the source of any rust staining.

Step 5: Fill minor cracks and holes (less than 3mm deep) using Resene EzyFill GP or similar, or alternatively and for larger voids, use Resene Construction Systems Ltd Multistop FRP Bedding Compound (must only be applied to bare fibre cement). Fill and prime as required by the relevant manufacturer’s instructions. Cracks measuring less than 1mm should have Resene X-200 or Resene Brushable Crack Filler brushed into them.

Step 6: Spot prime all exposed fibre cement and filled areas with Resene Sureseal.

Contact Resene Technical Services if the panels or boards were manufactured before 1983, as they are likely to contain asbestos.

After priming bare substrate with Resene Sureseal apply two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 in your topcoat colour, we recommend the Resene CoolColour version of the topcoat colour. 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. 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. After sanding, cleaning and priming a ceiling for a repaint does the primer need to be sanded before applying the topcoat? And if two topcoats are required, do I need to sand between coats?

A. It depends upon the primer/sealer, generally there is no need to sand but often a light sand with 220 grit sandpaper is done to de nib, then wipe clean. If using a waterborne ceiling paint there is no need to send between coats.

August 2021

Q. Does Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer stick to existing painted surfaces (in living room)?

A. The product is formulated for application to bare stopped plasterboard. While there will be adhesion to an existing waterborne paint surface Resene Quick Dry is our recommendation if you are looking for an undercoat to apply to a painted surface.

July 2021

Q. I have purchased buckets of Resene Broadwall wallboard sealer to seal the GIB® and stoppings in our new build house. Is it also ok to use this to prime the timber door jambs which will be sprayed at the same time as the walls?

A. While we would always say that a dedicated wood primer such as Resene Quick Dry should be used for door frames, Resene Broadwall Sealer can be used and makes spraying easier as the frames do not need to be masked off.

July 2021

Q. I need to apply primer to the outside of my house and the weather has been quite cold recently. The HardiBoard needs to be sealed soon. Would I be able to use Resene Wintergrade Additive in Resene Concrete Primer?

A. Yes, it will still require thinning with 10% water for application of the primer coat. Addition of the Resene Wintergrade Additive will result in an increase of viscosity, an additional tweak with a small amount of additional water may be required to ease application. But try with the initial 10% thinning.

June 2021

Q. I'm about to paint the inside if a new house. Should I stop skirtings and architraves before or after applying sealer coat. I intend to spray sealer on plasterboard and timber at same time.

A. The convention is to prime/seal then fill and reprime the filled area.

June 2021

Q. I would like your opinion. Is it OK to wipe down an exterior water-based primer with a damp (not wet) cloth to remove any possible impurities on the surface to ensure as maximum adhesion as possible prior to applying a non-water-based topcoat.

Background – early 2020 primer applied, with the topcoat applied over the following 2-4 weeks as weather permitted (i.e. not wet, or sunny). This is on metal tubework, not timber and paints specifically formulated for this application. I‘m trying to get a clear industry idea that wiping down the primer with a damp cloth (flash dries off usually within about 30-60 seconds during those months) to provide as clean as possible surface for the topcoat, any topcoat, to ensure max adhesion. The surface is quite dry again before topcoat application.

I have used a final damp wipe on a variety of interior/exterior surfaces with varieties of paint for quite a few years with no issues, so couldn't see why this should be any different.

A. Wiping with a damp cloth will remove surface dust and loose surface material only. Dust on the surface will affect adhesion of subsequent coats. Any other type of contamination will require a wash down with an appropriate cleaner, if the contamination is grease/oil or the like. The other factor to consider is the recoat time for the primer, as this may be short and require abrasion prior to topcoat application.

June 2021

Q. I'm a painter and decorator and I've been asked for a solution to prep and paint a stucco exterior. On several walls the paint is blistering and the wall needs stripping but that's impractical as there are patterns and the paint is all unsound. I've considered sand blasting, angle grinder with brush attachment, and peel away.

A. The existing paint a system will need to be removed. I would recommend soda blasting or vapour blasting. You will need to establish if there are contractors in your area who undertake this type of blasting.

June 2021

Q. We have stripped wallpaper off 1970s plasterboard walls. We intend to use Resene Broadwall Surface Prep. Some plaster needs to be repaired along with pin holes and picture hook holes. Do I wash walls to remove glue residue, patch plasterwork, sand, apply Resene Sureseal, sand, then the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. Or should I apply 1 coat of Resene Sureseal prior to any plaster touch ups.

A. If the plaster repairs are minor, then apply the full coat of Resene Sureseal after plasterboard repairs.

June 2021

Q. I have used Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer. I want to cover this with a solventborne enamel. Do I have to apply an undercoat as well before the topcoats or is the Resene Sureseal adequate as an undercoat? It’s going onto a wooden surface.

A. It’s best to apply Resene Enamel Undercoat before topcoating.

May 2021

Q. Can Resene TimberLock be applied in direct sunlight?

A. I see no reason why any solventborne product cannot be applied in direct sunlight, the issue is not really sunlight but air/surface temperature. The restriction usually applies to waterborne coatings as the loss of water from the wet paint film is increased under hot conditions and this will give a faster dry rate and difficulties in maintaining a wet edge.

May 2021

Q. Can I use a spray gun and compressor for Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and then topcoat on my kitchen units? if so do I need to do anything to the products before using them? What do paint do you recommend for the topcoats?

A. We do not recommend spraying Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as the product is supplied at a water like viscosity. Apply a thin coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer 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.

May 2021

Q.I use your oil primer on most timbers. I’m building some MDF cabinets. I wish to spray them with HVLP air. Do you have a good water based suitable primer sealer?

A. Resene Quick Dry is our recommended MDF primer.

May 2021

Q. What is the best product to seal a lime washed concrete wall, so that we can put acrylic on it?

A. Using a stiff brush remove as much loose surface material as practical then apply a saturation coat of Resene Sureseal.

May 2021

Q. I have recently stripped the wallpaper on some of my internal walls exposing the fibrous plaster underneath. I wish to make these walls as smooth as possible for painting. I have applied one coat of Resene Sureseal to the fibrous plaster and three coats of GIB®Trade Finish Extra Lite followed by sanding. I have also bought some Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal to further eliminate/reduce the minor imperfections which remain after my skim coating. My question is can I apply the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal directly to the skim coat or should I coat the skim coat with something else first?

A. Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal can be applied direct to the sanded skim plaster coat. If there was no skim coating, then we would have required a coat of Resene Sureseal to be applied to the stripped wall then the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal coating. Try to achieve a dust free skim coat, if this is not possible then apply a coat of Resene Sureseal.

May 2021

Q. Following water blasting of a concrete water tank in one or two places it is back to original concrete. What sealant or undercoat should I use?

A. Use Resene Sureseal, however if the area shows efflorescence. Efflorescence is a chalky white salt residue that can occur with any product containing cement. As moisture migrates up to the surface of the concrete, it carries along with it calcium salts from within the concrete. When the salts reach the surface, they react with CO2 in the air and form insoluble calcium carbonate. If you have efflorescence, this will suggest a leak and Resene Sureseal will not prevent leakage/seepage from the area where efflorescence is present. You would need to identify and fix the source of the leak.

May 2021

Q. I am heat stripping old paint from Rime and NZ Oregon weatherboards. I want to use an oil based undercoat because the timber is on a cold south facing wall with minimal sunshine. I want to use an undercoat to cover both bare boards and boards that still have sound paint on them. What should I use?

A. Use Resene Wood Primer for priming bare timber. For areas where you want an oil based undercoat over a prepared and sound existing paint, use Resene Enamel Undercoat.

May 2021

Q. I intend using some Design Pine posts (GL8 H3 specs) and they are supplied pre-primed with a Resene primer. Could you please identify the primer for me because I want to seal the posts after sawing and tooling?

A. You can use Resene Wood Primer for priming cut ends, the factory primer is not sold in retail stores. I recommend two coats are applied.

May 2021

Q. I am wondering how to fix a plasterboard wall that was painted with acrylic paint. It has a yellow patch from one of those automated fly-spray dispensers that was accidentally pointed at the wall which has soaked in beneath the paint. I have tried painting with acrylic sealer then with topcoat but the yellow patch comes back. Would some other kind of sealer as a first coat fix this?

A. It’s difficult to rectify especially if there has been prolonged spray exposure. However, we have had some customers have success with this option. Wipe the area down using Resene Emulsifiable Solvent Cleaner, you will need to extend beyond the obvious yellow area, wipe down using a cloth and water, change the water many times until the wash water is clear. Allow the surface to dry then apply a coat of Resene Sureseal and then a coat of Resene StainLock before topcoating. You will probably see an intensification of the yellow colour after prep and application of the sealer, this is to be expected.

May 2021

Q. I am installing H3.1 treated cavity battens over polystyrene sheet. The solvents in the timber treatment might affect the polystyrene. Will a coat of Resene Quick Dry on the timber provide enough separation?

A. Best to leave the battens until there is no odour of solvent, then envelope prime with Resene Wood Primer before installation.

May 2021

Q. When stripping old paint in very poor condition from walls of an old house, which is the preferred method, using sanders and grinders or stripper such as a methylene chloride based on? Which is the best eco wise, the health of the painters and client, and cost effective?

A. It depends upon a number of factors, a check should be made if there is paint applied pre 1970 as some of the original paint layers will more than likely contain lead. Chemically stripping may well be the quickest stripping method. But avoid strippers that contain methylene chloride as the solvent is considered to be carcinogenic. There are safer replacements such as Sea2Sky strippers. These may take longer to act but they are much safer to use.

May 2021

Q. Please advise the paint/sealer for external concrete block wall to house.

A. If an older weathered block wall then a full coat of Resene Sureseal and three coats of Resene X-200. If new then three coats of Resene X-200.

May 2021

Q. Do I need a primer/sealer for Resene X-200 when used on timber and cement board (fibrolite)? Or is Resene X-200 self-priming.

A. Priming is required for bare timber and bare fibre cement substrates. For timber, primer selection is determined by the timber species, Resene Wood Primer for most with the exception of Totara and Matai which require priming with Resene Quick Dry. Prime fibre cement prime with Resene Concrete Primer. After priming apply two coats of Resene X-200.

April 2021

Q. What is the best primer combo for damaged MDF sills in an 80s home? The bathroom specifically likes to swell.

A. MDF exposed to moisture is an issue, particularly if areas are inaccessible. Our best recommendation is to prime with Resene Quick Dry then apply a coat of Resene Enamel Undercoat before top coating.

April 2021

Q. Our painters are applying a paint system by Resene consisting of one coat of Resene Sureseal and two coats of Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path. On the Resene Sureseal label it says it should not be left uncoated to the weather. What if we get caught with rain? How long can it be safely left between coats?

A. Resene Sureseal can be left untopcoated for a couple of weeks before topcoating.

April 2021

Q. What primer should I use before painting Marley plastic guttering?

A. uPVC does not need priming before applying a waterborne topcoat. If you want to prime use Resene Quick Dry.

April 2021

Q. I filled a gap with builders bog and have undercoated and painted it four times now. Each time it has bubbled even though it has been allowed to dry. There are only bubbles on the joints.

A. While this type of filler is attractive for speed there is often failure as you describe if used for filling holes in timber. It’s best to remove the bog and use a two pack filler such as RepairCare Dry Flex SF which we stock in our Resene ColorShops.

April 2021

Q. A few years ago I purchased a product from Resene to solve a problem I had with painting over splits in timber weatherboards. The product was a two part filler and it acted as an adhesive to bond all the cracks together. Can you please confirm the name and availability of this product?

A. The product for this now is Repair Care Dry Flex SF Filler which is available from all Resene ColorShop outlets., The filler comes as a cartridge and when used you extrude the quantity you want and mix to a uniform mix then apply. The cartridge has separate compartments for delivery of base and hardener at the correct mix ratio.

April 2021

Q. We have a cedar house. The cedar has been painted (twice) and there are now numerous blisters showing. I have been advised that's because of the moisture in the cedar coming through and that I need to strip it back to the cedar and apply an oil based primer/sealant. What would be the best way to remove the paint and what primer/sealer would you recommend?

A. Using a tungsten blade scraper carefully scrape back failed areas to a sound edge and sand to achieve a feathered edge. Spot prime bare cedar with Resene Wood Primer and then topcoat.

April 2021

Q. How do you prep stainless soakers so that you can have an acrylic overcoat on them?

A. Step 1: Scrub down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash.

Step 2: Lightly abrade the surface using a very fine sandpaper e.g. 320 grit sandpaper or a red 3M poly pad. Care must be taken to minimise damage or scratching the surface as scratch marks may telegraph through the paint system, then prime with Resene Galvo One.

April 2021

Q. What preparation work do I need to do to apply a black CoolColour paint onto fibre cement weatherboards? Currently, the boards are painted black.

A. Treat areas of moss/mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed. Prepare any areas of flaking paint back to a sound feathered edge and spot prime any bare FC with Resene Concrete Primer then apply a full coat of Resene Concrete Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Lumbersider CoolColour topcoat.

April 2021

Q. What is the best product to put on rusty nail heads before painting Hardiplank?

A. Where practical remove rust from corroded nail heads using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc to leave only tightly adherent corrosion products. Spot prime nail heads with Resene Rust-Arrest, allow the primer to dry then topcoat. For unrusted galvanising, substitute Resene Rust-Arrest for two coats of Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer. Resene Rust-Arrest is specifically targeted for application to a prepared red rusted surface whereas Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer is more a general purpose metal primer.

March 2021

Q. I am getting my house painted professionally at the moment. Was painted 10 years ago with Resene paint. The painters insist they don’t need to apply undercoat first and have sanded and undercoated spots only. Is that correct?

A. Any bare timber needs to be primed and can then be overcoated with two coats of a Resene exterior waterborne topcoat system. If the existing coating is sound and waterborne and is prepared to be chalk free then two coats of topcoat colour is the standard system. While a full coat of Resene Quick Dry as an undercoat will be beneficial and is required to give maximum heat reflection when a Resene CoolColour topcoat system is applied, it is not essential in all cases.

March 2021

Q. Do you have a product that could be used as a primer for stainless steel flashings?

A. If using stainless steel soakers the best primer would be Resene Armourcote 221, applied to both sides of the soaker profile then topcoat. The same primer can be used for galvanised soakers. Given your environment it would be suggested that you washed down the exterior using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions, at least once a year. Do not allow the wash solution to dry out on the surface. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed.

February 2021

Q. We suspect our eaves are asbestos and the paint is beginning to flake. We want to paint the eaves, how do we prepare the surface for painting?

A. Before 1983, most fibrous cement in use in New Zealand contained asbestos. Fibrolite was reinforced with asbestos only. James Hardies Hardiflex™ was reinforced with 4% asbestos and 4% wood fibre. Fibre cement products were used extensively for wall claddings on houses, garages etc., and also for corrugated roofing (the most common brand name being Super 6 roofing). Unless the exact age of the cladding/roofing can be established beyond doubt the assumption must apply that the material contains asbestos. These products pose a health hazard if care is not taken in surface preparation prior to painting or if just cleaning down.

Asbestosis is a chronic condition affecting the lungs and is caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibres which results in scarring of lung tissue. Asbestosis is linked to almost all of the known types of asbestos fibres. Sufferers may experience severe shortness of breath and are at an increased risk of malignancies including lung cancer. It usually occurs after high intensity and/or long term exposure and is regarded as an occupational; lung disease.

See WorkSafe web site for more details.

Removal and/or disposal of asbestos containing materials (or just cleaning down of them) may require special permission and /or a license. Contact your local Council offices to determine your obligations under their bylaws. Also refer to the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 or obtain a copy of the New Zealand Demolition and Asbestos Association publication New Zealand guidelines for the management and removal of asbestos available from the WorkSafe NZ website.

Release of free asbestos fibres into the environment as a result of surface preparation or cleaning must be avoided at all times.

The following procedures must be followed during the preparation and or cleaning of asbestos containing fibre cement cladding and roofing as part of any painting operation

• Do not water blast asbestos containing claddings or roofing.
• Keep the surface and any detritus/debris damp.
• Do not use power tools except for removal of fixing screws.
• Do not break the sheets into smaller sections, either when removing or disposing of. Wherever possible remove the complete sheet.
• Wear personal protection equipment including disposable overalls and a suitable dust respirator.
• Collect and contain all debris washed off the substrate and maintaining in a wet state in a sealed container.
• Restrict access to personal other than those directly associated with preparation.
• Remove all asbestos containing material from site for disposal at a refuse site approved by the local authority. We strongly recommend that base line testing of air and ground samples is undertaken to establish if there is asbestos contamination prior to work commencing. Local authorities will need to be involved in decisions on sampling sites for a given location as some local bodies will require confirmation that there is no site or air contamination arising from preparation and subsequent painting operations March 2018 Page 43

Step 1: Treat moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer; use as directed on the label.

Note I: For heavy infestations, an additional application(s) may be needed.

Step 2: Apply a liberal wash of Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to the surface with a nylon bristle brush or broom and thoroughly scrub while ensuring that the surface remains wet at all times. Collect and contain wash off using filters placed either on the ground or at down pipe connections. The surface must remain damp while preparation work is under taken. Additionally do not allow debris to dry out and immediately place filters into tightly sealed heavy duty plastic bags for disposal.

Step 3: Allow to the surface to dry out and then apply by roller or brush a saturation coat of Resene Sureseal to bare areas. The surface will be highly porous and will require significantly higher volumes of Resene Sureseal to saturate the surface (typically an applicate rate 4 to 6 square metres per litre, based on a flat surface). Then topcoat with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

February 2021

Q. I am just removing wallpaper from our walls and wish to repaint. Am I able to use Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal instead of skim coating? Is it easy/simple to use?

A. Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal is not a replacement for a plaster skim coat.

January 2021

Q. Would Resene Sureseal be the best product to prime/undercoat the exterior of a concrete block commercial building that has been presently painted with an acrylic paint (estimate about 20 years ago) that is in poor condition? As expected some paint on one wall is also chalky/powdery. The anticipated first line of attack will be to turbo waterblast and scrape any off any old obviously loose paint. This is expected to remove all loose paint down to about 50% bare concrete block. Because the old paint has bellowed in several mortar joints I'm wondering if bare concrete areas should be spot primed with Resene Limelock before applying Resene Sureseal?

A. Resene Sureseal is designed to seal and consolidate weak concrete substrates, not to consolidate a severely weathered painted surface.

If any areas of moss or mould infestation exist then treat them with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, diluted and used to label directions. For heavy infestations more applications may be needed. Scrub down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all loose surface material and salts are removed. You can low pressure water blast to wash down.

Spot prime bare areas with Resene Sureseal, this may end up being a full coat if the wash prep does result in removal of most of the existing weathered paint.

