Features & reviews
The perfect finish: Best practice for applying water based paints
April 2009
When the next phase of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Regulations comes into force in the UK on 1st January 2010, many paint products containing high levels of VOCs - the solvents that determine a paint's viscosity, flow and drying time - will no longer be able to be manufactured. This marks a huge shake up in the paint and coatings market and will leave many professional appliers looking for alternative products that provide the results they require while complying with the legislation. Water based paints, with their naturally low VOC levels, are fast becoming a popular alternative, but some professional painters and decorators are still reluctant to make the change. Here, Peter Doyle, Decorator Training Consultant at Dulux Trade, talks to The Decorator about how water based paints can be used to achieve impressive, VOC compliant results.
First things first: preparation is everything
To ensure maximum performance, water based paints should be stored in a dry environment between 5-30°C and protected from frost. It is best if paints aren't applied if the temperature is below 10°C or humidity is over 80 per cent, as this may affect the drying time and finish appearance.
As with all paint jobs, surfaces should be clean and dry, and properly primed before painting.
When choosing a brush for applying water based paint, synthetic bristles are best as they will not absorb the water content in the paint. This ensures that all of the water in the paint will be spread on to the surface, helping to achieve an even finished result. Synthetic bristles are also softer and leave fewer brush marks than natural bristles.
Before application, water based paints should be stirred, without thinning, and then decanted into a paint kettle or roller tray. After abrading the walls to ensure they are smooth and dust free, both the surface and the brush should be dampened with clean water. Dampening the brush will offer extra application time as it allows the paint to flow more evenly from the bristles.
When applying paint to a surface, it is important not to over spread it. Once on the surface, try to avoid over brushing the paint as this may leave brush marks. Water based paints should be allowed to dry fully before recoating, if necessary. This should take about four to six hours on average, much faster than some solvent based paints.
To apply water based paints to walls and ceilings it is recommended that any 'cutting in' around the edges and borders is carried out with a synthetic brush. The paint can then be applied to the larger surface area with a roller to achieve even colour and texture. Rollering is not only a quick and efficient application method that enables decorators to complete a higher volume of jobs, but rollering while the 'cutting in' is still wet will also ensure that the wet edge is maintained, and keeps handiwork looking professional.
As an industry leading manufacturer - Dulux Trade is proud to offer a variety of water based paints that comply with the 2010 legislation while providing excellent coverage, both indoors and outdoors.
For indoor walls and ceilings, the Diamond range offers tough, washable coverage which is up to ten times more durable than standard silk emulsions. On interior trim, there is a choice of two water based finishes, Diamond Satinwood and Ecosure Gloss. The water based Weathershield range of masonry coatings offers long lasting protection for exterior surfaces, with Weathershield Maximum Exposure providing a tough and flexible paint film that is up to five times more flexible than conventional masonry paints.
With a number of products in professional decorators' staple portfolios already boasting water based technology, and the introduction of the new 2010 trim range, it is clear that Dulux Trade is continuing to lead the field in easing appliers into the 2010 transition. We are making it easy for professionals to comply with the new legislation without compromising on the high performance they have come to expect from Dulux Trade. At this rate, decorators won't even notice the change!
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