MRCB paints & papers: Help & Advice: FAQ's

The answer to this is yes, but only when the wall has been thoroughly abraded. Unless you are fully prepared to sand the surface to remove all traces of sheen, we would recommend the use of a special primer. Failure to sand thoroughly may result in your paint cracking.

Can I paint over stained wood?

Before you paint over stained wood, we would recommend that you apply a coat of a specific Primer, as this will seal in the stain.

Can I paint over varnished wood?

Absolutely! Again there are specific primers suitable for application over varnishes. You may also remove the varnish and the easiest way is by using a Paint Stripper. You should then prime bare wood with a wood primer, followed by your preferred finish.

Can I use Masonry paints inside?

Most masonry products that we stock contain fungicides to protect them against the weather. Due to this we do not recommend them for use inside.

Can I still get hold of old discontinued colours?

Yes you can. As colours become discontinued, we would have the colour formulation added to our tinting systems and any colour (including discontinued colours) would be available in most finishes.

My bathroom gets very steamy, what paint would you recommend to provide a long lasting finish?

There are many brands formulated that have a superior moisture and steam resistant formula that is perfect for wet and steamy environments. It's easy to clean and able to withstand high condensation.

What can I paint my plastic garden furniture with?

As garden furniture is made of a very smooth plastic and it is flexible we do not recommend painting it.

What can I paint my metal garden furniture with?

Bare metal can be painted with an appropriate metal primer followed by either an Exterior gloss or Exterior Eggshell paint and undercoat. Other solutions would be using an all-in-one paint that eliminates the need for separate primer and top coats.

What can I paint MDF with?

MDF should first be primed with a water based primer followed by a gloss, satin or matt paint for wood.

What can I paint my kitchen & bathroom glazed tiles with?

There are several solutions. You can apply a specific primer followed with the appropriate top coats or there are different brands that offer an all-in-one solution. The latter offers a limited range of colours where by using a primer unlimits your colour choice.

What can I paint my veneer/melamine kitchen units with?

What can I paint my mirror with?

As mirrors are very smooth you should treat them like glazed tiles. Frosting sprays are available to give that ‘etched’ look.

How do I dispose of waste paint?

Waste paint can create problems if not disposed of correctly. The information on the back of the cans will help you to assess the right amount of paint for your job. If you have any usable surplus paint, offer it to friends or community groups who may be able to use it. Otherwise call your Local Authority for guidance, as some have special facilities for disposing of paint. Do not pour down drains or watercourses. For Dublin recycle centres, click here.

Is it possible to get painting implements really clean after use?

To extend the life of your brushes and rollers, it is essential to clean them thoroughly and allow them to dry before storing. How you clean brushes depends on the type of paint you have been using. All brushes and rollers that have been used with water-based paints should be rinsed in cold water and then washed in warm water with a little detergent. Brushes which have been used to apply solvent based paints should be cleaned with a Brush Cleaner or Heavy Duty Brush Cleaner, and then washed in warm water with a little detergent added. Rinse brushes in clean water, shake off excess water and wrap in a piece of clean paper towel and secure with masking tape. We would recommend the use of a brush and roller cleaner for optimum results The brush will then dry back to its original shape, ready for the next job. Brushes should be stored flat. Standing brushes on their ends will bend the bristles and spoil them. Rollers should be stored hanging up to avoid crushing the pile.

How do I stop stains showing through when I paint the walls?

You can seal any stains permanently by using a Stain Stop Sealer, available for brushing on or in aerosol form. When dry, this stops any type of stain bleeding through and discolouring your new finish. It's equally effective for covering up crayon marks on walls.

What can I do about hairline cracks in my ceiling? It's impossible to cover them up with paint.

Normal emulsion Paint rarely conceal cracks, it is more likely to make them more obvious. The best method is to use one of the specialist ceiling treatment paints, these dry to a perfectly white finish giving a crack-free ceiling.

When rubbing down paintwork before painting, what grade of sandpaper should I use?

It depends how bad the paintwork is. Good paintwork needs only a rub over with fine sandpaper to remove any small lumps and bumps and to key the surface for the new paint. Surfaces that are badly chipped or covered in old paint runs need more drastic action. First use a coarse grade of sandpaper to remove big lumps and runs, use a fine grade to remove the deep scoring made by the coarse sandpaper. Finally, remember to wipe off all sanded surfaces to remove dust and particles that will spoil all your efforts. It is also a good thing to use a Decorator's Cleaner such as sugar soap - a strong cleaner that degreases and provides a good surface for new paint to key on to.

What is sugarsoap?

Sugarsoap is the active ingredient that is specially formulated to prepare gloss-painted surfaces for re-painting. It promotes paint adhesion by enabling new paint to "key" to the old.

Should I line the walls first and why should lining paper be applied horizontally?

Walls normally only need to be lined if they are very old and uneven. Lining paper is applied horizontally round the walls so that when the strips of wallpaper (called 'drops') are butted next to each other, the joins will never coincide with those of the lining paper. This gives the best finish on old walls.

What's the best way of sticking back loose wallpaper or edges that are curling away from the wall?

When the adhesive behind wallpaper dries out, the wallpaper sometimes will lift and curl away from the wall. Use an Overlap & Repair Adhesive in a tube. Remember to wipe away any excess adhesive squeezed out when the wallpaper is pressed back into place. If the wallpaper is thick or heavily curled, it pays to wet it with a sponge - this makes it more flexible and easier to work with.

Are things like brush cleaners really necessary - why not just use white spirit?

The leading brush cleaners such as Polycell Brush Cleaner do a better job of cleaning and conditioning than white spirit, removing any chance of a colour transfer when you next use the brush.

With modern gloss paints, does rubbing down between coats really make much difference?

Any paint finish is only as good as the preparation - even modern paints can't cover up bad or uneven surfaces. The flatter the surface finish, the smoother and more pleasing the finish will be.

The skirtings, doorframes and doors have several chipped and flaking coats of paint on them - how do you make them presentable?

The first job is to sand them with a coarse grade of sandpaper to get off the worst of the lumps and bumps, followed by a medium grade sandpaper. Next, the imperfections can be filled with a good quality Wood filler. Lastly, the filled surfaces should be given a final light sanding with fine grade sandpaper. Wipe clean and paint.

Is there a better way of removing old paint than sanding? The sandpaper always clogs up and stops working.

You can buy chemical paint strippers that can strip up to 30 layers of paint in one application, or if the paint is really stubborn, hire an electric paint-stripping gun to burn it off. However, it rather depends on the area you are working in. Using chemicals or guns may not be desirable if you're working in a confined space, or treating a skirting board that abuts an expensive carpet. Sanding sponges are an alternative that are rinsed out in water periodically to unblock the grit.

How do I paint skirtings without having to take up the carpets?

Lay down a strip of wide masking tape along the edge of the carpet, overlapping so that it just touches the skirting board. Then use the end of a steel ruler to press the tape down into the joint between the skirting board and the carpet. This should give you a good edge, but be sure that the paint is completely dry before you remove the masking tape.