Resene Limelock is for sealing against lime migration from plasters and, given the age of your substrate, I don’t expect there to be any reason to use Resene Limelock.

Re mortar joints, if the bellowing is back to bare mortar and there is a white deposit (efflorescence) on the mortar then this is indicative of water ingress and the source of the water needs to be found and stopped. Once this is achieved, thoroughly wire brush areas showing efflorescence to remove loose paint and efflorescence then prime these areas with Resene Sureseal. After prepping apply three coats of Resene X-200.

December 2020

Q. I'm painting my house with the Resene Sonyx 101 CoolColour with white primer undercoat as the first coat. I need to fill a few cracks in the timber with PAL Contract Filler. Should I sand and prime before applying the filler or should I sand, apply the contract filler and then prime?

A. The best approach is to prime then fill.

December 2020

Q. What PSI water blaster is best for washing down roof and weatherboards before painting?

A. We do not recommend water blasting timber, weatherboards or decking as the timber surface can be damaged and affect paint adhesion and performance.

For metal roofing the long standing pressure has been 3000 psi, however this can vary according to what the water blasting is required to achieve.

December 2020

Q. I have some mild steel truss plates I need to paint. It is brand new steel. The customer is reluctant to pay for grit blasting so the best prep I can do is grinding or sanding followed by a washdown with a degreaser. I usually use P40 prepainting cleaner from Altex. The plates will be inside but visible and the customer wants a matt black finish. I have Resene Armourcote 210 on hand but am happy to buy another primer if it is better suited to the finish coat you specify.

A. If the steel truss plates are located within the building envelope you could apply Resene Vinyl Etch Black after a clean down using the Altex P40 Cleaner. Assuming a low corrosivity internal environment there may not be a need to apply a topcoat but if required, two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat can be applied to the primed plates.

December 2020

Q. I would like to know what filler would be best to fill nail holes in fibrolite, and should I prime then fill or fill direct to the fibrolite then prime?

A. The term fibrolite usually means that the substrate contains asbestos. If this is the case then care needs to be taken where preparing and filling. Recommend flush filling with RepairCare DryFlex SF Filler. Note the cured Repaircare film is hard to sand and, given the possibility of asbestos being present, flush filling is important.

November 2020

Q. How do I remove stubborn wallpaper?

A. A wallpaper steamer is a good place to start. However if the wallpaper is old, the adhesive used may have been a PVA and stripping is almost impossible to achieve without damaging the underlying plasterboard substrate.

November 2020

Q. I'm replacing a sheet of Shadowclad ply on the exterior of our house. The house is painted in a dark colour so I'm using your CoolColour paint. I'm using the U tint so am planning to paint one coat of white primer/undercoat and two coats of CoolColour. For the end grain of the sheet is there any special product I should use or is one coat of the white primer and two coats of CoolColour sufficient?

A. Resene Quick Dry can be used as the end seal primer.

November 2020

Q. The council have asked about treatment of cut ends of H3.2 bearers - please advise?

A. Assume that it is for a pigmented system, the end seal is Resene Wood Primer for H3.2 timber.

November 2020

Q. What undercoat will cover gloss enamel ready for application of an acrylic topcoat on interior walls?

A. Sand the enamel using 220 grit sandpaper to degloss then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry.

November 2020

Q. My house is wallpapered and has been painted over. The previous owner was a smoker so there are nicotine stains on walls. What can I apply first before two coats of paint?

A. Apply a coat of Resene StainLock.

November 2020

Q. What low VOC primer can be used over polyester paint (or does it even require a primer)? We have interior steel columns with polyester paint over intumescent.

A. If you sand the existing paint system to degloss/profile then apply a coat of Resene Galvo-Prime and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl for a total low VOC system.

September 2020

Q. Can you please recommend the best way to fill nail holes in new pine weatherboard? The nails have been punched and primed. I've used putty in the past but would like an option that I can sand and paint without the wait for the putty to dry.

A. Fill nail holes with RepairCare DryFlex SF Filler to manufacturer's instructions. Flush fill as the filler is hard to sand smooth.

September 2020

Q. We need to paint new mill finish aluminium, what primer do we need to use before applying a semi-gloss acrylic?

A. The easiest system would be to wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions. Apply a coat of Resene Galvo One and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl.

August 2020

Q. We have been painting an area and it has begun cracking and what appears to be rust spots have come through. Where it is cracking we did apply builder’s fill and used a waterbased primer and topcoat over it. Would you have a suggestion to remedy the existing flaking caused by the bog that has been applied?

A. Builders bog used to fill timber defects in my experience will fail. Yes it is quick and does not cost much but it cannot cope with the inevitable dimensional changes that always occurs with timber. The best timber filler we have found is RepairCare Dry Flex SF. This comes as a cartridge which contains a two component epoxy filler, using a skeleton gun squeeze out as much filler as you think is required and thoroughly mix on a plastic or metal surface. Flush fill, do not over fill as the cured filler is not easy to sand.

Dig out the builders bog to expose bare timber, prime the bare timber with RepairCare Uni Prime and while the primer is still wet flush fill using RepairCare DryFlec SF Filler. Do not overfill as the filler does not shrink and the cured filler is not easy to sand to a flush finish. Both products to be used to manufacturer’s instructions.

You can prime and topcoat with standard Resene paints.

August 2020

Q. We've recently demolished a section of a suspended slab and need to protect the reinforcement that was cut off along the edge of the demolished slab. I’m looking for a product that can be painted onto the exposed reinforcement as an alternative to concrete cover to prevent reinforcement from corroding. It is inside of a large warehouse with large roller shutter doors (open during the day) and within 5km of the ocean.

A. In this situation, concrete cover at the correct thickness would always be best compared to painting. However, given that this is not a possibility, the following can be used - ensure the exposed reinforcing steel is profiled using emery paper then prime the bare steel with two coats of Resene Armourcote 221 then apply Resene Armourcote 510 over the entire slab end to achieve a dry film thickness of 250 microns. Multiple coats of Resene Armourcote 510 are required to achieve the DFT if the epoxy is rolled or brushed.

August 2020

Q. Do you think it necessary/advantageous to apply a Resene Wood Primer coat first to new (dressed) pine timber?

A. Yes if the factory coated pine is pre primed with an oil based primer. Factory primers in our opinion are not a durable option, so we recommend a thorough sand and repriming.

Spec Sheet 2:2/1 - Pre-primed Timber, Plywood and Weatherboards (factory applied primers) The quality of pre-primed paint systems used on timber weatherboards varies greatly and in the main, they should be considered as a transport primer only. They will require thorough sanding and priming. If the timber has been exposed to UV light and weather for long periods (6 weeks or more), the surface will have chalked and be generally unsuitable for painting without the additional preparation work.

There are well performing factory applied primers including Resene True Prime. Unless chalked due to excessive UV exposure, they will not require re-priming. Check with the timber supplier or refer to documentation supplied with the timber, as to the type of primer used. Resene Wood Primer is preferred over waterborne Resene Quick Dry Primer, as it is solventborne and will penetrate further into and bind onto the factory applied primer.

Step 1: Thoroughly scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and House Wash to remove all dirt, grease, stains, dust and other contaminants. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Step 2: Thoroughly sand (using P180 grit paper) to produce a smooth, sound surface and to reduce any sharp arises to a rounded profile. Wipe surface with a damp rag to remove dust.

Step 3: Apply a full coat of Resene Wood Primer as per the paint specification.

Step 4: Fill all nail holes, damaged or split timber with Resene EzyFill GP or similar product applied, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Spot prime filler (after 24-hour dry) with Resene Wood Primer.

Note I: To prevent the primed surface being exposed to damaging UV light and weather, apply topcoats within a maximum time period of 4 weeks after completion of surface preparation.

Note II: Step 3 does not require an additional coat of primer and should be read in conjunction with the painting specification for the project.

August 2020

Q. I have concrete blocks painted. Lime is coming out of blocks which cause some areas of paint to peel and bubble. Why is this happening?

A. The issue will be efflorescence due to the movement of water through the blockwork to the surface. Unless the water source can be identified and stopped the repainting will always see the same problem reoccur.

August 2020

Q. I have bought a 160 year old house that has been painted in oil base paint (interior window sashes architraves etc). We love the durability and easy clean properties of the paint and want to repaint them in oil base. We have sanded the areas that are worn/damaged and are now ready to prime etc. My question is: can I use your water based Resene Quick Dry undercoat to prime the bare areas in preparation for an oil based topcoat or what would you recommend? Maybe I should be using an oil based primer then an oil based undercoat (or your water based undercoat) Then the oil based topcoat?

A. Yes, you can use Resene Quick Dry as the primer for subsequent topcoating with an oil based topcoat. Old enamels can become very hard so do need sanding to degloss.

Before topcoating, in your case, I would recommend using the Resene Quick Dry as a primer for any bare wood then apply a full coat as an undercoat.

However, given the age of the paint work, there may be lead pigments present in the existing paint work so wet sanding with wet and dry paper is required to avoid dust inhalation, Make sure you wear a fitted dust mask even for wet sanding. Wipe down using a damp cloth to remove sanding residues from the surface and dispose of the sandpaper and cloths in a sealed plastic bag.

August 2020

Q. I had ballpoint marks on my wall before painting. I removed as much as I could then applied an acrylic topcoat. The ink bled through. I then applied another brand of primer which it has also bled through. Do you have some advice as to my next move please?

A. Apply a spot coat of Resene Sureseal over the pen bleed marks then re topcoat.

June 2020

Q. I want to find a paint to seal inside walls stained deeply with nicotine. I’ve been given mixed advice; to use a heavy duty oil sealer (very toxic) because if I use a less toxic paint the nicotine will come through. Or a sealer that is more natural but still effective. What can you recommend please? My preference would be a sealer that is as natural/eco-friendly as possible. However, the walls are badly stained and I need a paint that will seal the walls well.

A. Yes, our first suggestion would be to use Resene Sureseal (solventborne sealer) but you could use Resene StainLock as a waterborne alternative.

June 2020

Q. I have some of the glow in the dark paint on one wall in my son’s room. I'm now looking to change the wall but never thought about what to do to remove it. Do you have any advice?

A. You can paint over the Resene paint, suggest a coat of Resene Quick Dry followed by two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen topcoat colour.

June 2020

Q. What kind of sealer would I need for interior doors? They are currently varnished wood and I want to paint them 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. 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. 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. We have used an oil based primer on exterior cedar weatherboards that have been painted before - do we need to use an oil base paint for our colour or just the normal water base?

A. The oil based primer, Resene Wood Primer, is only required for priming of areas of bare cedar. You can then use waterborne topcoats.

May 2020

Q. My son has an old house and wants to renovate the kitchen for starters. He has heard about methylene chloride based strippers. I have heard they are efficient but very toxic.

A. The safest paint stripper we have is Sea To Sky which is environmentally friendly and doesn't include methylene chloride. We don’t recommend using any methylene chloride strippers because they are very hazardous. While other strippers may take a little longer it is better to have that than risk your health.

May 2020

Q. We are working on a heritage project. In retaining the facade there will be a series of cut ends of reinforcing we need to protect, especially in this coastal environment, before we refinish the existing concrete facade. Can you recommend a suitable, non-bituminous sealer for this task, that will fit with subsequent topcoats of Resene water-based acrylic?

A. Our primer for this would be at least three coats of Resene Armourcote 221 epoxy primer. Use emery paper to roughen up the cut surface as this will significantly improve adhesion.

April 2020

Q. How long can I leave Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer before applying a topcoat?

A. At least a month. When you can get to recoating check the primed surface to see if it has chalked, wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions then topcoat.

April 2020

Q. I am plastering up cracks and holes in previously unpainted wall (I stripped the wallpaper that was on there off). I then plan on painting it. I believe there is a product I should be painting over the walls before I paint. Can you please tell me what I should be using?

A. If the walls are not in a wet area like a bathroom, then use Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal.

April 2020

Q. We have an old 1940s native timber house which we have completely stripped back to bare wood externally. No matter how many layers of primer and topcoat we put on, it keeps flaking off. Which type of primer/paint/treatment do you recommend for old external native timber that has been completely stripped back to bare wood?

A. If the complete paint system is peeling back to bare timber then the issue is more than likely primer selection.

Native timbers such as Totara and Matai must be primed with a waterborne primer such as Resene Quick Dry. All other timbers (Rimu/Kauri) can be primed with Resene Wood Primer. The oil-based primer does not cure/dry when applied to Totara or Matai hence the need for the waterborne priming option.

April 2020

Q. I have a 1960s stucco house which I am about to paint. There are a number of patches where the previous paint job has bubbled or peeled off showing the grey concrete finish. Before putting on the main coat should I use a standard undercoat or a sealer on the bare patches?

A. Spot prime any bare substrate with Resene Sureseal. Overcoat the areas primed with Resene Sureseal with a coat of Resene X-200 then apply at least two further full coats of Resene X-200.

April 2020

Q. We have removed wallpaper from and old 60s house and taken off some of the gib paper. I have some of your Decorator High Cover Acrylic wall board sealer. Will this product be ok to use to seal the torn areas of the GIB® first then do another coat for the entire surface before plastering is done?

A. Apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal Then flush fill areas where the paper has come off using a stopping product such as Gib® Redi Fill, seal filled areas again with Resene Sureseal then apply the Resene Broadwall.

April 2020

Q. I am repairing some rot in my villa, mostly bare timber but also builders bog and in some places epoxy glue and filler. Which is the best primer?

A. We don’t recommend using builders bog for exterior repairs to timber as it has a tendency to pop out over time. However you can use Resene Quick Dry as the primer for the filed areas as long as the filler material is thoroughly sanded.

February 2020

Q. What is the best product for sealing Hardiflex® sheet?

A. Our recommended sealer is Resene Concrete Primer.

February 2020

Q. What is the best way to get rid of black mould on cedar weatherboards prior to staining?

A. Treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions.

January 2020

Q. Could you please send me more info on your cleaning products? I am wanting to clean my roof as it has lichen and moss on it. It is a COLORSTEEL® roof. I also want to do the fence. It is like a plastic type material? And deck and paths. Can you also use one of the cleaning products to wash houses with synthetic type weatherboards?

Are the products toxic to the environment?

Are they safe if you have pets? Are they safe with gardens and plants?

A. We have a range of products available:

Resene Deep Clean, slow acting treatment for bio growth.

Resene Moss & Mould Killer used to treat mould growth and moss growth.

Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, general purpose cleaner for painted surfaces. Or you can use Resene Bio-Cleaner which is an Environmental Choice approved general paint cleaner to ready the surface for painting.

Resene Roof and Metal Wash for roofs prior to re painting.

Resene Timber and Deck Wash cleaner for timber and timber decking prior to painting/staining.

Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner for cleaning interior painted surfaces prior to painting.

The products when diluted are not considered hazardous if discharged onto soil. As far as potential damage to plants we always recommend these be washed down well if cleaning liquids do come into contact. The Resene Moss & Mould solution is alkaline and should not be in contact with soli or plants that are sensitive to alkali such as rhododendrons, camellias and the like.

January 2020

Q. We are looking for an appropriate sealer to go over a mix of previously painted wallpaper and new GIB® stopping (where cracks etc have been repaired). We have tested paint on the wallpaper and no tackiness has occurred. We were recommended Resene Quick Dry in-store, but looking at the data sheet Broadwall Waterborne Sealer may be a better option. Could you confirm the best way to proceed?

A. If the wall paper has been painted and there is no sign of a surface tack then you can use Resene Quick Dry as the primer. For new stopping and bare plasterboard use Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer (except wet areas such as bathrooms). Application of a waterborne paint system direct to vinyl wall paper can see migration of the plasticiser used in the wall paper into the paint, this causes the paint to become sticky and permanently soft.

Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer is the product to apply first to bare wall vinyl wall papers prior to painting with a waterborne topcoat paint system.

January 2020

Q. We are looking at painting the outside of our house and have got some spots of paint flaking. When we use a pressure washer to remove the dirt the paint on the outside of the house looks and feels ok. Just where the paint has lifted the paint under the topcoat is chalking and when rubbed by hand has lots of chalking. Do we need to remove all the topcoat of paint and clean the chalking off the original paint under the topcoat or clean where the paint is peeling back to original and remove the chalking then paint with a sealer or binder?

A. You will need to remove the topcoats to expose the layer showing chalking then prepare the chalked surface by washing down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash or sanding to produce a sound chalk free surface for repainting.

Given that there is currently poor topcoat adhesion application over the existing topcoat will place more stress on the weakly adherent topcoat and further peeling/flaking will be seen.

December 2019

Q. The painters water blasted the old paint off the weatherboards, now we've got flakes of paint everywhere! What's the best way to pickup thousands of bits of old paint?

A. A leaf sucker may be the only way.

If you are going to undertake more water blasting (water blasting of timber cladding must be done carefully to avoid damaging the timber surface, buy a few rolls of cheap weed matt and peg this out on the ground below the area to be cleaned. This makes retrieval of paint flakes a much easier task.

December 2019

Q. We just started sanding and water blasting some old weatherboards with a view to painting. The house is a 60s weatherboard. Is that the right sort of prep work? We are finding a couple of layers of paint. Any advice as to whether it could be lead-based or how to find out?

A. We don’t recommend high pressure water blasting of timber cladding as this can lead to damage of the timber surface.

If the paint on the cladding pre dates the 70s then there is a high probability that the older paint will contain lead. We can provide test kits to test the paint to determine if lead is present, best to check the older paint layers.

Removal of lead based paint must be done in a manner so as not to releases paint flakes to the environment, also do not dry sand if the point contains lead.

If there seems to be a heavy build up paint it may be time to consider a total strip. This can be done using paint strippers or a heat gun (use a gun that the temperature can be maintained at less than 400⁰C) and a tungsten blade scraper ensure that you are wearing protective clothing. Gloves, eye protection and a dust face mask. Ensure all paint flakes are collected when stripping using a heat gun. Lay a couple of widths of weed mat or shade cloth below the area to be stripped as this makes collection of flakes for disposal easier.

December 2019

Q. Which product do you recommend for priming/sealing GIB® plasterboard which was wallpapered 20 years ago, stripping it now and there is a slight possible residue?

A. We recommend Resene Sureseal.

December 2019

Q. Large parts of the house exterior still have a sheen but if I gently swipe across the surface it will leave a chalky residue on the finger. Is washing the surface with sugar soap or just water enough at this point?

A. We recommend using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label instructions to remove surface chalking, Sugar Soap is mainly used to remove fats and grease not paint chalking.

December 2019

Q. We have a pine barge board at the top of the wall that has knots in it. This has been undercoated then finished with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101, but it looks like sap is bleeding through the coats of paint. What should i do to repair this and stop it happening again?

