SA Affordable Housing September - October 2019 // ISSUE: 78 | Page 11

ADVERTORIAL
Dos and don’ts of
interior painting
An affordable housing project often entails replicating a housing
design for multiple units. No house is complete without a few
coats of paint, but it’s not quite as straight forward as slapping
some colour on a wall.
Contributed by Prominent Paints
T
he most common mistakes on projects are usually
incorrect surface preparation of the surface being
painted. Various substrates to be painted would
require specific preparation suitable for that particular
surface or substrate. For example, if one should prepare
rusted and weathered steel and don’t remove the oily layer
or surface rust before applying the Prominent Rust Primer,
then delamination of the primer and rust creep would occur
shortly after the initial application and exposure of the
newly-applied substrate.
When we refer to steel and the preparation thereof, one
of the most common mistakes is that when the preparation
has been done, the actual primer does not get applied
immediately when the surface is dry and has therefore
exceeded the ‘open time’ of the steel surface. For his reason
if the primer is not applied the same day or within four hours
after preparation, surface rust starts to build-up again on the
surface and the preparation phase should actually start over.
It is essential to take the macro- and micro-climate
conditions into consideration when starting a paint project.
This will ensure that when applying a specific paint product
onto a specific surface or substrate, that the actual choice
of product should be able to withstand these conditions.
For instance, when painting the interior of a bathroom
ceiling or wall surface, the environment will be exposed
to steam and condensation. For this reason, the choice of
paint should also be able to withstand these conditions,
and if the incorrect product has been used, it will result in
premature paint failure including fungal growth or mildew
formation on the painted surface. One should also confirm
the moisture content in the cement surface as normal
decorative coating cannot withstand moisture content in
excess of 15% moisture.
In most circumstances local unskilled community
members are used to assist with general work, sometimes
resulting in the delay of the project. Other challenges include
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za
the many different trades working simultaneously in the
same house. In most cases painters would be required to
repaint the entire house before handover and signing off.
Prominent Paints has formulated an Agriment Certified
product, Prominent Paints Waterproofing Wall Coating that
can be applied directly to the substrate without the need of
a primer and is a cost effective and affordable product for
these projects. The most popular paints coatings that’s used
for the doors and window frames is Prominent Paints Select
Gloss Enamel and for ceilings Prominent Paints Select Wall &
Ceiling that provides excellent hiding ability on the surface
when painting.
Use Prominent Paints Select Universal Undercoat on the
red oxide painted window frames or newly applied window
putty once the glazing has been done, as an intermediate
coat to promote inter-coat adhesion and hiding ability of the
initial red primer.
Homeowners need a budget plan and time frame for
the maintenance of their property. It is also important to
contact the paint specialist store in the area to assist with
the product and project requirements. Most commonly-used
interior paint finishes is Prominent Paints Satin Silk, Premium
Matt or Select Sheen. Most important factors to consider
are the correct preparation and the correct primer is the
foundation of every paint project.
In most situations the architect will provide the initial
specification when the building plans are submitted. The
contractor that tenders for the project would also be a
member of the NHBRC (National Home Builders Registration
Council). Once the builder commences with the project
and the project is near to completion, the builder would
then subcontract the paint project to a painting contractor.
Once the painting contractor has been appointed a
paint specification will be done on the project. Once the
specification has been approved the Painting contractor will
commence with the project.
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