b'spectrum scienceT he final topcoat may be the only layer of your projects coating system thatuntil full coverage is obtained (matching the original full coverage swatches). The your client ever sees, and the one that gets all the credit and compliments. Butvarishade tone that produces the best match with the fewest topcoats applied over it As above, fillingweve said it before and well say it again (and again): the only way to ensure ais then chosen as the preferred undercoat.beautiful finish is by putting in the right care and preparation. Patching and sanding, gaps, taping, cleaning and dusting your soon-to-be-coated surfaces are allThe right shade to specifyimportant parts of that preparation process, but so too are the layers of product thatChoosing the right varishade for your chosen topcoat is easy: it is recommended through are applied before your Resene topcoat. the Resene e-tint colour formulation system. Where an undercoat is recommended When youre specifying and applying a vibrant colour or one thats significantlyfor a Resene colour, youll find it noted on the colour card with uc. Simply specify a different from the existing colour, it pays to pick a paint system that you can beResene waterborne or enamel undercoat for your project and the Resene ColorShop confident will give you complete and even coverage. For starters, you can be assuredteam will select the appropriate varishade for your topcoat. However, if you are youll get the quality finish that both you and your client are expecting. But yourapplying a darker colour to the exterior of your building, the science is a bit different specific selections can also save money, both in terms of product and application cost, and thus so are Resenes recommendations. In these instances, its recommended to without the need to sacrifice quality. choose a Resene CoolColour formula for your topcoat.We spoke to the Resene Technical team to get a better understanding of the scienceReseneCoolColourtechnologymakespaintingexteriorsurfacesindarker behind coverage and the right products and tools to use for the best possible finish. colours both easier and safer and can be used on all sorts of exterior materials All about that base andapplications,fromweatherboardsandconcretetowindowsills.AResene CoolColourlookslikeanormalResenecolour,butthankstospecialpigment If you take a look at Resenes data sheets or product tins, youll find that the majoritytechnology, it reflects more heat, so it doesnt get as hot as a normal colour would. of Resene interior and exterior topcoats require two colour coats to provide properResene CoolColours are created by replacing the standard carbon black pigment coverage, getting you the same opaque look that you see on your Resene swatchthat absorbs heat and light with a unique pigment that enables much of the infrared and for the product to perform as intended. However, certain bright, bold or deepportion of the suns energy to be reflected. Visible and UV light will still impact the colours may require an additional coat to get a uniform colourespecially if theyabove: To demonstrateWhat are varishades? suns heating effect on your exterior surface, but your substrate wont get as hot so are being applied over a significantly different colour. The organic pigments used tothe difference a tinteditll be under less stress.varishade undercoatResene varishades rely on some pretty fascinating colour science, and their success create bright yellows and clear reds, for example, are naturally more transparent. Tomakes, we applied a singleboils down to the extensive testing thats carried out by the Resene Technical team.For the best performance of Resene CoolColours, we recommend a white Resene maintain their high chroma, these hues are tinted into more transparent bases so ascoat of Resene SpaceCoteMany in the coatings industry used to assume that a white basecoat would be theundercoat rather than a Resene varishade, says Mike. Despite the appearance of to not muddy them. When a more transparent paint is applied over a significantlyLow Sheen tinted tooptimal colour for a primer or undercoat, since white reflects back all colour wavesfull opacity, some of the suns infrared rays do penetrate the topcoat and these are different colour, whats underneath can still show through even after the secondResene Red Hot over aand the raw ingredients used to make white paint are often the opaquestso it wouldbest reflected back by a pure white undercoat in order to protect the substrate and coloured topcoat. In these instances, a Resene undercoat is particularly helpful. wall in Resene White (left)adequately cover up any colour that was beneath it. The trouble with white is that itminimise heat build-up.The majority of paint primers and undercoats youll find on the market are onlyand over a wall that hadcan often show through some of those sheerer colours that we previously mentioned, available in white or off white. However, applying a tinted undercoat reduces thebeen properly undercoatedmaking them appear thinner. This led to the idea that an undercoat thats beentop tipin the recommended number of topcoats required to get proper opacity for deeper, brighter, bolder andResene varishadetinted to the same colour as the topcoat would be the best option. But, in fact, for sheerer colours. Applying a tinted Resene undercoat is also more economical than(right), Resene Acrylicmany colours, a grey undercoat is even better as it reduces reflectance and enhancesResene Acrylic Undercoat and Resene Enamel Undercoat are available in white applying extra topcoats as it is less expensive than the tint needed in the topcoats.Undercoat in Varishade 5.the depth and body of the colour, so you see it in its full glory. In addition to a white Resene has thousands of different paint colours to choose from in both waterborne andIn the left image, you canundercoat, which still remains the best option for certain colours, Resene developedand varishades. Resene Acrylic Undercoat is suitable for interior applications and solventborne bases. To ensure improved opacity for all those colours without the needsee some of the Resenesix different grey varishade colours (which are numbered 1-5 and 10 to indicate theirexterior colours. Resene Enamel Undercoat is generally recommended for use for thousands of different coloured undercoats, Resene uses innovative varishades. White wall grinningunder interior paint systems only. Use a white undercoat or primer directly beneath through. On the rightgreyness, rather than named) which allow for the perfect level of contrast betweenResene CoolColour topcoats for maximum heat reflectance.so below left: Bright, clear reds and yellows can be more transparent by nature as lessResene image, however, betteryour undercoat and your topcoat colour. by applying the topcoats over drawdownOther factors and forces at playopacity and authenticHow does Resene figure out which varishade is the right choice for your topcoat Red Hot colour has been achievedcolour? This is determined scientifically opaque materials are blended with these pigments, so as not to muddy themright from the first coat. swatches in black and white at known film weightsthe thickness that the paintOf course, your basecoat is important, but your undercoat alone wont give your project and help keep their vibrancy. To improve the opacity of these types of coloursgets applied to different surfaces through different application methodsuntil fulla perfectly opaque finish. Opacity and hiding power are important aspects of coverage and reduce the number of topcoats, Resene recommends starting with aReseneThe key to perfect coverage tinted varishade undercoat. This first coat of Resene SpaceCote Low SheenWhite coverage is obtained. This may require multiple topcoats, explains Resene Technicalin terms of how well a product hides the substrate, but in the coatings industry, it also tinted to Resene Red Hot is being applied over Resene Acrylic Undercoat Resene Resene Manager Mike Clowes. Then, the topcoat colour is applied over six new drawdowninvolves the spread rate of the product and how much area it will physically cover. starts from the bottom up. in Varishade 5. Projects by Amber Armitage, images by Bryce Carleton. Varishade 5 Pandemonium swatches that have been undercoated in white and the six Resene varishade tonesThis is affected by different factors, such as whether the product is waterborne or 38 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 39'