A. Sap bleed is difficult to control. Dark topcoat colours will exacerbate sap bleed due to an increased surface temperature of the painted surface.

Our best remedy is to scrape back the areas showing resin bleed using as tungsten blade scraper to remove the resin exudate and expose the bare timber. Feather back the edges and then spot prime with Resene Aluminium Wood Primer. This is a relatively slow drying primer and must be hard dry before overcoating with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101.

If the resin pocket in the timber contains high level of resin then a level of resin bleed may still occur.

December 2019

Q. I have candle wax splatters that are on a wall that I want to repaint. I have heard of heating it with a hairdryer and trying to remove it or using an automotive wax and grease remover. What is recommended to remove the wax or should I leave it and seal over it?

A. If you heat to soften the candle wax you can remove some but not all of the contamination. Then use a wax and oil remover to remove the residual wax.

December 2019

Q. We are about to re-stain the outside of our house and I was wondering if Resene has a specific cleaning product to wash the old stain? The water blaster is too rough on it.

A. We recommend Resene Timber and Deck Wash. Treat areas of mould/algae with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions.

Q. I have purchased an 'arts and craft' house built in 1920s, which has a lounge with rimu panelling and battens. It has been coated with a lacquer/shellac, which has crazed.

I am wanting to have this removed as the wood area is dark. I have tried meths which does remove it however it takes a long time and is a big job. Can you suggest another treatment that will remove this lacquer easier and faster?

A. You could try a paint stripper or an orbital sanded fitted with 180 grit sandpaper.

Q. Do you have an etch primer suitable for stainless steel and galvanised steel.  This will be topcoated with an acrylic exterior paint.

A. Yes Resene Vinyl Etch. Etch primers are developed to achieve adhesion and not long term corrosion so if you have galvanising we would recommend priming with Resene Galvo One, Resene Galvo-Prime or Resene GP Metal Primer.

Q. Please advise thinning ratio for spraying Resene Sureseal?

A. Resene Sureseal is supplied at a low viscosity and should not require thinning for spray application. We advise against airless spray application as controlling wet film thickness will be a major issue.

October 2019

Q. I am renovating a bedroom with a varnished wood wardrobe and varnished exposed rafters which we plan to paint with Resene Zylone Sheen. We and want to avoid any bleed-through. What primer should we use once the varnish has had a good sand?

Also, would the same primer be suitable as a first step for the adjacent plasterboard walls, which have been completely stripped of wallpaper and need to be skimmed prior to sealing?

A. If they are clear coat polyurethane you should be able to sand and apply Resene Quick Dry primer. There shouldn't be any bleeding through unless it is an older shellac type coating. Resene Zylone Sheen is good for non-contact areas. For doors etc. you should use a waterborne enamel such as Resene Lustacryl. For the walls you would typically seal the stripped walls with Resene Sureseal (oil based) prior to skimming. This deals best with the glue residue as plasterers will generally ask for this prior to skimming.

October 2019

Q. How long does the odour last from the Resene Concrete Seal 3 in 1? I have applied this on an old hearth and have ventilated the area as much as possible with open doors and windows. It still has a very strong smell after two days, is that normal?

A. The dissipation of the odour is determined by air flow and temperature. At this time of year, it may well take up to a week for the odour to diminish.

October 2019

Q. I want to paint my weatherboard house and I want to prep it correctly. It currently has primer and two acrylic topcoats, which are flaking off to bare wood (done 25 years ago!). I plan to scrape the paint off, but understand it is best not to electric sand acrylic off as the acrylic heats and balls. How do I remove the paint once the scraper has done its job (I wish to avoid mapping)?

A. It may be time to consider a total strip; areas that appear sound may also flake when more paint is applied.

Wet sanding is used to avoid balling up of waterborne paint. To address mapping you can use Resene Timber Surface Prep.

Q. We have removed wallpaper that was directly glued to the GIB®. It has been removed quite well but we need to do some repairs with GIB® Tradeset compound. Do we use the compound first, directly onto the GIB® and then seal with Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal or after and then spot seal again with the Resene Broadwall?

A. You can do the plastering direct to bare GIB®, and then apply the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal.

Q. I am preparing and treating rust stains before painting the exterior of my house. What is the correct way to deal with these rust stains before I paint? The rusting looks to be from non-galvanised nails attaching the exterior fibre cement cladding.

A. Wash down all surfaces to be painted using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions. Using wet and dry sandpaper sand the nail heads to remove surface corrosion, then spot prime nail heads with two coats of Resene GP Metal Primer before topcoating.

Q. How long can one leave Resene Sureseal exposed after application? It has been used on old primed but never painted weatherboards before overcoating in this case with Resene Lumbersider?

A. Of course the sooner the better, four weeks would be safe. The issue is degradation of the Resene Sureseal film due to weathering. If left beyond four weeks wash down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions to clean and remove any surface break down products. Beyond eight weeks re application of the Resene Sureseal would be recommended after the wash down.

Q. What primer do I use as a sealer for new fibrolite?

A. We recommend Resene Concrete Primer.

Q. We have new plasterboard and new plaster skim coats to seal. Can we use Resene Sureseal for these surfaces?

A. For wet areas e.g. bathrooms you must use Resene Sureseal. For non-wet areas you can use Resene Sureseal or Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer.

Q. We have old existing painted walls and ceilings (type of paint unknown), can we use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat?

A. A full coat of Resene Quick Dry is recommended if the existing paint type cannot be identified. For best results sand the existing part to profile prior to applying the Resene Quick Dry.

Q. We have spent some time sanding all the varnish off our plywood panels as we are going to now paint them with a Resene paint system. Can we use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer on this surface as well?

A. Yes, you can use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer as the primer for the sanded varnished ply.

Q. I'm renovating the inside of our 1970s home which still has the original wallpaper in it. Some has been painted over and some has not. It is all proving to be very difficult to remove. What I was wondering is, is there any way of being able to paint over the wallpaper by maybe applying Resene Sureseal or something similar?

A. Re the removal difficulty, there is a PVA wallpaper adhesive that was in common use that makes paper removal almost impossible without damaging the underlying plasterboard.

You will need to apply a coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer before applying the waterborne wall paint system. Make sure the room is well ventilated during application. Do not try to clean out application equipment after completing the application, as this will require use of copious quantities of solventborne cleaner. Do not overwork the coating during application as due to the fast dry there will be a stage where the applied wet film is partially dry and may pull up.

Q. I have some Resene Membrane Primer. It was opened in early 2018. I can't fully remember its smell back then, but it now smells pungent. It has a typical PVA smell with hints of acetic or butyric acid.

There is no reason it should've been contaminated. Is this normal the normal smell?

A. If the product was used for priming butynol or the like and material poured back into the can, then this will give the odour you report. The product extracts a sulphur material from the butynol.

Q. I'm painting my interior new plasterboard ceiling, walls and joinery. I have done one coat of Resene Sureseal over the finished plasterboard. It is quite thin and the stopping can be seen clearly underneath.

I think maybe I should now do a coat of Resene Quick Dry before I do the two topcoats.

Is using Resene Quick Dry next, on top of Resene Sureseal and before the two topcoats a good idea, or would you suggest something else? I assume I can put any topcoat over Resene Quick Dry?

A. Resene Sureseal is not designed to achieve 100% hiding over stopped plasterboard. I always recommend applying an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry over Resene Sureseal for wet areas before applying a waterborne enamel topcoat system.

We normally recommend using Resene Boadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer for sealing stopped plasterboard in non-wet areas but Resene Sureseal can be used with Resene Quick Dry as an undercoat. You don't need Resene Quick Dry if Resene Boadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer has been used to seal the plasterboard and stoppings.

Q. I would like to paint over a Resene metallic painted feature wall with a new regular colour.  What priming process should I follow before applying the new Resene colour?

A. Apply a base coat of Resene Quick Dry then you can topcoat with any Resene interior wall paint.

Q. Can I use Resene Quick Dry as a primer straight onto wood and if so, are there any types of wood that it's not suitable for use on? We have some wooden panelling in one room which we wanted to paint over, I'm not sure what type of wood it is but could possibly be rimu.

A. Resene Quick Dry can be used to directly prime bare timber, with the exception of tannin containing timbers such as cedar.

Q. What paint do I use to seal external new fibrolite please?

A. The recommended Resene primer for new exterior fibre cement is Resene Concrete Primer.

Q. I have a house that is covered in dust from the driveway, which wasn't gravelled immediately after construction. The dusty cedar cladding stain is light coloured. Is Resene Paint Prep and Housewash ok to clean this with?

A. You can use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to try and remove the dust, however we cannot say that it will be effective and if the dust contamination has occurred while the stain was fresh, then it may have become attached/embedded to the stain and difficult to remove.

Q. I am painting plywood with cedar battening and am using Resene Wood Primer on the bare timber. I wanted the primer to soak in more than it appeared to when I applied it with about 10% turps.

I feel it would soak in more if the paint was more diluted, so do the properties of the paint get adversely affected if diluted with turps?

If it does not, my plan would be to put on a thin coat of primer on, lightly sand then apply a second coat of primer. Then follow up with a coat of tinted undercoat and then your topcoat.

A. Oil based primers such as Resene Wood Primer do not require additional thinning when applied to a timber substrate. A moderate thinning up to 10% will not adversely affect prior performance but may see sagging or runs occur under certain application conditions and a reduction in the dry film thickness of the applied paint.

Q. Is there a maximum time I can wait to apply a topcoat after priming? For example, can I prime today and wait two months to topcoat or does it need to be done sooner?

A. Primers aren't developed and formulated for any long term exterior exposure. During summer, the UV is at its highest impact level so you really wouldn't want to wait any longer than 3-4 weeks. It is always best to overcoat as soon as you can.

Q. Is there a maximum time that primer can be left on exterior walls before applying a topcoat? I have just primed my walls but am now not able to apply the topcoats for the next few weeks.

A. Primers should be topcoated as soon as possible but leaving the primer for a couple of weeks should not be an issue, if the primer is left uncoated ensure the primer is washed down using our Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions prior to topcoat application.

Q. Do you have filler that can be used to fill in a fine crack, in an exterior panel on a monolithic clad house? If I use a standard product such as No More Cracks, it will spread all over the surface on either side upsetting the texture and look rubbish. The texture makes it impossible to mask and it looks as though, if you had a fine needle or such like, you could inject a sealant in.

A. Cracks in Monolithic cladding are difficult to disguise with fillers unfortunately. We recommend brushing our weathertight coating - Resene X-200 - into the fine hairline cracks in a sideways brushing motion. This will fill the crack but hopefully not give that ‘silicone' look that is often the problem.

We have testpots of Resene X-200 so you could trial a small area first to see how you go.

Q. We have recently engaged a house painter to repaint the exterior of our weatherboard house. He has initially waterblasted to prep and he tells us that he discovered that under the existing water based paint is oil based. He is telling us that the best solution is to strip everything back to timber and start again rather than repaint over. Is this the only solution? Is there another option that will not be as costly and time consuming?

A. Where there have been multiple layers of paint applied over time, and if there is lead present in the older layers, stripping will remove almost all risk of a failure due to recoating an old existing paint system. But this will come at a cost that you may not have the budget for.

Lead based paint issues aside (you should get the old enamel system tested for the presence of lead, as the presence of lead does require attention when sanding to avoid release of lead containing dusts to the person carrying out the sanding and the environment), if the layers of acrylic paint are removed back to a sound old oil based enamel system, the old enamel can be thoroughly sanded to profile for recoating with a waterborne paint system. We do recommend applying an undercoat of Resene Quick Dry in this situation before applying the waterborne topcoats.

Q. A couple of years ago we painted our daughter's room in Resene Irresistible and Resene Pot Pourri. We are about to repaint it in Resene Black White. What undercoat (or undercoat colour) do we use to ensure that we don't get the pink or bright pink hue under the white please?

A. Apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat, prior to topcoating.

Q. I'm painting a 1920s bungalow. Under the eaves, there are the ends of the roofing iron nails that have gone through the roofing iron and the board under that and can now be seen under the eaves.  Often the protruding ends of these nails have been bent over.

I've removed rusty bent over bits and am looking at removing rust.

What is the best way of then dealing with them prior to painting?

A. For rusty nails like this, it may well be difficult to properly remove all of the rust (i.e. they may be too far gone). However, if you want to give it a go, you'd need to use a wire brush to try to remove as much of the rust as possible then prime using a couple of coats of Resene GP Metal Primer.

Q. I am looking for a superior etch primer to prepare stainless steel soakers required for our corner cladding weatherboard junctions and ultimately, for overcoating with an exterior paint.

A. We have used Resene Vinyl Etch primer for this application. Etch primers are adhesion primers and are not a good primer for long term corrosion protection. This is important if the property is located close to the sea.

The alternative is to abrade the soakers, by lightly sanding with 380 grit sandpaper, apply a full coat of Resene GP Metal Primer and then topcoat with two coats of the cladding paint colour.

Q. I would like some information about the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. Is the application of the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal the same as applying a normal undercoat or is more labour intensive?

A. Resene Broadwall Prep & Seal is roller applied and is no more difficult to roll than any other waterborne seal coat.

Q. I have used Resene Vinyl Etch to prepare stainless steel to paint, what is the maximum time between this and starting with primer? It is about a week today is this too long?

A. As long as the etch coated surfaces are washed down with water to remove salt, they can be left for a week before topcoating.

Q. What etch primer I should use on cavity closers?

A. Resene Vinyl Etch Black.

Q. If I am patching cracks in my ceilings and walls should I just pigment seal over the patch or do I need to seal the whole ceiling/wall area before painting?

A. Just the repaired areas.

Q. Could you tell me if Resene Sureseal is suitable as a primer? I am painting new plaster in my bathroom. Do I need a separate primer as well?

A. Resene Sureseal is our recommend sealer for cementitious and gypsum based plasters and paper faced plaster boards. And yes I would use it as the sealer in your situation, Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry over the Resene Sureseal if you are going to use a Resene waterborne enamel topcoat system.

Q. How long can you paint and then leave Resene Quick Dry Primer on the exterior of your house exposed to weather before applying a colour coat? I have just done Resene Quick Dry primer but am going to now have two weeks before I can apply my Resene Lustacryl colour coats. Will this be ok? Or what difference could it make?

A. A two week time before the Resene Quick Dry primer is overcoated with Resene Lustacryl should be no problem.

Q. I am painting the brick exterior of my house. I have a whole 4L tin of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer left over from some other renovations. Can I use this to prime the bricks instead of Resene Sureseal?

A. If the bricks are glazed, then yes to using Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as the adhesion primer, if not, then if relatively new bricks apply a coat of Resene Concrete Primer thinned 10% with water as the seal coat then finish with two coats of Resene Sonyx 101 or Resene Lumbersider.

Q. Do you need to sand before painting over Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer? I've prepped a chair with it and am using Resene Lustacryl.

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is designed to be applied to achieve a low dry film thickness and we do not recommend sanding the sealer coat.

Q. Do you have a primer suitable for covering epoxy fibreglass resin, prior to administering topcoat? And do you have a primer suitable for covering epoxy fibreglass resin, prior to administering an acrylic paint?

A. If topcoating with two pack polyurethanes, then apply Resene Armourcote 220 or Resene Armourcote 221 epoxy primer to the degreased and sanded fibreglass.

Q. Do you have a primer suitable for covering epoxy fibreglass resin, prior to administering an acrylic paint?

A. You could substitute the Resene Armourcote 221 for Resene Quick Dry if using waterborne topcoats. Degrease the fibreglass, using Resene Heavy Duty Paint Prep and Oil Remover following label instructions and sand with 380 grit sandpaper to profile. Dust off and wipe with a damp cloth to remove dust residues then prime.

Q. I am a student at QUT and we are in the middle of a furniture design course at the moment and are looking for a black spray paint that we can use on steel as part of our piece.

A. We recommend Resene Vinyl Etch Black.

Q. We have just used Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, do we need to undercoat before topcoats are applied?

A. If applying a waterborne topcoat no, but leave the Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to cure for a couple of days before overcoating.

Q. I have poured a concrete top and as it settles, there are some little air holes that appear and I want to fill them in before polishing it.

A. What you have are bug holes, and the filling can be a real challenge unless the bug holes are fully opened for filling. The holes are like an eggshell that only has a small piece of shell removed.

If you are going to polish by diamond grinding, I suggest that type of look to get a coarse grind, first to open the bug holes, then possibly fill using Resene Construction Systems MultiStop, then complete the polishing. There can be no guarantee that the filled bug holes will not be seen after the final concrete polishing.

Q. I am replacing a few rusty soakers. Should I treat the soaker with Resene Galvo One and then paint it, or can I just paint directly onto the soaker seeing as it is galvanised?

A. Degrease if needed and use Resene Galvo One as the primer prior to painting.

Q. I bought a tin of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer on the advice of an interior designer who saw the cupboards I wished to paint. Having stirred the paint, it resembled bubbly milk - the same consistency. No way did it cover or adhere to the surface. It blotched and slipped down and I had to wipe it off. What has gone wrong?

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is supplied at water like viscosity and is not designed to be applied at the same wet film thickness as a standard waterborne paint, or to give opacity or a high dry film thickness. The product is an adhesion primer and does not need to cure/adhesion of the sealer and requires a thin film only.

Q. I have stripped the wallpaper in my bedroom. Is my next step to roll on the pigmented sealer? Then do I give it a light sand and look at where I need to skim with plaster, or do I get a plasterboard stopper in first? The walls are only six years old and all in very good condition, the wallpaper came off easily.

A. Apply a full coat of Resene Sureseal after stripping of the wallpaper.

Q. What is the best primer for MDF?

A. The only primer we recommend for priming bare MDF is Resene Quick Dry.

Q. What do I prime fibre cement board with?

A. Our recommended primer for new fibre cement is Resene Concrete Primer.

Q. Can you please advise on the Resene product suitable to achieve an inorganic zinc primer finish on internal exposed structural steel and send spec sheet?

A. We recommend Resene Zincilate 11.

Q. I am stripping the original 20mm solid plaster from a 25 year old dwelling. This leaves a layer of 7mm tanalised plywood that will be covered with building wrap timber cavity battens and cedar weatherboard that will be painted with Resene Sonyx 101. We wish to avoid a full shrink wrap enclosure of the house so intend to progress the work in smaller sections using tarpaulins for weather protection. My question is do you have a breathable Resene primer or coating that we can paint the plywood with that will not cause sweating of the timber framing in behind? Hardies RAB board is an example of a breathable cladding if we were starting from scratch but as the plywood is already in position it is obviously preferable to coat that.

