Preparation

Do I need to sand the surface before painting?
In most cases, yes. When it comes to interior walls, a light sanding is advised to remove any grease or dirt from the walls to leave a clean surface for painting. With wood, it is recommended to always sand before priming and painting. Sanding wood removes any dirt or unwanted residue built up over time and primer penetrates far better to a clean, level, sanded wooden surface.

Do I need to prime my walls before painting?
If the wall is previously painted, then it is not necessary to prime. However, when painting onto bare plaster it is necessary to prime as it achieves the best results and is also more cost effective. Paint will soak into bare plaster resulting in additional coats being required which is more expensive than a coat of primer. Primer provides an excellent substrate for paint to adhere to.

Do I need to clean the surface before painting?
Yes, it’s critical that any dirt or grease is removed from the surface prior to sanding and painting so that the dirt isn’t worked into the pores of the surface resulting in a poor finish. Kalustepesu is our special cleaner for walls and wood while Seinapesu is our special cleaner that removes dirt, grease and oil from tiles. For exterior surfaces we recommend Homeenpoisto to clean masonry, stone and brick surfaces.

How do I make sure there is no dust on the surface before painting?
Dust is paint’s worst enemy! If there is dust present when applying paint, it will result in a poor finish which is only repairable with further coats. The Axus Decor Tack Cloth is the ideal tool to remove any fine sanding dust from the surface prior to painting. It is impregnated with special resin that picks up and holds even the finest dust, dirt and fluff.

What grit sanding block should I use?
When removing large amounts of dirt and residue from wood, a coarse sanding block e.g 60 grit is recommended to take away the majority of the dirt. After this, a higher grit sanding block e.g 120 or 180 is used to give the surface a light sand and leave a smooth level, finish ready for priming. When sanding walls, a high-grit block e.g 120 or 180 is recommended so the plaster isn’t damaged but it is coarse enough to remove dirt and grease.

Where should I apply masking tape?
When painting walls, it is advised to mask around the architraves of doors and skirting boards and lay down a paint barrier sheet in case of spillages or dripping. Masking ceilings is optional but often a steady hand and close attention to detail is better when cutting in with a brush.