How to achieve the perfect finish

Easy as

1. Test paint surface
2. Cleaning
3. Stripping & Sanding
4. Filling
5. Painting

Test paint surface

To test an existing paint surface, press a finger length of strong adhesive tape firmly onto it, then rip the tape away quickly. If the paint lifts, you’ll need to strip the whole surface and reprepare it or treat it with a surface binder.

Cleaning

If your painted surfaces are in good conditions (no flaking, peeling or rust bubbling) wash the wall down with Selleys Original Sugar Soap. This will remove the dirt, mould, grease and smoke stains from all painted surfaces.

Stripping & Sanding

If your painted surface is in poor condition scrape away flakes and bubbles then smooth edges with sandpaper. Wire brush can be used on exterior surfaces if necessary. If a paint stripper is required for exterior surfaces, Selleys Kwik Strip is ideal with its thick consistency, allowing you to brush on easily and it won’t run on vertical surfaces.

Filling

This is the last step before painting. Cracks, holes and dents need to be filled to get an even finish prior to painting.

Interior Filling

Where no structural movement is expected, use Selleys Spakfilla Interior or Selleys Spakfilla Rapid on surfaces such as plaster or plasterboard. Spakfilla Interior needs to be mixed with water and it can be sanded smooth and is ready for painting in 2 to 3 hours. Selleys Spakfilla Rapid is a ready mixed filler, which can be easily sanded and painted within 30 minutes.

For best results, filled areas should be undercoated to ensure an even appearance of the top or finishing coat.

Exterior Filling

On masonry, brick, stone and cement use Selleys Spakfilla Exterior. The resin reinforced filler gives excellent adhesion and weather resistance. It sets in about 1 hour and can be sanded to a smooth finish. For a sandy textured finish on cement rendered surfaces, use Selleys No More Gaps Render Filler. This may be sanded if required and painted within 3 hours.

Gaps

Where some structural movement is likely to occur eg. around window frames, architraves or cornices, use Selleys No More Gaps Multipurpose. This is a flexible filler which can be tooled off to a smooth finish and is paintable in 30 minutes (allow longer times for bigger applications, cold weather or if painting with flat or ceiling paints)

Painting

Always start from the top doing ceiling first, then walls, doors, window frames and architraves. To achieve the best possible paint finish use Selleys Ultra Smooth Finish brushes for the smoothest finish and no bristle loss.