A. All waterborne paints are permeable to moisture vapour (breathable). Resene Quick Dry is the only weatherboard timber primer we have.

Q. Is Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer enough to seal knots in wood?

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is designed as an adhesion primer and will not hold back resin bleed. We recommend Resene Aluminium Wood Primer for this purpose.

Q. I have a plasterer skim coating a wall. I am planning on painting, what sealer/undercoat should I use once the plasterer has finished?

A. We recommend Resene Sureseal.

Q. What is the best sealer to use outside on a small area of blockwork, which has been painted but moisture has come through from the outside and lifted the interior paint?

A. The first thing to do is to check the block pointing to eliminate this as an entry point for water. The Resene X-200 system is our recommended paint system to render the blockwork weathertight.

Q. We have scrubbed the roof down and removed any loose paint on our beach utility building. There are some areas of bare metal, so do we need to prime before we paint? The roof is COLORSTEEL® that is at least 10 years old.

A. Bare metal will need to be primed with Resene Galvo One before topcoating.

Q. After applying TimberLock, how long do you leave it before you wipe off the excess?

A. The excess needs to be wiped off while the film is still wet, so at time of application.

Q. Could you please advise if an undercoat or primer is required before applying a topcoat of Resene Sonyx 101 waterborne semi-gloss exterior (recommended by Resene ColorShop staff) onto Alucobond PVDF coated aluminium composite panels, which has been sanded with 220 grit.

A. PVDF panels can be difficult to prepare for repainting unless the surface has been subject to a long weathering period (15 years +) in a fully exposed location.

A thorough sanding is required to profile the cladding for painting. Normally we recommend priming with a two pack primer (Resene Armourcote 220) and topcoat (Resene Uracryl 400 Series) system, to get the best possible adhesion outcome with the new paint system.

Q. What is the difference between Resene LimeLock and Resene Sureseal? Are they used in conjunction or would that be excessive?

A. Resene LimeLock is a preparatory coating used for the curing and sealing of cementitious substrates. It promotes cure by producing a water barrier, which unlike traditional curing membranes, may be overcoated with waterborne finishes at any stage. Its ability to cure and seal the substrate eliminates the need to leave the plaster to cure for seven days before painting. When dark, heat absorbing topcoats are planned, it is still prudent to wait seven days before painting. Resene LimeLock traps free lime in the cementitious substrate protecting the paint finish against the appearance of unsightly lime staining, and providing a perfect base for subsequent Resene finishes.

Resene Sureseal is a pigmented, solvent borne, alkali-resistant, penetrating sealer with the ability to penetrate and bond old decaying cementitious surfaces and make them suitable for painting. It acts as a surface conditioner that also reduces bleeding of water stains and dries without the unwanted and strong solvent odours associated with traditional solvent borne products.

The role of the two products is very different and selection depends upon what is required to produce a stable base for painting.

Q. Can you use the seal and prep over a slightly textured wallpaper so you can then paint?

A. Yes, however sealer choice is determined by wallpaper type, if it is a vinyl or vinyl coated paper then we recommend sealing with Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer, if an older paper type use Resene Sureseal.

Q. I am using putty linseed oil formula. Recommendations are to seal within 7-10 days with an oil-based primer (Resene Enamel Undercoat). Other information I have read, suggests a much longer wait. Do you have any recommendations please? I am doing it now in autumn temperatures.

A. Putty can be overcoated when the putty has formed a hard skin.

Q. I would like some product advice regarding water based galvanised steel primers. We would like a product that we could apply to galvanised steel floor plates. The product would not have to have extreme long-life; however, it would be beneficially to be able to procure a product that is available in a variety of colours if possible. Ideally, we’d like to be able to make this surface somewhat abrasive for traction (i.e. by applying sand to the surface between paint coats). We would not be keen on a solvent based product as we are not geared up for solvent application.

I have a friend who is a house painter who tells me there is a product that you make that may work; he uses it for roofs and it is light blue, is this correct?

A. Our waterborne galvanised primer is Resene Galvo-Prime.

The product is only available in the one colour and cannot be tinted, to achieve colour and slip resistance the primer will need to be overcoated with a top coat that has added slip aggregate.

Q. I need to paint the interior walls of my house which are polyurethaned timber. Is there a non acrylic sealer I can use that will bond with the polyurethane so I don't have to sand the entire house?

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is our recommended product for this application.

Q. What is the best sealer paint to use on plaster over poly? This is a repaint.

A. If there is bio growth present, treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label instructions. When dry apply a saturation coat of Resene Sureseal.

Q. I have an older villa with an existing Resene red on a feature wall (rest is a neutral creamy/white). I wish to redecorate so what is the best way to cover the red in prep for a more neutral probably from your blue range. Maybe a coat of white sealer?

A. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry over the red colour.

Q. Do I need to give Resene Sureseal a light sand after I have applied it to plasterboard? Or can I go straight over it with two topcoat layers. Our internal walls were half wallpaper and half painted.

A. Sanding of a sealer like Resene Sureseal is usually only to de-nib if required; this is normally not required on new plasterboard.

If the wallpaper is a vinyl wallpaper, then it will need a seal coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer before topcoating.

Q. What's a recommended primer for repainting aged oregon timber? I wonder if this timber has characteristics similar to matai and totara. My mother says that paint never sticks to it, because of the oils. So far I've used Resene TimberLock only on the bare timber. Does this need further priming? If so, should I use my Resene Quick Dry undercoat or is oil based Resene Wood Primer what's recommended? I am using Resene Lumbersider as the topcoat.

A. Resene Wood Primer is our recommendation, however if the timber is severely weathered then pre-treat with Resene TimberLock then apply the Resene Wood Primer.

Q. Our bathroom has a textured ceiling, which I think contains asbestos. There are a few cracks appearing from age. We can't afford to have the asbestos removed and I'm told as long as the asbestos is encapsulated, it is safe. Is there a sealant I could put on first and then paint over?

A. Use a saturation coat of Resene Sureseal.

Q. Do you have a steel etching primer?

A. Yes, Resene Vinyl Etch.

Q. Which paint is best to use for a first coat on a new particle board floor? We already have the Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer, but we're wondering if the Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat would be better.

A. If applying a solid paint colour then Resene Quick Dry is the primer/undercoat to use.

Q. We are in the process of painting the exterior of our house with Resene Silver Chalice. The new weatherboards are pre-primed and the corner soakers are stainless steel. Can you please advise what we should do and what product to use for priming the stainless steel soakers, prior to topcoat?

A. Clean down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash diluted and used to label directions, then prime with Resene Galvo One.

Q. I'm keen to paint an old wooden-framed mirror for my daughter's bedroom. I think the surface is oil-stained wood. What sort of primer would I need to use to ensure the stain doesn't seep through the final paint coat, and to ensure the paint sticks?

A. A seal coat of Resene Sureseal would be our recommendation to address potential stain bleed.

Q. I have a project which requires a wall to be sprayed with concrete. The wall is thick and has a rough screed finish. I need to paint the surface as soon as possible, after the job is complete. What paint do I use that will enable me to coat the surface soon after the job has been completed? I am concerned that the curing process may affect the paint I put on, and I need to have the area reinstated back into a show room as soon as possible.

A. We recommend you apply Resene LimeLock.

Q. I am redecorating a bedroom. I want to know if I have to apply an undercoat to sanded windows, prior to applying the topcoat.

A. Yes, I suggest a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I was told by my builder, that on newly installed totara we need a special primer due to the oily properties of totara. Can you please give advice on this?

A. Totara and matai contain a natural anti-oxidant which prevents the drying of traditional oil based primers such as Resene Wood Primer. The recommended Resene primer for both timbers is Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, which can then be over coated with both solvent and waterborne topcoats.

Q. I am going to paint HardiGroove® soffit lining. Can you let me know what undercoat or sealer I need? I'm also painting treated timber and your tech sheets say Resene Quick Dry primer for these. Both are for a covered deck.

A. Use Resene Concrete Primer for the FC soffit linings, then two topcoats of waterborne topcoat. Resene Quick Dry is suitable as the deck primer.

Q. Can I use acrylic wall board sealer, to spot prime previously acrylic painted Shadow Clad?

A. Sorry but no, we recommend Resene Quick Dry.

Q. I have been preparing a room for painting and before I paint, I was a bit concerned at the imperfections I have filled. I have applied a coat or two of filler and sanded back, I can still see a mark (sometimes faint) of where the imperfection is. Do I need to prime this first before I paint, to make sure the marks don't come through? The walls have been painted previously.

A. Filled areas should be primed first before applying topcoats. Topcoats often do not seal porous fillers, whereas dedicated primer/sealers will. I also suggest that you use PAL Contract Filler for filling, as experience has shown us that it is a good dense filler when dry, however it still requires priming before topcoating.

When filling and sanding, the filled area can be smoother than the surrounding area and this may be the cause of why you can still see the filled areas, the other possibility is the filler porosity.

Q. We have a second-hand glossy aluminium door in excellent condition that we are going to use on our boat shed. It is corrugated and has a rippled effect and is approximately 50 years old. Please advise the best product to use as primer.

A. Use Resene Vinyl Etch for single pack topcoats or Resene Armourcote 221 for two pack topcoats.

My recommendation for this application is Resene Armourcote 221 topcoated with two coats of Resene Uracryl 403 tinted colour.

Q. Our home has old wallpaper in the lounge and bathroom, what is the best way to remove it? A professional, or can we DIY and then paint it after? What's the best solution?

A. If you want the walls to look really smooth so that a paint finish looks absolutely fabulous you could steam off the wallpaper (very gently so the old wall board doesn't get damaged) then seal the raw wall surface and apply several layers of plaster, smoothing and sanding back to a Level 4 finish and then sealing this porous surface and then applying two to three coats of paint. Some homeowners do it themselves, some hire a professional.

Only you know the answer to that. It is very important that the sealer that is used on older plasterboard walls that have never been painted be an oil based pigmented sealer, such as Resene Sureseal, to stop any staining bleeding through to make the plastered walls and paint look patchy or in the case of a bathroom to stop any hint of moisture or soapy substances ruining the painted surface. If the wallpaper is in good condition, you could paint over it instead, rather than stripping it off.

Q. Do you have to undercoat if you are repainting with the same colour?

A. Not normally as long as the existing paintwork is sound and clean. However if you are applying a CoolColour™ version of a colour to the non-cool version of the same colour we do recommend applying a white basecoat such as Resene Quick Dry first to give the maximum heat reflection. A Resene CoolColour system will not render the surface cool to touch but the CoolColour system will reflect more heat than the same colour made on non-cool technology.

Q. We have dark brown aluminium joinery door frames inside our house. Some of the frames are faded from cleaning with incorrect products, I believe. What is the best solution to renewing the colour?

A. Painting is the only option but this will not give the same smooth even finish of the original powder coating.

Q. Can you put Resene Lumbersider paint on to an oil-based primer?

A. Yes, you can use Resene Lumbersider.

Q. Prior to repainting, can I wash my exterior stucco walls with Resene Roof Wash and Paint Cleaner? I have a new 1L container of it I would like to use. Also, do I need to rinse after the wash? Do I need to use Resene Moss & Mould Killer too?

From reading up on your website. It states that mould will be present on stucco even if I can’t see it. If I now must use Resene Moss and Mould Killer, after 48hrs do I then also have to use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash?

A. We recommend using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions for preparing painted stucco, and yes it does require a thorough rinsing with water.

The products have different roles to play in preparing a painted surface for repainting; Resene Moss & Mould Killer is designed to kill biological growth, while Resene Paint Prep and Housewash is a general cleaner aimed at producing a clean, chalk free surface.

So you may well have to use both, depending upon the contamination and condition of the painted surfaces.

Q. Why can’t Quick Dry be tinted?

A. Addition of tinters can affect the performance properties of a primer, for this reason, our long standing policy has been not to tint a primer.

Q. What primer/undercoat and topcoat is best to use on MDF? It’s new and is in the kitchen as shelves.

A. We recommend Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I have some dark stained beams and am wondering how I need to prime/seal these (so that the dark colour doesn't bleed through the paint) before painting in a whitish colour.

A. Our recommendation would be Resene Sureseal, if there is stain bleed after applying the Resene Sureseal apply an additional coat of Resene StainLock.

Q. What can I use to prime stainless steel flashings (with galvanised nails) and what should I paint over it (so it all sticks, of course)?

A. We recommend Resene Galvo One applied to degreased metal.

Q. We have just had all our ceilings stripped of a 1970s asbestos-type covering (like Glamatex) and want to paint them. The surface has been left in quite good condition but we need to have them stopped in places and possibly skimmed. We've been advised to apply pigmented sealer before plastering but that seems the wrong way round to me. Should we have plastering done first then apply the pigmented sealer?

A. Apply a sealer coat of Resene Sureseal then plaster then re-seal.

Q. Can you please advise a suitable primer for new timber and new Hardiboard®? We will be using Resene Lumbersider and Resene Sonyx 101 as our topcoats.

A. Use Resene Concrete Primer for new Hardiboard® and Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat for the timber.

Q. Do I need to use a sealer over GIB® ProMix All Purpose compound or can I put a finish coat straight over it?

A. We recommend a seal coat of Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer be applied prior to topcoating.

Q. Do I need to use primer or undercoat between a coat of Resene Broadwall Prep & Seal and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen?

A. There is no primer needed between Resene Broadwall Prep & Seal and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

Q. I am repainting exterior weatherboards but I am unsure what the timber is. I am removing the previous coatings back to bare timber. I have bought Resene Lumbersider as a topcoat in Resene Friar Greystone, but want to know if I should use Resene Quick Dry as an undercoat or oil based undercoat. I'm also using Resene Timber Surface Prep to help smooth out some cracks. The north face gets a lot of sun.

A. It looks like either matai or totara that has been used, so in both cases Resene Quick Dry would be the correct primer to use.

Q. We have stripped wallpaper off the plasterboard. Do we need to prime the plasterboard before we apply the topcoat?

A. Yes you will need to seal the plasterboard and plaster before painting topcoats. For this we recommend Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer.

Q. What paint can I use as an undercoat on a vinyl wall mural? What surface prep tips would be needed before applying?

I have been asked to paint over two large vinyl wall murals, to match the other existing non-vinyl walls, which are Resene Parchment. The vinyl murals are not to be removed, as I thought this would damage the plaster walls and that it would be faster to just overpaint.

A. The only product we have is Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer which is designed to stop plasticiser migration from the vinyl into the waterborne paint layer. The system is not a clear system.

Q. I am spraying Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer on aluminium as it is thin and doesn’t tack like solvent prime etch paints. Is that ok?

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is not recommended for spray application. It only requires a thin film to develop adhesion.

Q. We manufacture a SIP panel system using Triboard as the skins. We need a (preferably) oil based sealer undercoat, capable of withstanding some rain for up to a fortnight.

A. The only suggestion would be Resene Sureseal.

Q. What is the best sealer/undercoat to use as a first coat on MDF board?

A. We recommend Resene Quick Dry.

Q. I am looking to repaint some bare weatherboards but there are a few knots and sap. What's the procedure to take care of this?

A. We recommend Resene Aluminium Wood Primer. Please note that the dry time of this primer is much longer than Resene Wood Primer.

Q. Is Resene Quick Dry suitable for undercoating fibre cement sheet?

A. Our recommended product for priming fibre cement is Resene Concrete Primer.

Q. To paint over old oil based paint, would your Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer be ok?

A. I would recommend to sand and then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I am repainting a 30 year old house with Resene Lumbersider. There are a few patches which are old bare wood. Should I prime these patches? If so what paint should I use?

A. If the timber is Totara or Matai prime bare timber with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat; for all other timbers use Resene Wood Primer.

Q. Can I use a Resene oil based paint system over an epoxy primer?

A. I would normality recommend use of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Some epoxy formulations inhibit the cure of air drying paints such as Resene Wood Primer.

Q. I intend to paint my kitchen and bathroom with Resene enamel white high gloss. The walls of both rooms are plaster on brick so I was going to first paint the walls with Resene Sureseal to seal the plaster. Is Resene Sureseal as an undercoat compatible with enamel white high gloss?

A. Resene Sureseal can be overcoated with conventional single pack solventborne enamels.

Q. Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer. Long story, but what would happen if I added some black oxide to this product, so that it is not white? Can I still use it; will it still act as a sealer?

A. Resene Sureseal is not a white colour but has an added colour pigment. We do not recommend tinting Resene sealers as this will affect their performance.

Q. We are repainting a bedroom and half of it is new plasterboard/wallboard that has been stopped etc, the other half is old paint. Do we have to use Resene Broadwall and Resene primer undercoat on the two different surfaces or are we able to undercoat the whole room with primer undercoat?

A. You will need to use a dedicated wallboard sealer, such as Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer, for the bare plasterboard/stopped areas only.

Q. Can I paint acrylic paint for a preferred matte finish, over what looks like a semi-gloss enamel paint? If so, how do I prepare the surface?

A. You can, but the existing enamel paint will need to be thoroughly sanded and then undercoated with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before topcoating.

Q. We are ready to paint our new house. We love the interior wooden door frames and skirtings. Do we need to putty nail holes before we varnish them? What would you recommend to keep the wood look?

A. For the highest aesthetic finish use a filler matching the wood colour as closer as possible. I would avoid using a traditional linseed oil based putty if overcoating with a clear varnish. Apply one coat of clear then fill.

Q. What product do I use to stop oil leaching through the knots in plywood, both natural as a pre-prime in current build and over existing waterbased primed and painted ply where the brown oil stain is coming through?

A. Resene Aluminium Wood Primer is the best primer to hold back staining and resin exudation associated with timber knots. The product must be applied direct to the timber surface and not over a paint finish.

On already painted ply, if staining is the main issue then overcoat stained areas with a coat of Resene StainLock then re-apply the two coats of topcoat colour.

Q. Which component of plaster finishes creates the need for sealer coats to protect the topcoats?

A. Sealers are used to achieve porosity equalisation across the paper and stopped sections. Stoppings based on gypsum or solid plasters will both have a degree of porosity and this is addressed by application of a sealer coat. While the term sealer is not strictly correct it is an easily understood description.

Q. Can I put pigmented sealer over existing paint? I have had the room repaired and there is some plasterboard and some existing painted walls.

A. Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer is not designed to go over a painted surface, not to say it can't but it is for the sealing of stopped paperfaced boards, not a painted surface.

Q. The cladding on the house is Shadowclad® with cedar batons. It was painted eight years ago with Resene Woodsman wood oil stain. The house is on the coast. How should we prepare the surface before repainting? The main option is to wash down with water.

A. If stained, scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash diluted and used to label directions.

Q. Is there a special paint that will work on badly nicotine stained walls and roof?

A. You will need to use a stain sealer such as Resene Sureseal prior to application of waterborne topcoats. Wash down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner before applying the sealer.

