A free paint tool
Most failures
start here.
Choose what you are painting. We will tell you what to wash, sand, fill and prime first, and what to avoid.
When paint peels, flakes or shows every repair, it is rarely the paint. It is nearly always what was done, or not done, before the first coat.
Preparation
Questions
we get asked.
- Do I really need to sand before painting?
- On glossy paint, yes. Sanding until the shine has gone gives new paint a key to hold onto. On sound matt walls you only need to sand fillers and rough patches.
- What is sugar soap for?
- It removes grease, nicotine and grime that stop paint sticking. Rinse it off with clean water afterwards so no residue is left under the paint.
- How long should new plaster dry before painting?
- Until it is an even pale colour with no dark patches. A thin skim usually needs one to two weeks in a warm, aired room, and longer in winter. A full replaster on new backing often takes four weeks or more.
- Why is my new paint peeling?
- Usually poor adhesion. Grease, dust, unsanded gloss, chalky surfaces or unsealed new plaster are the common causes. The fix is going back and preparing it properly.
Rather leave it to us
Preparation is
most of the job.
On most of our jobs, more time goes into preparation than painting. That is what lets us put a 12 month guarantee on the finish.
Practical painting advice for Fife homes.