Q. I am painting the outside of my timber house. I applied a Resene Quick Dry primer. How long can it last if I don't apply a topcoat?

A. For best results, overcoat as soon as possible, but the primed surface can be left for up to a month before topcoating. If the primer is left exposed, ensure that it is washed down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, diluted and used to label directions before application of topcoats.

Q. I want to paint over a ceiling and walls that have a dark stain, with a polyurethane finish. I would like to use a product to cover the stain and paint a light colour over it, without having to sand it hard out to get the cover roughened up. Is there a product I can use? My friend used a Resene product to paint over shiny tiles and it’s worked well. What do you recommend?

A. Use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as the adhesion primer onto the varnished surface.

Q. I used contract filler to fill holes in the house fascia board yesterday and sanded today. I have been told by the builder I should've primed straight after sanding - is this an issue? I feel I've totally wasted my time.

A. When linseed oil putties were used to fill nail holes, the practice was to prime first, and then fill, as this stopped the linseed oil from moving out of the putty into the timber. Modern waterborne fillers do not have exact same requirement to be applied to a primed timber surface but it is still a good practice to do so. If there is no sign of shrinkage of the filler then you may well not have a problem. Spot prime the filler with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before topcoating.

Q. Can I use Resene LimeLock over existing paintwork? There is leaching from beneath the existing paint which has been used on a plastered surface.

A. It is highly possible that what you have is efflorescence, and Resene LimeLock was not designed to address this. To fix the issue, you will have to remove the paint from the affected areas and then prime with Resene Sureseal, then topcoat. If it is efflorescence, then this occurs as a result of water migration through the substrate and depositing dissolved salts on the surface. If it is efflorescence then the water source will need to be identified and corrected before repairs to paint work.

Q. I wish to paint a sheet of corflute, what preparation is required?

A. Ensure the corflute is degreased using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash diluted and used to label directions, then apply a primer coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and finish with two coats of any Resene waterborne topcoat, chosen to meet the exposure environment/end use.

Q. When using the Resene Concrete Seal 3 in 1 inside does it let off formaldehyde fumes? Do you need to wear a respirator?

A. The product is solvent based so there will be solvents released as the paint cures but no formaldehyde is in the product so none will be released as it cures.

Q. I need to replace some cedar weatherboards. Do I need any special primers on clean timber?

A. If you are going to apply a solid waterborne paint finish then the Resene primer we recommend is Resene Wood Primer.

Q. We have been trying to remove about three layers of old paint from concrete steps and then we want to paint them a different colour. Do we need to remove all the layers of paint? Will the new paint hide the unevenness of the old paint? What product do you recommend to remove the paint?

A. Diamond grinding is the most effective way to remove multiple layers of paint from a concrete substrate. A new paint system will not produce a uniformly smooth finish if there are areas of the old paint system remaining.

Q. I want to paint vinyl coated cane, what type of paint would you recommend?

A. Apply a coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer then two coats of an appropriate Resene waterborne topcoat paint.

Q. I have had some parts of rotten weatherboards etc. replaced on a 100 year old bungalow. The builder has suggested that I put sealant e.g. Selleys No More Gaps to fill any visible cracks underneath the weatherboards where they overlap. I have read conflicting opinions on this, some say to not fill these gaps due to movement, moisture etc. But my builder has suggested filling all exterior gaps to prevent moisture penetration which would encourage more rot. I have also read that only the sides and tops of windows should be sealed, so the water can drain underneath. Can you provide a definitive answer re this?

A. The BRANZ recommendation is quite specific DO NOT seal.

Q. I have a rental which has damaged stained walls; they are also marked with graffiti. My intention is to use a pigmented sealer then skim plaster, using high solids Resene Broadwall as undercoat. I am spraying, so my question is, can I use pigmented sealer to spray off old varnish door jambs as primer or will I still need to prime jambs separately.

A. Resene Sureseal is designed to be applied to substrates with porosity and this is not the case with a varnish coating. If you are applying a waterborne enamel finish to doors and jambs then you will need to brush or roller apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer as the adhesion primer. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is supplied at near water viscosity and spraying is not an option for this product.

Q. What undercoat should I use under Resene Sonyx 101, on a concrete chimney which I have water blasted and wire brushed? It still has 50% of the old topcoat remaining.

A. Spot prime any bare concrete with Resene Sureseal.

Q. We are painting a spare room. We have stripped the old wallpaper but it has left heaps of little indents and marks. What's the best way to help hide the defects?

A. After removal of the wallpaper apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal and 1-2 coats of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal before applying two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

Q. I have a weatherboard cladding that is painted. Does it need sanding or just cleaning and waterblasting before a new coat of paint?

A. Avoid waterblasting timber as this can damage the timber if the blasting pressure is too high. If the existing coating is sound and chalk free and it is a waterborne paint being recoated with a waterborne paint then there should be no need to sand.

Q. I am about to strip and repaint the exterior of my home. The timbers are kauri and totara. I understand from friends that I need to treat these with a specialist coat before painting or the paint will blister. Can you advise please?

A. Our primer for bare totara is Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and Resene Wood Primer for the kauri (Resene Wood Primer will not dry if applied to totara).

Q. For a combined kitchen dining area with new and old plasterboard should I use Resene Sureseal for the whole area or just the kitchen part and does the Resene Sureseal go on top of the plasterboard direct or does it need to go on top of a sealant? Will a mixed finish of Resene Sureseal (over kitchen only) and Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer across the rest of the ceiling/wall show through the top two coats?

A. You can use Resene Sureseal for sealing plasterboard in any room, but it is a must for a wet areas.

Q. What filler products do you have, that are suitable to fill small cracks in solid plaster coatings, in place for 20 years or so. It has existing acrylic paint coatings which need repainting.

A. Resene Brushable Crack Filler is suitable for cracks up to 2mm wide. This product should be brushed across the crack to bridge it. Product will dry back and may require recoating to fill the crack. As this product is quite thick it may fill up the texture, so that is something that will need to be taken into consideration. Certainly feathering the product upon application will help with this.

Q. What would the best product/system be to use to cover the black tar that overflows from the bottom plate (melthoid) onto the concrete base if we want to pad the concrete base of our house?

A. Any bituminous substrate would first require painting with Resene Membrane Roofing Primer. The bare concrete area can be primed with Resene Concrete Primer. If any release agents were used on the concrete base these need to be removed prior to painting. Then a waterbased topcoat can be applied over both these primers.

Q. I am repainting the exterior of our 1940s bungalow and the corner soakers of the weatherboards where we had an alteration done about 30 years ago are showing signs of corrosion - white powder, black spots and red rust. It appears that the builders may have only put pink oil based primer on these. I have Resene Rust-Arrest and Resene Galvo One primer but am unsure how to pretreat the corrosion.

A. Wash down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash following data sheet/label directions then remove all loose corrosion and any paint using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc then apply two coats of Resene Galvo One before topcoating.

Q. I have exterior timber repaired with fibreglass before painting. What primer or undercoat can I use over fibreglass before Resene Sonyx 101 topcoats?

A. Fibreglass bog is not that successful as a timber repair system as the filler does not achieve good adhesion to the timber substrate. However after sanding you can use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat as the priming system.

Q. The pine decking on my daughter's veranda was never stained and is now looking pretty shabby and stained. What product do you recommend to make it look cleaner and newer and would it need waterblasting or similar before applying a product to it?

A. If there is black mould or green algae present then treat with Resene Moss & Mould Killer diluted and used to label directions. Then scrub down with Resene Timber and Deck Wash also diluted and used to label instructions. We don’t recommend waterblasting.

Q. I have two questions regarding Resene Quick Dry primer: Can I apply it straight to metal corners (galvanised steel) on a weatherboard construction home? And how long can wood painted with Resene Quick Dry stay without topcoats?

A. Resene Quick Dry is not suitable as a metal primer. The length of time it can be left depends upon exposure conditions, if exterior and subject to full weather exposure then I would say no more than four weeks.

Q. I have old yellowed plastered plasterboard in a room that has never been painted. Do I have to paint it with oil based pigmented sealer or is there a water based sealer that will do the job? I am trying to avoid using oil based.

A. This is one situation where Resene Sureseal is the only option we recommend.

Q. Does Resene Lumbersider paint need undercoat? I am painting an old villa with wood walls. The old paint was flaking and has now been scraped and sanded back - in places to bare wood.

A. While Resene Lumbersider can be used direct on some surfaces, for best durability we do recommend priming bare timber (with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat) when repainting using Resene Lumbersider.

Q. What do I use over knots in a Lockwood home?

A. Resene Aluminium Wood Primer would be our best option. Standard Resene Wood Primer is our second best option (but use two coats if using the standard Resene Wood Primer).

Q. Is concrete sealer available and can this be tinted?

A. We have an exterior Resene Concrete Stain that does come in a range of colours, or can be used as a clear sealer. Inside we have Resene Concrete Wax which is designed as a clear finish.

Q. We've got old plasterboard probably level 0 or 1 finish. What's the best way to get a paint finish? Do we wallpaper it or plaster it and sand down as much as possible?

A. A full skim coat of plaster is probably the best way to achieve a paintable surface.

Q. We need to paint over some prefinished aluminium extrusion which is being used as a spacer. The finish is gloss white. All areas are internal and we would prefer to use a low sheen/satin finish to match the walls which are Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Is there an easy way to do this without multiple primers?

A. The bare aluminium will need to be primed before topcoating.

Q. How long after we apply Resene Sureseal can we paint over it? I notice you can recoat it after approx three hours but wasn’t sure if we needed to leave it longer for painting

A. Overcoat times are dependent upon environmental conditions, temperature and air flow. The data sheet states coat at three hours when the temperature is 20 degrees, would suggest to be safe leave for an additional three hours if the temperature is cooler but also ensure the area is well ventilated.

Q. We've stripped the wallpaper on our 1937 home and discovered age related cracks in the plasterboard. Some plasterers have suggested putting pigmented seal on the walls before applying fibre fusion, others say it's optional. What are your thoughts?

A. We would recommend a coat of Resene Sureseal is applied.

Q. What is the best sealer to cover fly stains after they have been washed?

A. We recommend using Resene Sureseal. Then use Resene StainLock if you still see any bleed.

Q. What sealer will hold back the fly aerosol that has leached onto the wall as most won’t dry when applied?

Clean down with Resene Emulsifiable Solvent Cleaner then we recommend using Resene Sureseal. Then use Resene StainLock if you still see any bleed.

Q. For industrial coatings which primers are used with which topcoats on which substrate and what are the no goes? Is there a simple rule of thumb?

A. The general rule of thumb is 1k primers with 1k topcoats and similarly 2k primers with 2k topcoats.

Q. Why do we have to use vinyl wallpaper sealer over Anaglypta type papers and not an acrylic sealer?

A. Standard acrylic latex paints contain coalescing solvents that assist the plasticiser to migrate from the wallpaper into the paint film. This results in the sticky surface. A faster drying solvent modified system avoids this problem.

Q. Some colours have ‘uc’ – I know that means an undercoat is recommended for the optimum finish, but does this mean Resene Acrylic Undercoat/Enamel Undercoat, Resene Quick Dry or is a 3 coat option acceptable enough?

A. ‘uc’ is referring to using a varishade undercoat (so acrylic or enamel undercoat tinted to the right varishade).

Q. I have stripped off old wallpaper in a lounge. The stripped surface is pretty rough, so I am thinking of either skim coating or else using Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. What do you suggest is the best way? Also once I've done this; do I use Resene Sureseal before applying topcoats?

A. Skim coating would more than likely be the best way to achieve a uniform surface for painting. And yes seal off the new plaster with Resene Sureseal.

Q. When I plaster over painted surfaces I prep the surface by sanding with 80 grit sandpaper and then wash down with sugar soap then dry the surface. Sometimes the plaster won’t set on the painted surface or when it does set it bursts. Some tradesmen have suggested using PVA glue which is a British technique. What do you recommend? Do you have any products that will help with plaster adhesion?

A. We recommend using Resene Sureseal as the sealer, and you must ensure there is no sugar soap residues remaining after cleaning.

Q. I have applied a moss remover on a heavily infected concrete wall. Then washed with a high water pressure pump. The wall is looking clean. Now the walls are dry I am applying Resene Moss & Mould Killer. How long do I leave before applying my next coating? This will be Resene Concrete Primer or Resene Quick Dry acrylic primer undercoat.

A. Leave for 48 hours then waterblast again. When the surface looks dry then apply the Resene Concrete Primer.

Q. On hard finish plaster walls do I need to apply a separate primer if the paint already has a primer mixed in? And if so how many coats of primer would I need to apply?

A. The standard Resene paint system is a seal coat then two topcoats. The 'primer mixed' in concept is not a formulation practice that we consider appropriate to get the best paint finish.

Q. We are repainting the interior of our home and there are small patches which will need some filler and a touch of undercoat. Can we use the same undercoat on all areas i.e. bathroom, general walls, window frames etc or do you recommend different ones according to the type of topcoat?

A. Resene Quick Dry Primer Undercoat is a waterborne general purpose undercoat that can be topcoated with both solvent and waterborne topcoats.

Q. I have stripped off old wallpaper in a lounge. The stripped surface is pretty rough, so I am thinking of either skim coating or else using Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. What do you suggest is the best way? Also once I've done this, do I the use Resene Sureseal before applying topcoats?

A. Skim coating would more than likely be the best way to achieve a uniform surface for painting. And yes seal off the new plaster with Resene Sureseal.

Q. I have a wall lined with IBS Panelling V Groove MDF sheets. I am seeking advice in regards to the best painting system to use. The panels are not preprimed and I am concerned that the panel may swell a little if I use a water type primer.

A. The only primer we recommend for priming MDF is Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. We have not seen any significant swelling when applied to MDF. MDF contains waxes and these can be liberated and end up on the surface if a solventborne primer is used.

Q. I want to get a room skimmed and am needing to seal it first. It is on the original plasterboard from the 50s (kind of a soft brown board). What product do you recommend for this?

A. Resene Sureseal.

Q. I wish to paint some polished aluminium tube black. I would prefer a low gloss or even matt finish. It has been suggested that an etch primer may work.

A. Resene Vinyl Etch Black.

Q. I want to repaint a plasterboard wall. I have first plastered some parts of the wall as it was rough. But before I paint it, I would like to apply Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal as the surface is still not smooth even after the plastering. Is this the right product to use?

A. Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal will help disguise some surface imperfections but the degree to which this happens is determined by the surface roughness. The areas of new gypsum plaster should be sanded smooth. If there are still imperfections in the plaster then re plaster and sand before sealing.

Q. I am combining and redoing my kitchen and dining rooms so will have a mix of old and new plasterboard surfaces. These will be repair plastered and both ceiling and walls will be skim plastered. I intend using Resene Ceiling Paint flat and Resene Zylone Low Sheen for the walls. Do I have to seal the plastered surfaces? I do have Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer used previously to seal vinyl wallpaper so can use that if I have to.

A. Yes, bare plasterboard and stopping needs to be sealed before topcoating (Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer or Resene Sureseal).

Q. I am painting the interior of a new house. The trim is all preprimed. What do you recommend? Do I apply undercoat, then two topcoats or spot prime nail holes etc?

A. I would sand the preprimer then reprime using Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat (fill nail holes first) then apply two coats of topcoat.

Q. Can I use enamel timber paint on unexposed metal?

A. If the metal is bare it will need a metal primer such as Resene GP Metal Primer, not enamel undercoat.

Q. We are renovating a couple of bedrooms in a '70s home. We have replaced ceilings with new soft board (was called Pinex back then). It's glued and perimeter screwed to the ceiling. While it comes preprimed, it needs bits re doing. It has also been installed so that there is negative detailing of 5mm between sheets. Do I prime/seal the sheets before or after filling the screw holes? A painter we used somewhere else did the undercoat first then filled the holes which I thought was a bit backwards!

A. Priming prior to filling then re priming over the filled area after sanding is an accepted practice that dates back many years. This practice assists to reduce filler shrinkage, leaching of any material from the filler into the substrate (this was a common problem when linseed oil putty was used to fill nail holes in timber) and adhesion of the filler to the primed surface.

Q. Rasch Wallton products 179002 and 341904 say to paint over with a plasticiser resistant latex or acrylic paint. Is Resene Zylone Low Sheen okay to use or should I seal with a vinyl sealer first?

A. To the best of my understanding there is no plasticiser resistant latex or acrylic paint. To overcome the issue of plasticiser migration from the paper we recommend applying a coat of Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer before applying a Resene interior wall paint.

Q. I've purchased a 16 year old house that has textured wallpaper. The wallpaper is not in great condition and has patches where the paper has been damaged and there are also some minor holes in the wall. The wallpaper seams are also visible.

I want to paint the walls, but research indicates its best to remove the paper first. However, will the walls require plastering repairs before painting? Would this require a professional plasterer? I'm new to DIY and not sure of the process.

A. We would strongly recommend that you employ a professional plasterer for this.

Q. I'm in the process of stripping the paint off my weatherboards. The previous person has used a blowtorch or heat gun and burnt the timber like burnt toast. What is the best method to prep the weatherboards before painting?

A. Power sand to remove as much of the charred surface as is practical. There may well be a residual stain but this should not impact upon future paint adhesion. However any residual colouration will impact upon a light coloured stain if you are looking to stain rather than apply a fully pigmented paint system.

Q. Our master bedroom has painted lining paper on the walls. It looks like it has previously been stripped of wallpaper that has taken bits of wallboard paper off which shows through the painted lining paper. I have purchased Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal. Do I need to strip all lining paper off? There are places where it has lifted around windows but the centre parts are sound. Or can I get a good finish by pulling the paper off around edges and sanding to smooth finish and then apply the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal before doing the rest of the painting?

A. Application of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal will not guarantee a seamless finish to areas where the lining paper has been removed. My recommendation would to strip the lining paper and then follow the directions for applying Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal.

Q. I used a lime green colour on a wall but it is not working. Please suggest which colours can overlap the lime green colour easily?

A. If you are changing to a pale colour then apply a white basecoat such as Resene Quick Dry Primer Undercoat.

Q. I am painting cedar weatherboards. I have washed and scrubbed the boards with Resene Timber and Deck Wash, then applied two coats of Resene TimberLock. I was advised to apply general purpose enamel undercoat, but your website says to use Resene Wood Primer before applying Resene Lumbersider. Was the advice wrong?

A. Our advice is to apply Resene Wood Primer over the Resene TimberLock. Before overcoating ensure the Resene TimberLock is fully dry.

Q. We have had our house tested for lead paint and it has come back positive. If we are getting in professional painters will they charge more for the prep of the paint work before painting our house exterior?

A. My understanding is definitely yes.

Q. Am I able to use Resene Sureseal to prime some MDF board before painting it with a waterbased paint?

A. No, our recommended primer for MDF is Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. We want to put Resene Aquapoxy on timber. Can I prime with Resene Quick Dry?

A. You can use Resene Quick Dry as the primer for Resene Aquapoxy.

Q. I have some Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer. Can I use this to prime wardrobe doors that are currently painted with a smooth acrylic gloss, instead of mechanical keying? I don't relish the idea of sanding all those louvres individually.

A. The answer is yes, only because you have the material to hand and don't relish the prospect of tedious sanding.

Q. Does Resene have a sealant to paint over sticky painted vinyl wallpaper? The paper was painted over by the previous owner 12 years ago. I wish to repaint it. Is this possible?

A. We recommend Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer.

Q. I have a renovated house that has both new (primed only) and existing painted timber weatherboards on it. The existing paint is from approx. 1970s on to Rimu and is flaking in places. What is the recommended Resene primer for both the old and newer weatherboards? Can the primer be airless spray applied? Also is there a recommended Resene exterior topcoat for timber weatherboards?

A. My preferred primer for bare rimu and pine is Resene Wood Primer. If the new weatherboards came preprimed then they will need to be sanded and then reprimed with Resene Wood Primer. The primer is air drying (needs oxygen to cure) so airless spray application would not be the best application method as this has the potential to give very high wet film thicknesses which may result in runs/sags.

Q. What would you recommend as the best method to deal with corrosion on exposed metal surfaces in an area prone to salt air, high humidity etc (coastal environment)?

A. This is a classic example of sheltered corrosion due to lack of rain washing. To follow are prep steps prior to painting. If any areas of moss or mould infestation exist then treat them with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, diluted at the rate of 200ml to 1 litre of clean water. 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 and rinse clean with fresh water. Apply a liberal wash of this mixture to the surface with a nylon bristle brush or broom. Thoroughly scrub the surface to ensure complete removal of all grease, moss and mould residue, and any other contaminants. Rinse clean or hose down with fresh water ensuring all salts are also removed. Remove all areas of white corrosion material and as much red rust as is practicable using mechanical methods such as a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc. Note: The performance of the subsequent paint systems will be largely dependent on the thoroughness of this surface preparation stage. Then apply two coats of Resene GP Metal Primer to the prepared substrate and topcoat with a Resene exterior acrylic paint finish. An annual wash-down of all coated areas with fresh water is recommended to remove accumulated salts.

Q. What is the best undercoat for an aged (90 year old) totara door sill?

A. Resene Quick Dry Waterborne primer undercoat is the only primer we recommend for totara.

Q. Please advise a primer for previously painted sash windows and doors. These have previously been painted in gloss enamel. These windows and doors will have a top coat of Resene Enamacryl waterborne gloss.

A. Sand the windows then apply a full coat of Resene Quick Dry undercoat before applying the waterborne enamel topcoats.

Q. What do you recommend as a primer/rust inhibitor for old cast iron lacework? Previously painted.

A. We recommend Resene Rust-Arrest.

Q. I am looking to seal/prime a new plasterboard interior prepared for a paint finish with Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal. Can this product be sprayed?

A. Yes Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal can be airless sprayed using an appropriate Graco sprayer.

Q. I need a metal primer red oxide flat finish.

A. We recommend Resene Rust-Arrest.

Q. I want to paint over powder coated aluminium in an interior dry area. What primer do I need?

A. Ensure the surfaces are free of contaminants then apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer (the sealer is not designed to be opaque or to give a high film build), leave to cure for 48 hours then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss) or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

Q. I'm in doubt which primer/sealer to use. I removed wallpaper from my old 1970 plasterboard walls and then applied skim coat (1-2 mm of plaster) and am now choosing between Resene Sureseal or Resene Broadwall Prep and Seal. Which one would you recommend?

A. We recommend Resene Sureseal. Please refer to the back page of the Resene Sureseal data sheet.

Q. Would the pigmented sealer be ok to use on cracked hard plaster before repairing and painting?

A. We would always recommend sealing with Resene Sureseal before crack repairs and painting.

Q. I am trying to remove the spray on paint style product with sand and/or stones in it from the exterior of my house. There is a lot to remove and it needs to come off so I can check how my rimu weatherboards are. There are two coats of the 'paint' used and both have the sand effect on them. At this stage heat takes the product off but is painfully slow. There must be something else. We think the original paint went on in about 1970 and then again in more recent times. My house is double storey and just over half the weatherboards are covered with this product. The rest has new weatherboards.

A. The coating may be Rhinocoat which was available in the 70s but has since disappeared from the NZ market. Your only other option is to use a paint stripper such as Sea 2 Sky, but this will still be a slow process. This paint stripper is available from Resene ColorShops.

Q. We have a room that has had wallpaper stripped back to the lining paper and residual wallpaper paste washed off. This has then been covered accidentally with Resene Broadwall waterborne wallboard sealer which was thinned with turpentine. What's our best approach to fixing this? The surface looks a bit patchy and we're not sure what the effects of using turps on the waterbased sealer will be. Would it be ok to just go over it with Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer or should we work the surface back?

A. Sand back to remove the sealer and then re-apply the Resene Sureseal. You may need to use 180 grit sandpaper but be careful not to fur up the paper face.

Q. I plan to use Resene TimberLock on condensation damaged cedar window casements and prime with aluminium primer. This is to improve the performance of the coating against moisture penetration. My question is can Resene TimberLock be used with a partial stripping of existing coatings to bare timber (as in the bottom rail where most damage is) or do I have to strip the entire casement to bare timber. i.e. can Resene TimberLock be used akin to spot priming on patches of damaged timber surface?

A. Resene TimberLock is used for spot priming; apply and leave for a few minutes then make sure you wipe the excess off at time of application.

Q. I'm looking for a suitable sealer with tinting options for Magnesium Oxide board lining. This is for external use.

A. Resene Stone Strengthener is the only sealer (clear, cannot be tinted) we have found that will bond to this board type. You can then overcoat with standard Resene exterior paint systems.

Q. Is there an option other than pigment sealer when painting over thin but sound wallpaper?

A. If the paper is a vinyl paper then use Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer. A note of caution - Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer is very fast drying and application in the heat of summer is harder.

Q. I lined our studio woodburner corner with cementitious Hardigroove® for extra fire protection. Stainless screws were used. Some could not be driven in fully 100% below the Hardigroove® and sealed. I have put filler over each one then sanded but some bits of stainless screwhead still show. I want to coat the Hardigroove® with Resene Half Akaroa to match the rest of the walls. How should I treat the stainless heads so the paint sticks ok?

A. Given the potential for heat related stress I would spot prime each screw head with Resene Vinyl Etch or Resene Galvo One.

Q. Can corflute be primed for painting?

A. Use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I have recently purchased a house that has had the wallpaper stripped in the hallway and then painted in acrylic paint. However I can see visible 'roughness' and marks, and waves from where the wallpaper was removed. What is the best approach for me to achieve a smoother approach, and then repaint?

A. Apply at least two coats of Resene Broadwall Prep and Seal. Hopefully this will give sufficient film build to disguise all but the deepest fissures on the surface.

Q. We are renovating a house and someone has painted what looks like a quick coat of waterbased enamel paint over a solventbased enamel surface. We are preparing the surface by cleaning and then sanding. We are concerned the paint may delaminate. We are using Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before the final coats.

A. The only way to be 100% sure is of course to strip the existing system back to bare substrate. However if you sand off the topcoat and then thoroughly sand the underlying enamel there should be no adhesion issues.

Q. I have stripped the front of my house to bare timber as some parts of the paint started to peel. The weatherboards are Rimu. The front of the house faces the west and gets full afternoon sun.

What sort of primer do you recommend? An oil based primer (Resene Wood Primer) or a water based primer (Resene Quick Dry)?

A. We recommend Resene Wood Primer.

Q. We are sanding the house weatherboards and the paint is peeling along some edges, in places back to the wood and causing craters. Should we fill these and sand before painting?

A. I assume you mean there is a difference in the appearance where the paint has been sanded back to bare compared to the surrounding paint layers. You can use Resene Timber Surface Prep to smooth over these areas before topcoating.

Q. Is your Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer suitable for painting external block walls and then back filling with soil?

A. Sorry but no, you will need to apply a bituminous waterproofing membrane.

Q. I have a 100 year old weatherboard house and the external corners have never had soakers but the wood is in good condition still. Is there a good exterior undercoat specifically for exterior weatherboard corners?

A. There is no specific primer/undercoat for mitred corners, the selection of primer of bare timber depends upon the timber. For Totara and Matai use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat; for all other timbers use Resene Wood Primer.

Q. I wish to repaint the walls in my lounge and sunroom area. The current paint on them has been done poorly, and the paint just flakes off. In some areas I can pull quite big bits of paint off. I don't think the previous owners sealed the paperfaced plasterboard before painting. If you stick some Blutack® on the wall, the paint just peels off when you pull it off. Can I just sand back the worst areas where the paint is chipped/peeling and then apply Resene Sureseal and then paint over that?

A. Check on the back of the flakes for any signs of powdery material as this indicates stopping that was not sealed. You can undertake repair areas that you can identify as having poor adhesion but there is no guarantee that re painting will not result in other areas losing adhesion due to the stress of additional paint. Use of Resene Sureseal would definitely be my recommendation to seal bare areas.

Q. Why do I have to use an undercoat on freshly plastered and sanded walls?

A. If you are referring to plasterboard then the sealer acts as a porosity equaliser so application of topcoats gives a uniform finish. Topcoats are not formulated for direct application to stopped plasterboard.

Q. Can you paint tanalised plywood? If so what primer is required?

A. Yes and the primer would be Resene Wood Primer.

Q. How can I remove a clear coat epoxy finish from my table?

A. Sanding would be my recommendation. Epoxies are often difficult to remove using modern paint strippers.

Q. We have a 1926 house with an original chimney that runs up through my son's bedroom in the second floor. The bricks must be quite porous because my son's bedroom smells of smoke and flakes of black soot settle on the windowsill etc. What Resene product could we use to seal the bricks? What Resene product would you recommend to paint over them?

A. You can saturate the bricks with Resene Sureseal then apply an interior wall paint for colour.

Are you sure that the soot ingress is through the bricks themselves as this would indicate quite large holes in the brickwork? Sealing to prevent smoke ingress and the resulting odour is extremely difficult to achieve with a paint system.

Q. I wish to repaint a bedroom which has already been painted over wallpaper. Unfortunately it is now peeling in patches. Should I remove the wallpaper first? Do I need to use a sealer?

A. A definite yes. See the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal data sheet for repaint recommendations.

Q. When repainting my villa is waterblasting enough to prepare the weatherboards? The house was built in 1865. It was last painted 8 years ago. I am hiring a painter and he is saying a waterblast is all that is needed and that high pressure is what is needed but I have used a high pressure waterblaster on my house before and water comes inside through gaps in the window sashes. Plus there still remains grime in places. We live near the motorway and there seems to be an exhaust soot on all flat surfaces.

A. Apart from the potential to cause water ingress, waterblasting does have the potential to damage timber substrates and due to this we do not recommend this as a surface prep for timber claddings.

Q. We need to repaint a 1940ish weatherboard house with timber windows. There is some flaking but not a lot. The paint on the windows is a dark green and very thick. Can you advise on the preparation required and best paints to use for the job?

A. Given the age of the property and the possible build-up of many layers of old paint including the possibly of the presence of old lead based paint the best surface preparation would be a complete strip for all surfaces.

Q. What is the best way to strip a wall which has been wallpapered and then painted over? The house is 1930s so the paint is probably oil based.

A. Scour the paper (Tiger) to allow the steam to penetrate then use a wallpaper steamer.

Q. Does Resene Lumbersider require a primer if I'm painting over other paint that is flaking off? I painted my fence just a year ago with cheap paint I bought at a hardware store. There are already bare spots showing all over the fence where the cheap paint was painted.

A. There are no paints that I would have any confidence in being applied over a substrate with existing flaking paint. Our standard recommendation it to remove all loose and flaking paint back to feathered sound edge, then spot prime bare substrate with the recommended primer before topcoating.

Q. I want to repaint a room where the paint is coming off in massive sheets and underneath I think is plaster as it is quite powdery. What do I do? Peel off all the existing paint? Prime the wall with something?

A. Remove all failing paint, wipe down with a sponge and water then apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal. If this is a bathroom then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before topcoating with two coats of a Resene solvent or waterborne enamel. If not a wet area then apply two coats of any Resene wall paint to the sealed surface.

Q. Can I use a waterbased primer and paint over Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer?

A. Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer is recommended to be topcoated with waterborne paints only.

Q. If I want to paint a new colour over the old colour, what do I need to use?

A. If the new colour is similar to the old there should be no problem with opacity after application of two coats. If changing from a very dark colour to a paler colour apply a white base coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then the two coats of topcoat colour.

Q. We have just put a Wood Primer (oil based) over cedar. Do we need to sand before putting on water based undercoat?

A. Sand only to de-nib but care is required to avoid sanding through the primer which will require repriming. If the Resene Wood Primer is coated within a couple of weeks (the sooner the better) of priming there is no need to sand for topcoat adhesion.

Q. We've had to strip wallpaper from a room we're renovating. Nightmare! 3 layers of paper bonded to the plasterboard which wasn't sealed/skimmed. We've now got a very uneven wall, lots of tabs and tears now hanging off. Not sure if there is a Resene product which might help or do we need to get it replastered?

A. A skim coat of plaster is the best remedy to achieve a paint grade finish.

Q. Is Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat exterior/interior suitable as an undercoat for enamel paint?

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat can be overcoated with waterborne and solventborne paints.

Q. I have stripped wallpaper off the laundry walls and want to paint the walls this time. How do I get rid of all the excess paste still on the walls?

A. As hot water as you can bear and a sponge then use a scraper to remove the paste when it swells. Wipe down and then allow to dry and apply a seal coat of Resene Sureseal and a coat of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal, then the finish coats.

Q. We would like to paint our fibrous plaster. We have had it sealed and touched up with plaster but it still has minor imperfections. If we line it with a lining paper would the imperfections still show through? I have heard that you have a product that you can roll on to help with this problem. Can you please let me know what it is and how effective it is and also whether you still need to line with paper pre-painting after using this product?

A. You will need to seal the fibrous plaster with Resene Sureseal then roll on one or two coats of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. The success of what you are hoping to achieve really depends upon the surface imperfection - the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal is not a substitute for a plaster skim coat. Resene Broadwall 3 in 1 can be applied in high wet film builds and this would be better product to use but it cannot be applied by a DIY applicator.

Q. When using pigmented sealer do you have to use undercoat paint after or just paint your walls in choice of colour?

A. Normally you can apply the topcoats directly to the Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer. The only time I would recommend an undercoat such as Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat is for ceilings in bathrooms above showers.

Q. I have a new inside window frame that is primed. What sort of undercoat do I use - oil or waterbased? The topcoat on all our windows is a waterbased semi-gloss.

A. If the primer is a pre primer then sand the factory primer and prime with two coats of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat.

Q. Would Resene Rust Arrest or Resene Vinyl Etch be the best surface prep for rusty Rinnai gas califont covers that are outside and exposed to salt spray? Would Resene Enamacryl be suitable for topcoats?

A. Resene Rust-Arrest would be the best primer. Wash down using Resene Roof and Metal Wash to label then remove all corrosion and loose paint using a 3M Rust and Paint Removal Disc, then prime. A conventional enamel topcoat system will give a harder finish.

Q. Do you have to back roll when applying sealer/undercoat to new plasterboard interior? I am having a debate with a plasterer saying I need to, to hide the plastered joins. I believe it is due to not enough sanding or box application.

A. Sealers for new stopped plasterboard are designed to produce a surface with uniform porosity and not to hide surface defects. While back rolling can produce a surface texture, which may hide surface irregularities, this is not a given. Suggest you look to roll on 1 or 2 coats of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal in the situation you describe.

Q. I had a fire in my kitchen which left soot on the ceiling. Can you advise on the best prep for repainting?

A. Wipe down using Resene Emulsfiable Solvent Cleaner then wipe down with a fresh cloth. Wring the cloth in water replacing the water often until the rinse water remains clear. Then apply a full coat of Resene Sureseal before applying two coats of a waterborne paint finish.

Q. What primer/sealer would be best over wallpaper glue residue on masonry block?

A. We recommend Resene Sureseal.

Q. Do you have any products that can be painted over textured wallpaper and hide the pattern?

A. Depends upon the wallpaper texture. Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal is the only possible product (2 coats) but this will only fill a very low profile.

Q. Do you have any products that can be painted over textured wallpaper and hide the pattern?

A. Depends upon the wallpaper texture. Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal is the only possible product (2 coats) but this will only fill a very low profile.

Q. I have taken the wallpaper off my wall only to discover that the plastered wall has big patches of old paint stuck to it. I do not want to line it. Any idea how I can cover it before I paint it in a light colour?

A. Sand the old painted areas then apply a coat of Resene Sureseal to any bare paperfaced board and stoppings then apply a full coat of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal.

Q. I am repainting my house and have used Resene paints throughout. Have a couple of bargeboards that were let go before we moved in and so have some weather damage. I've picked out any soft wood and filled with epoxy. However there are smaller cracks in the wood in some places. The wood however is sound. Do you have a high build undercoat that will help to fill these cracks? These bargeboards are in a high sun area on the west end of the house.

A. For smaller cracks I suggest that you prime first then use something like PAL Contract Filler to fill the cracks, sand then spot prime over the filled areas.

Q. We are preparing drawings for remediation of a fire damaged house which affects the rimu roof framing and some wall framing. What is the sealer to use which seals in the smoke smell?

A. Firstly we recommend removing as much of the smoke damage/soot etc as possible with Resene Emulsifiable Solvent Cleaner (follow instructions) then apply Resene Aluminium Wood Primer, which is particularly effective when needing to block stains and odour.

Q. Is there a paint that will paint straight over varnish? What is the prep required? It's for painting varnish doors.

A. To answer your question, yes, Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is the product you are after. After a thorough clean down of the area we would still recommend lightly sanding the surface if possible (although not imperative) as any sanding will improve the adhesion. If possible leave Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to dry for a couple of days prior to overcoating, this will improve the adhesion also.

You'll need to take into account the weather conditions also and avoid very cold conditions.

Q. I'm using Resene Galvo-Prime on galvanised flashings. It states in the specs that it can be used on 'Non-ferrous metals'. So, as aluminium is obviously non-ferrous, does that mean I can use it on a small area of aluminium flashing?

A. Yes this is fine to do.

Q. Do you have something to use to repair rotten wood?

A. We sell a RepairCare system for the repair of rotten timber.

Q. Is there a paint or sealer which can be used on Corflute board?

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat then any Resene acrylic that suits the exposure conditions.

Q. We have painted hardboard walls and want to repaint them. What sort of sealer do we need to use? Previously we have just painted them and the paint scratched off easily. Also there is some unpainted chipboard under some wallpaper that we need to paint too.

A. Resene Sureseal is the recommended primer for bare oil tempered hardboards.

Q. How can we remove the paint off the concrete block wall in the basement? The area is about 20m2 and this block wall is acting as a retaining wall. Corners and the skirting area are damp wet in the winter. It is an old house and the block wall was painted and some paint is peeling because of the dampness. How do I get rid of the old paint on the block wall?

A. Paint stripper may be the only way. Alternatively if the paint is an acrylic use a wallpaper steamer and a wide blade.

Q. I am specifying a primer for powdery surfaces. What do you recommend?

A. Resene Sureseal is the recommended primer for old powdery cementitious substrates.

Q. What is the best primer to use when painting over old varnish?

A. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, apply a thin coat and leave to cure for 48 hours before overcoating.

Q. Which product should I use as a primer on new bare smooth cedar to help stop tannins bleeding through? Finish is solid colour, not stained. Exterior.

A. We recommend Resene Wood Primer.

Q. We have recently purchased an old villa, which has plasterboard, skimmed plastered and painted with acrylic paint directly on the skim plaster with no undercoat in between. The paint is chipping and peeling. Can you suggest what we need to do? In one room I have peeled off as much paint as I could and given it a rough sand then painted the walls with an oil based pigmented sealer and will plaster over the peeled areas again. Can you advise if I am on the right track or should I be doing something else?

A. You are on the right track; no other way that would achieve easier removal of the flaking paint.

Q. Do you have an etching primer? I want to paint an aluminium teapot, so I need very little.

A. Yes we have a chromate free etch primer: Resene Vinyl Etch.

Q. We have painted internal walls at the moment and are looking to gradually paint each room of our 9 year old house. Can we just paint directly over the top of the existing paint or do we need to treat the walls with something first? Sometimes when we remove Blutack® from the walls it brings some paint with it - is that normal?

A. Suggest using Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat prior to applying a new Resene waterborne wall paint. Long term exposure to Blutack® can soften some acrylic paints to the extent that the paint can peel off around the contact area.

Q. I have sized my walls in the bathroom and wallpapered and hate it! So have decided to paint. I will strip the wallpaper; the finish is good for painting. Will a sugar soap wash and light sand be sufficient prep or do I have to ensure all the size is removed? I intend to use a waterbased enamel.

A. After stripping best to remove as much of the size as possible using warm water with a few squirts of detergent. Then allow to dry and apply a coat of Resene Sureseal followed by Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and then finish with the two coats of waterborne enamel.

Q. We are owner builders and had new plaster put up about five years ago. We have just hired painters to paint the house. They quoted for an undercoat and two coats of paint. They have currently finished the ceiling and the other day they called us and said that because the plaster is so old that it has turned yellow in some areas, so they need to put another coat of paint and also they had to add some 'stain remover' to the paint, in order for the yellow not to show through. Is this correct?

A. If new plasterboard is not painted it can develop a yellow colour over time and this will bleed through a waterborne paint system. In this situation our recommendation is to apply Resene Sureseal as the sealer prior to application of the acrylic topcoats. Given that the paint system has been applied you can seal off the migration of the yellow stain using Resene Sureseal or Resene StainLock before re applying the acrylic topcoats. A stain remover does not need to be added to the paint.

Q. We have recently taken a decorative brick cladding off our house (probably put on in the 1960s) to expose the original weatherboards. We plan to restore the weatherboards, but not until next summer. The weatherboards are in reasonable condition; however they have many nail holes in them from where the cladding battens were attached. We have takena sample of the paint into our local Resene ColorShop and they have confirmed that the paint on the weatherborads is lead based. We plan to use Resene supplied waterbased paint stripper to remove all of the lead based paint.

Our question is: Do you think we need to fill or cover the nail holes and the patches of the bare timber so the weatherboads don't absorb moisture over the winter? Or will they be ok if left and we wait for a couple of weeks of sunshine in the summer before we paint?

We are hesitant to fill the holes with filler at this stage as we would need to sand (which we can't do with the lead based paint) or remove the paint around each nail hole to fill the holes properly, and then prime this area - which will then be left for 6-8 months before we do the next stage of painting.

If you recommend that we cover the holes would brushing a bit of primer over the holes protect the boards form the elements until we are ready to paint the whole house? When we are ready to paint we would then apply the paint stripper and remove the primer along with all of the existing paint.

A. Nail holes do need to ultimately be filled but not before paint stripping. At worst there may be rust staining arising from rusting of the nails. Bare timber also will require priming and this can be done by spot priming now with the knowledge that the primer will be stripped at a later date along with the existing paint.

Q. Will Resene TimberLock work its magic on old weathered Rimu weatherboards?

A. Resene TimberLock applied according to the data sheet can be used on any exterior timber. It will inhibit mould and fungal decay but cannot address existing rot.

Q. I am having to replace the metal soakers on my weatherboard house after just 7 years as they have rusted badly. I used a galv metal primer, undercoat, and two acrylic topcoats but it failed. Anyway I am wondering what is the absolute best practice for painting new soakers. I am choosing between stainless steel and aluminium (I believe the aluminium comes etch-primed). Also do you have any info/opinion as to whether one is better than the other?

A. Galvanising can corrode on the exposed and rear face and this is common with soakers and flashings despite the exposed face being painted with an appropriate primer/topcoat paint system. For best results envelop priming is recommended but often not possible if the soakers are already in place. The rate of corrosion is determined by ethe corrosivity of the environment.

For galvanising there are varying zinc thicknesses that can be achieved, the lower the thickness the lower the protection.

Re your question aluminum vs stainless steel. Both form an oxide layer on the metal surface which protects from corrosion; painting should only be for decorative purposes. There are grades of stainless that are used in marine environments but I do not believe this grade is used to make stainless steel soakers.

We have used Resene Galvo One and Resene Galvo-Prime for painting both aluminum and stainless steel flashings. While traditionally these metals have been etch primed we find better adhesion is achieved using the Resene galvanised iron primers. Ensure the surfaces are washed down with Resene Roof and Metal Wash following label instructions before priming.

Q. We are renovating a house which has some rooms painted in a suede-like finish. How do we remove the suede effect paint to repaint the walls? We would prefer a smooth finish.

A. Removal is very difficult so assuming it is an acrylic suede finish, suggest that you roll on two coats of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal which will reduce the surface texture.

Q. A 1920s bungalow has been repainted. Initially it was stripped back and then the paint was applied by a professional painter. About 12 to 18 months later there has been movement that's affected the paintwork. The painter used a gap filler. A builder wonders whether the old nails might not be holding the boards adequately. Any thoughts on repairing this without the same problem reappearing down the track?

A. The shrinkage is due to board movement when the boards dry out over an extended time of low moisture/humidity.
I personally do not recommend application of a sealant to seal the board junctions as this does not allow movement to occur beyond the extensibility of the sealant. Also an open joint does allow the moisture content on the face and behind the brads to become equilibrated which reduce dimensional changes. This can happen even with new weatherboards if the boards are not enveloped sealed prior to installation so I would be surprised if the issue is individual board fixing. Not aware of any way of avoiding the issue in the future apart from preparing the exposed joint line (removal of the sealant) and repaint now where the joint line has receded.

Q. What do I prepare previously painted wallpaper (dark finish) with in order to repaint in a much lighter colour? It's in a kitchen and is a textured wallpaper.

A. Apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat to the painted wallpaper.

Q. I have applied a coat of Resene Sureseal to my newly plastered walls. Do I need to sand the Resene Sureseal before I apply my topcoats?

A. The only sanding required may be a light sand using 220 grit sandpaper to de nib. If you vigorously sand you may cut through the film.

Q. I have been told that it is best to use an oil based sealer primer undercoat on preprimed architraves prior to two topcoats of acrylic gloss. Is this correct?

A. The architraves should be sanded and reprimed. The choice of primer should be based on what the architrave supplier recommends as we do not know what the factory applied primer is. Yes you can apply two coats of an acrylic topcoat over Resene Wood Primer (oil based) or Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat (waterborne).

Q. We are repainting the interior of our house and have started on one bedroom. The room had vinyl wallpaper which we have removed by stripping the top layer and then wet removing the backing paper. Underneath is what appears to be drywall/plasterboard covered in a skim coat of a plaster substance. The plaster coating left behind is now bumpy (even after sanding) with some of it coming off down to the drywall in places. We are wanting to know what we are best to do next to ensure we are prepping/protecting the wall properly before we paint?

A. It would be best to skim coat the walls as I do not believe that painting will necessarily produce a smooth even finish.

Q. Can Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal go over non vinyl wallpaper or do you have to use Resene Sureseal?

A. I would always seal off old wallpaper before application of a waterborne coating. If the old paper has a metallic flake in it then the answer is a definite yes. Resene Sureseal also will block any staining that may arise from the old paper. Lastly sealing does prevent the lifting of the paper when wetted out with the paint - often the bubbles don't always disappear which then requires injection of a glue into the blister to reattach.

Q. I am painting over wallpaper backing and want to do something to cover up the seams so they don't show through the paint so much. What should I do?

A. The only product that may help reduce the appearance of the joins is two coats of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal.

Q. I have a 1980s Lockwood house and the exterior white finish has discoloured in various parts where it has been exposed to salt air. Do you have products that would suit a repaint of the house or have your products been used before for this purpose?

A. Scrub the surface down using Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to label directions. Then prime bare metal and areas of discoloration with Resene Galvo One then apply two coats of Resene Summit Roof. The discoloration may be due to tannin bleed or corrosion of the aluminium cladding over the treated pine timber.

Q. I am planning to paint over a vinyl wallpaper 'paint on/anaglypta' style wallpaper. Do I need a sealer?

A. The plasticiser in the vinyl wallpaper can migrate through a paint finish and make it feel sticky. We recommend using Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer first. This sealer is not required on paperfaced paintable wallpapers.

Q. What is the name of your 'cross-linking acrylic primer' recommended for applying to timber before painting with Resene Uracryl (in a seaside environment)?

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Leave the primer to cure for at least 24 hours if overcoating with strong solvent containing paints.

Q. Can I use oil based galvanised primer on corner soakers and then use water based paint to finish?

A. Yes Resene Galvo One can be overcoated with single pack water and solventborne topcoats. Soakers will need to be degreased before priming.

Q. We are building a house and have plasterboard walls. We have been told we need a three in one sealer before we paint or the paint will not adhere to the areas we have plastered.

A. For dry areas use Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer; for wet areas (e.g. bathrooms) use Resene Sureseal.

Q. I have Resene Quick Dry to use on a couple of projects - exterior painting of eaves and a refurbished wooden chair. I've seen that if bare wood is left for more than a week Resene TimberLock is recommended. Is this just for exterior work? What happens to freshly sanded wood over time in that it needs extra treatment before a primer? What is the difference between Resene Quick Dry and Resene Acrylic Undercoat or is it just preference? What product would you recommend for priming plywood doors with 'most' of the varnish sanded back?

A. Timber undergoes quick breakdown by UV and this has the potential to impact upon primer performance. The early degradation is not visible to the naked eye but does occur. Resene TimberLock has the ability to remedy this but not if there is extensive greying of the timber surface due to extended weathering.

Resene Quick Dry has a package of additives to protect the timber from natural decay agents; this feature is absent from the Resene Acrylic Undercoat.

For your plywood doors use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer or Resene Quick Dry.

Q. Could you please let me know what paint to seal hessian on walls before applying paint?

A. Use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. Do we need to put a sealer over wallpaper prior to painting in our colour of choice and if so what product do you recommend?

A. This is a yes/no answer. If you are painting vinyl wallpaper then most likely yes, as these papers contain a material known as a plasticiser and when painted with acrylic wall paints the plasticiser can migrate into the paint film and the dry paint retains a surface tack. This can be overcome by sealing the wallpaper with Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer prior to application of the acrylic wall paint. You can test to determine if the sealer is required: paint a small area of paper with testpot paint and leave for 48 hours then check the paint to see if there is a surface tack - if not then no sealer should be required. If the wallpaper has a metallic finish then seal with Resene Sureseal before applying the acrylic wall paint.

Q. A portal that we have designed for a home next to the sea will not be galvanised in the factory as there will be some welding on site. What kind of treatment can you recommend please?

A. Steel in this situation must be either hot dipped galvanised or factory primed with a zinc rich primer if any degree of long term corrosion is required.

Q. I have very old brickwork with lime mortar with lime coming through the paint. Will Resene Limelock fix this?

A. Efflorescence is not lime but a reaction of soluble materials carried to the surface by water moving through the structure. Resene Sureseal would be the best product to use after wire brushing the efflorescence to remove as much as possible.

Q. I have been told that Resene makes or made a special paint for Totara. Is this correct and is it still available? And will it also stick to Matai? I have a mix of both timbers.

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat is the primer for Totara and Matai.

Q. Can an acrylic outdoor paint be painted over with a prep coat of Resene TimberLock?

A. Resene TimberLock is usually overcoated with a dedicated wood primer such as Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat before topcoating with a waterborne finish as we do not consider the product to functionally be a wood primer.

Q. We are applying your acrylic quick dry primer to new plasterboard. From research it seems as though we should be watering this down to help with absorption. Can you tell me if we should be doing this and if so what the ratio should be?

A. It is not our recommendation to use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat as the basecoat for new stopped plasterboard, our recommendation is Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer.

Q. Please can you advise a Resene product(s) to refinish the metal fascia on the gable ends of my house? Was originally finished with an oil based paint but some years ago I repainted with an exterior acrylic. The white spots appeared soon after.

A. The spotting is due to the migration of zinc corrosion products through the paint film. The only way to prepare this for repainting would be to strip all of the coatings from the fascia to reveal how much under film corrosion has occurred.

Q. Can you please advise me how I should remove the flaking paint off my concrete? A scraper (this hasn't worked well in the past), paint stripper or something else?

A. Scraping paint from concrete is not easy unless the paint is poorly adhered. Paint stripper would be the way to go unless you can arrange for a commercial operator who can diamond grind the surface.

Q. We are owner builders and had new plaster put up about five years ago. We have just hired painters to paint the house. They quoted for an undercoat and two coats of paint. They have currently finished the ceiling and the other day they called us and said that because the plaster is so old that it has turned yellow in some areas, so they need to put another coat of paint and also they had to add some 'stain remover' to the paint, in order for the yellow not to show through. Is this correct?

A. If new plasterboard is not painted it can develop a yellow colour over time and this will bleed through a waterborne paint system. In this situation our recommendation is to apply Resene Sureseal as the sealer prior to application of the acrylic top coats. Given that the paint system has been applied you can seal off the migration of the yellow stain using Resene Sureseal or Resene StainLock before reapplying the acrylic topcoats.

Q. Is Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat the best product to use on Douglas Fir exterior timber followed byResene Sonyx 101?

A. We recomend Resene Wood Primer.

Q. I am starting to paint my house which I don't believe has been done in a long time. How do I find out if the paint has lead in it or not?

A. You can purchase a lead testing kit from your local Resene ColorShop. If your property was built before the 70s there is a chance that there may be lead present in one or more of the paint layers. See www.resene.com/leadbased for more information.

Q. I am painting the exterior of a weatherboard house. In places I have to strip it back to bare timber and treat and fill rusty nail holes. In other parts the old paint is in good condition and requires only a light sand. My question is which primer/undercoat will I use? I would like to use Resene Wood Primer everywhere, but I am unsure if that can be used over the top of existing paint. Do I use Resene Wood Primer first in bare areas and then use Resene Quick Dry over everything? Do I use Resene Wood Primer only on bare areas and Resene Quick Dry on areas with paint still on it? I am using Resene Sonyx 101 as a topcoat. Will using the Resene Wood Primer prolong the life of the paint finish?

A. Primer selection depends upon the timber - if native timers such as Matai or Totara then Resene Quick Dry is the only primer to use. For other timbers you can use either Resene Quick Dry or Resene Wood Primer.

Q. We have a house built in 1970 that we would to love to paint. It has always been wallpapered and wasn't finished to the standard for painting. Do you think we could get away with the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal or do you think that is pushing it? Also can you use the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal over lining paper?

A. You will need to seal the lining paper with Resene Sureseal then you can apply the Resene Boardwall Surface Prep & Seal (two coats) and lightly sand. It's difficult to really comment on whether this will give you the desired level of finish as it depends on the existing surface.

Q. I have a 1927 bungalow with cedar sashes. I have sanded them and in some places it is back to bare wood. Do I need to use a solvent based primer or is cedar bleeding no longer a concern due to the age?

A. You still need to use Resene Wood Primer to prime bare cedar.

Q. I'm redecorating interior rooms. I have had to spot repair walls using GIB®stop compound. I want to use a paint to seal the stopping and act as an undercoat over the entire wall. Would you please advise the best product?

A. We recommend Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal.

Q. We have removed wallpaper and sanded the wall down to the plasterboard. I have applied Resene Sureseal and am now going to apply Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. Should I have done it the other way around?

A. We recommend Resene Sureseal then Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. For dry areas you can apply Resene interior wall paints to the surface painted with Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal without the need for another application of Resene Sureseal.

Q. We have purchased a home and one of the rooms (which is now a kid's bedroom) was used as the 'smoking room'. The room was painted before we bought the house, but now the smell is coming out and the yellow staining on the ceiling especially, and the walls, is coming out. What is the best sealer to use for the walls and ceiling that will stop the smell and stains re-appearing before we repaint the room?

A. Wash the walls and ceiling down using Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, sand with 220 grit sandpaper dust off and then apply a seal coat of Resene StainLock. This will stop smoke stains from leaching into a new paint system. Cannot offer any guarantee re the odour however.

Q. I am painting wallpaper in an old villa. Wallpaper is hung over scrim (hessian) and when the paint goes on the wallpaper absorbs some paint and swells. This makes it wrinkly and gives a very poor finish. Is there a way to seal the paper and prevent the wrinkling?

A. The only suggestion I can make is to apply Resene Sureseal to the paper and leave to cure for 24 hours then look to apply the waterborne paint finish.

Q. Do I need to put a primer on my paintable wallpaper? I am using a waterbased paint and the wall is in good condition and the wallpaper is looking good. Thanks.

A. A primer is normally not required, but you will need to apply two coats of topcoat.

Q. I have just had a plasterer fix cracks, holes and joins in my ceiling and walls. He has sanded also. Is there anything else I need to do before painting?

A. You will need to seal the repairs before applying topcoats. If the repairs are stopped then use Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer for dry areas and Resene Sureseal for wet areas.

Q. When painting white over a darker colour paint, how do I proceed to ensure that it covers satisfactorily?

A. The usual practice is to apply a white undercoat, such as Resene Enamel Undercoat or Resene Acrylic Undercoat.

Q. I am helping my son to paint a newly acquired house. The kitchen has been updated to white cupboards and lovely black granite top. The doors and skirtings are the old wooden (beech colour) and are to be painted to a light cream/white. Can I just sand down and paint with waterborne enamel Resene Lustacryl or do I need an undercoat?

A. We would recommend undercoating with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat after sanding.

Q. Do we need to seal Aqualine that has been wallpapered before in the bathroom before resizing and rehanging wallpaper?

A. If you are stripping the old paper then yes, use Resene Sureseal.

Q. I am about to repaint the walls of the kitchen in a home we have recently purchased. Although we intend to renovate part of the kitchen, I really don't like the existing 'putty' colour so will paint it out in the interim. To keep things easy and because I know Resene Black White covers well, I am painting the kitchen in this using Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Will I need to use a primer coat to prevent the existing colour showing through - particularly given that there is a large white patch on one wall where a large blackboard used to be?

A. Given that the type of existing paint may be unknown I would sand with 180-220 grit sandpaper than apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat followed by two coats of the new colour.

Q. Is it ok to use the waterbased sealer undercoat (the stuff you use on new plasterboard) on wallpaper?

A. Waterbased sealers used for new plasterboard will not block sold stains from migrating through a new waterborne topcoat system. They will also not seal off plasticizer migration from a vinyl wallpaper which can cause the waterborne topcoats to remain soft and tacky.

Q. Having trouble painting over a wall after I removed wallpaper. The old sizing is causing the paint to bubble.

A. We recommend application of Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer after stripping off the paper as this prevents the issue you describe.

Q. I want to paint a varnished cane couch white. So far I have washed it down with sugar soap and sanded what I can get at. What do I do to get paint to stick on the places I cannot sand?

A. Apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer.

Q. We had the interior of our house painted about 6 years ago and not long after we started to notice bubbles in areas of ceilings and top of walls against the new cornice. Every now and then we get up and scrape the areas and re plaster and sand and paint and then we notice another area and it just keeps going. For example if there is a bubble in the ceiling you can get a scraper and peel it off really easy back to raw Gyprock®. Is there a 'clear' product you can paint over top to 're stick' to ceilings and walls as we can't peel all the paint off.

A. The issue is the failure to use the correct sealer when the areas were first painted. It is our standard recommendation to seal plasterboard or fibrous plasterboards and stopping with Resene Sureseal prior to topcoating. You would need to strip and seal and topcoat to stop the issue occurring.

Q. Do I need to use a special adhesion promoted primer when painting new PVC?

A. There is no need to use any adhesion primer when painting new PVC with Resene exterior acrylics. Resene exterior acrylics are adhesion promoted so no need for a primer over PVC. Adhesion takes about 5 days to develop. After 24 hours you can scratch the paint off but after seven days to remove you need to sand. So the key is just making sure you let it cure fully.

Q. What do you recommend on new stopped plasterboard?

A. We recommend Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer or Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal as the first coat onto new stopped paper faced plasterboard (dry areas). Resene Sureseal is recommended for sealing paper faced plasterboard in wet areas.

Q. We have small cracks in interior drywall which need to be repaired. Our walls are painted with a waterbased semi-gloss finish. Our plasterer has recommended skim coating the entire wall. My question is, is it correct to skim coat plaster compound over a painted surface?

A. The plasterer will probably use a Fibre Fuse tape over the crack to ensure the crack does not reappear following painting. The tape crack is then plastered over to produce a smooth finish. We usually recommend thorough sanding of the acrylic painted wall with 80 grit sandpaper then apply a coat of Resene Sureseal then the skim coating.

Q. Can painted over wallpaper (bubbled in areas) be skimmed over prior to repainting or must the paper be removed?

A. It is best to address the bubbling before skim coating.

Q. Do I need to prime before painting previously painted fibre cement weatherboard? The surface is a little chalky but pretty clean. The paint is around 20 years old.

A. Scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash according to directions. Remove loose and flaking paint back to a sound edge. The remaining paint should be chalk free and sound. Spot prime bare fibre cement with Resene Sureseal then apply two coats of a Resene exterior acrylic to the weatherboards.

Q. I have some Resene acrylic primer undercoat which I propose to use to cover some dark brown stain on skirting then repaint with white topcoat. Can I use enamel or acrylic topcoat?

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat can be topcoated with Resene waterborne acrylics, waterborne enamels and solventborne enamels.

Q. What is the best way to cover vivid marker writing on a painted wall?

A. Seal off the marker with either Resene Sureseal or Resene StainLock before re painting with the original paint and colour.

Q. What product would you recommend for stripping paint prior to repainting?

A. Resene only recommends paint strippers that are free from methylene chloride as this chemical has been identified as a possible carcinogen. It is our understanding that many paint strippers in New Zealand currently do contain this solvent. From a speed perspective methylene chloride based paint strippers work very quickly, paint strippers that are free of the chemical are slower to react but in principle safer to use. We recommend Sea 2 Sky paint stripper, available from Resene ColorShops.

Q. I am repainting my whole house and have chosen colours Resene Calico, Resene Cashmere and Resene Champagne. Because the house was previously painted do I need to do an undercoat or sealant at all? Because I have chosen different colours can you use a different undercoat as I thought undercoats were typically white?

A. If the existing paint system is an acrylic and sound then cleaning down to remove dirt/oil/grease/mould is all that is required prior to application of two coats of the new acrylic paint colours. There are dedicated primers for each substrate, only required over bare substrate areas. For almost all Resene colours you can achieve two coat hiding. If you need to prime or seal then you will still need the two coats of topcoat to achieve colour uniformity.

Q. I am repainting an older house that has been painted in oil based paint. I need to know what paint I can use and whether I need to undercoat or not.

A. Assuming the existing paint system is not showing flaking then the standard prep is to scrub down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash according to directions, then sand the old enamel to provide a key for the new paint. I always recommend undercoating with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and then apply two coats of any Resene exterior acrylic finish.

The main issue with repainting older homes with many years accumulation of paint is the possibility of delamination of an underlying paint layer after the new paint system is applied. This is common when older villas which have pale colours are then painted with dark colours and the heat associated with the new colour causes paint delamination. Resene CoolColours™ can reduce the risk but there is still a risk that the old paint system will let go.

Q. A rental property is coated with nicotine from the occupant being a smoker and the ceilings and walls are coated. What's the best solution for preparing the walls for repainting?

A. Wash all areas down with Resene Interior Paint Cleaner then apply a full coat of Resene Sureseal. You can then apply any Resene interior wall or ceiling paints over the sealed areas.

Q. I have stripped the top layer of vinyl wallpaper off and found that underneath the wallpaper is a layer of paint and then another layer of wallpaper. Is it possible to just paint over the paper backing of the first layer of wallpaper? If so, what should I do to prepare the wall? If not, what is the best way to remove all the layers?

A. You can paint over the backing layer but you first need to seal it with Resene Sureseal then apply a coat of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal.

Q. Is it acceptable to paint over wallpaper? If so, what sealer is recommended please?

A. Wallpaper can be painted over; the paper may need to be sealed first before applying a waterborne paint finish. Resene Vinyl Wallpaper Sealer is required when painting over a vinyl paper or Resene Sureseal if painting over a paper that has yellowed or has a metal flake in the paper.

You can test the need for a sealer by painting a small area with a Resene testpot, leave for 48 hours and check the paint for tackiness. If there is no surface tack then you may be able to apply the waterborne paints directly without sealing the paper first. Some surface tackiness may take longer to show.

Q. Please tell me the correct undercoat/sealer to use in a new bathroom. I am painting over new freshly plastered villa board and plasterboard.

A. Resene Sureseal is the recommended sealer for sealing new stopped plasterboard in wet areas.

Q. I have stripped the top layer of vinyl wallpaper off and found that underneath the wallpaper is a layer of paint and then another layer of wallpaper. Is it possible to just paint over the paper backing of the first layer of wallpaper? If so, what should I do to prepare the wall? If not, what is the best way to remove all the layers?

A. You can paint over the backing layer but you first need to seal it with Resene Sureseal then apply a coat of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal.

Q. We have a house which was built in 1960s. We have stripped wallpaper from a bedroom and were left with walls that were pretty unsightly - marks and dents etc. We have filled, sanded, and put a coat of Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal. The question we have is, do we now need to apply a layer of pigmented sealer before we paint? One person has told us this is absolutely necessary as the paint will 'soak' into the broadwall. One person said paint on top of the broadwall is fine.

A. For non-wet areas you can apply a Resene wall paint directly to the Resene Broadwall Surface Prep & Seal.

Q. I have a plaster home previously whitewashed which is chalking badly. It’s being chemwashed and Resene X-200 is to be applied. Do I need to coat with Resene Limelock or other primer first?

A. The sealer to use post chem washing is Resene Sureseal, you need a sealer that will bind any residual chalking and Resene Sureseal is recommended for this.

Q. What do I prime plywood with before applying the Resene FX Magnetic Magic paint?

A. Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Q. I have a new home repaint job and the plasterboard stopper recommended the homeowner use pigmented sealer on all the wall and ceilings. Do I need to?

A. New stopped plasterboard must be sealed before application of topcoats; for wet areas the Resene product is Resene Sureseal; for all other areas, Resene Broadwall Waterborne Wallboard Sealer.

Q. Do you need to use an undercoat or sealer when using the CoolColour system?

A. Resene CoolColour™ technology will give some CoolColour benefits without the need to use CoolColour primers/undercoats. However to achieve the maximum CoolColour benefit application over a CoolColour primer or white undercoat is recommended.

Q. Can I paint directly over Resene Timber Surface Prep or do I need to put an undercoat/primer on before the topcoat?

A. You need to coat the Resene Timber Surface Prep with a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat prior to application of acrylic topcoats.

Q. How do we remove old paint from windows and doors?

A. Paint can be removed from timber doors and windows using a heat gun and a scraper or with a paint stripper such as Sea to Sky. If the old paint contains lead you will need to ensure that the heat gun operates at a temperature less than 400 degrees celsius to ensure that the lead in the paint does not become volatile and present a health hazard to the person removing the paint. Lead base paint flakes should be bagged for disposal and care taken not to contaminate the ground or other areas with lead based paint residues. Always wear a mask when removed lead based paints. Testing kits for lead based paint can be purchased from Resene ColorShops.

Q. Is there any special primer for painting kwila timber, not with a stain but a white paint? If so which primer and which paint for the topcoats?

A. New Kwila contains a water soluble stain which can discolour acrylic paint systems. The other issue with Kwila can be adhesion due to the dense surface that is to be painted. Out best recommendation is to wash the timber down using Resene Timber and Deck Wash - this will remove the water soluble material and open up the surface to paint. Allow to dry then prime with Resene Wood Primer. Then apply Resene Lumbersider if a standard acrylic finish is required or Resene Non Skid Deck and Path if a non-skid finish is required.

Q. How long do I need to leave the primer paint on before I put on the topcoat?

A. Primers should always be overcoated as soon as possible, but depending upon the primer type most can be left for up to a maximum of a month before topcoating. Wash down prior to topcoating and check if the exposed primer has undergone chalking (white deposit can be rubbed off the primer surface). If there is chalking you will need to wash down with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, lightly sand and re-apply the primer.

Q. I am painting a cement wall in Resene Bright Red. I have been told to use a grey undercoat. Is this the right thing to do?

A. The new plaster will need to be sealed with Resene LimeLock before application of finishing systems. The use of a grey undercoat of the correct shade can facilitate coverage of some topcoat reds where the opacity of the red is below what is usually found with whites and other tinted colours that achieve full opacity with two coats of topcoat colour.

Q. I have stripped off old wallpaper from plasterboard (possibly papered in the 80s). In some places it has pulled the outer layer of protective paper covering off the plasterboard. I can sand it back but what product do I need to seal it before I paint it? It is a but fluffy where I sand, and it is only one part of a wall that has come away. I don't really want to put another wallpaper up. It is only the toilet so not a huge area. Hoping you have an easy solution!

A. If you look at the data sheet for Resene Broadwall Surface Prep and Seal, the second page has recommendations for painting after removal of wallpaper. If the removal of the paper face has left a deep depression then you can resurface using Gib® stopping compound, sand smooth then seal off the entire wall with Resene Sureseal.

Q. How do you remove old paint off varnished wood?

A. It’s best to sand or use a paint stripper.

Q. I would like to paint the inside walls of a Lockwood house but finding it hard to get a primer that will stay on without sanding the gloss finish back to bare timber.

A. Our recommended adhesion primer for an old interior varnished surface is Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer.

Q. I would like some advice on removing mould from treated unpainted weatherboards. They are new and have been air drying.

A. The staining you see is probably fungal and opposed to mould growth and is referred to as sap staining; it occurs when the fungi colonise the soft tissues of timber. The fungi can penetrate deeply into the timber. What is the level of timber treatment as treatment used for exterior timber should control both fungal and mould growth?

Treatment with Resene Moss & Mould Killer should be effective in killing the fungi growth present on the timber surface but discolouration arising from the fungi may not be totally removed. After application of the Resene Moss & Mould Killer, leave for 48 hours then rinse off with fresh water, allow to dry and if you are then going to apply a pigmented paint system we recommend application of Resene TimberLock followed by Resene Wood Primer before application of a Resene exterior acrylic paint. The combination of Resene TimberLock and Resene Wood Primer will give the best possible protection to the timber substrate going forward.

Q. Is there a clear product to treat rust? Our outdoor dining chairs are black with a grey/blue sponge finish applied. They have previously been sprayed with matt polyurethane to prevent rust but this has broken down.

A. To prevent corrosion we use anti-corrosive pigments and this does not allow paint to be formulated as clear.

Q. What sealer undercoat paint can be used over Mulseal? Nothing seems to stick adequately to it and is always flaking off.

A. We recommend that you use Resene Membrane Primer for this application. However you cannot use the primer for immersed situations.

Q. What sort of Resene undercoat paint do I use to cover permanent marker on a wall?

A. We recommend Resene StainLock. This product is designed to lock in the stain so it doesn’t affect the topcoats.

Q. How do I prep bare aluminium (Bright Mill finish) to overcoat with Resene Lumbersider?

A. Wet sand with 400 grit wet and dry paper to degloss, prime with Resene Galvo One and then apply the Resene Lumbersider.

Q. We are completely repainting the interior and exterior of a solid plaster house that has previously been painted with a limewash. We have trialled one room using Resene Quick Dry and an acrylic topcoat. We first prepped with aggressive scrubbing with sugar soap. After curing it is now obvious that the sealer has not bonded into the original limewash. It is just peeling off. On the underside there is an orange chalky residue on the sealer and the original orange is still attached to the wall. Is there a sealer that will go over the limewash and stick to it so normal acrylic can be applied?

A. Remove as much of the loose surface material by scrubbing with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash, rinse clean with water and allow to dry then apply Resene Sureseal pigmented sealer. Waterborne primers/sealers cannot penetrate and bind loose friable cementitious or powdery surfaces. Resene Sureseal will penetrate and bind powdery surfaces - you may need two coats to achieve complete reinforcement of the surface.

Q. How do I treat rusty nail heads in the soffit and rusty flashings above wooden window frames?

A. If the nail heads (steel nails) are sitting above the soffit lining then wash down with fresh water and sand with 220 wet and dry paper to remove loose rust, then prime with Resene Rust-Arrest prior to application of topcoats. If the nails are galvanised then the primer to use is Resene Galvo One. If the nails are below the surface then re-punch and prime using a small artist’s brush with the appropriate primer depending upon nail type, then refill the holes and topcoat. Flashings (usually galvanised) can be treated similarly. If the rusting has proceeded to red rusting then two coats of Resene Galvo-Prime will be required. With flashings the corrosion often emanates behind the flashing and the surface cannot be accessed for prep and painting. In this situation replacement of the flashing is the only remedy.

Q. What primer should I use on the lead edging of an external lead light window pane before I re-putty it into its wooden frame? The putty has failed to adhere to the lead edging and is falling out from an external lead light window on the west side of our villa after three years. The lead light was restored and mounted in the wooden window frame. The frame had been stripped and primed with Resene Wood Primer and topcoated with Resene Super Gloss enamel, colour Resene Double Pearl Lusta. However I cannot comment if the lead edging was primed before the putty was placed - it looks like it was not.

A. Suggest you use Resene Galvo One for priming. It is my understanding that there is a black polish applied to the lead when lead lights are manufactured, which may be another cause of the adhesion failure you have experienced. We would suggest that you wipe down the edges to be primed with a cloth and turps prior to priming; replace the cloth at regular intervals.

Q. I used your pigmented sealer and found it very thin and hard to use on a ceiling without dripping. It was much thinner than other products I have used.

A. The definition ‘pigmented sealer’ is a generic term and does not imply that the product offered by different brands will all have the same in-can properties, particularly viscosity. Resene Sureseal is formulated as a solventborne paint to seal and consolidate concrete and plaster and in particular old powdery/friable cementitious substrates and bind gypsum based stopping and plasters to then produce a surface suitable for application of waterborne and other paint types. To achieve the above the product is deliberately formulated at low viscosity to ensure penetration into a substrate surface and then bind.

Resene Sureseal is superb as a sealer over water stained substrates; it will however not seal oil based surface stains. Resene Sureseal is not designed to give one coat coverage, and we do find some users of the product try to achieve this by applying high wet film thicknesses of the product which then causes runs - this is made worse when applying the product to substrates with reduced porosity. For roller application a Resene No.5 (mohair) sleeve is recommended. The product viscosity being low does lead to an increased level of roller spatter than other highly filled flat turps thinned sealers but this is not often reported as an issue with roller application of the product.

Resene Sureseal has been a very popular product for over three decades and has features that cannot be achieved using other technologies including waterborne sealers.

Q. Our house has a rendered finish in limewash and we were planning to seal it then topcoat in Resene AquaShield. The surface is currently flaking. What is the best sealer to use – we were thinking of using Resene Limelock?

A. Resene Sureseal is the best sealer for the bare render. Resene Limelock cannot bind and consolidate loose friable plaster type surfaces. Resene Limelock is designed for fresh plaster (unpainted). You will need to remove all of the flaking paint before applying the sealer.

Q. For the Resene Wood Primer, why isn't ‘spraying’ one of the application methods?

A. Resene Wood Primer can be spray applied but it is designed for brush/roller application as the solvent mix used for the product is what we describe as slow which means that spray application can lead to sagging or runs due to the slow release of solvents from the wet paint film.