The increased amount of time we’ve been spending in our homes has naturally resulted in more wear-and-tear, both inside and out.
Whether it’s cracking or accidental scratches, faded paint over time or just a dated colour, painting a wall, fence or a piece of furniture provides a chance to freshen up your space in a simple, quick and budget-friendly way.
While the preparation for painting can sound intimidating, the expert team at Trojan, has designed a range of tools for the task.
It’s all in the prep
The finished result is only as good as the preparation and time taken prior to painting. Begin by cleaning the area of any debris that may be sitting on or in front of the surface, cover any surfaces to avoid accidental splattering, and for outdoors jobs such as a fence, ensure the grass is mowed and there is no foliage obstructing you.
To achieve a great result, start by scaping of any old or flaking paint with a paint scraper. Painting over flaky paint can result in bumps and will prevent the new coat of paint from sticking to the surface. The Trojan 75mm Paint Scraper is the perfect tool for the job, ideal for removing old flaky paint, silicones and sticky residues. Essentially, by not skipping the prep, your new paint work will look better & last longer.
Sand away
The key to a smooth finish is sanding any uneven surfaces. To apply a perfectly smooth coat of paint to ceilings, interior or exterior walls, woodwork or a fence, you must start with a perfectly smooth surface.
Using the correct sanding sponge will help level out the surface and flatten any ridges that may have occurred during the scraping process or after natural wear-and-tear. When picking the sanding sponge, the higher the number on the sponge, the finer the sanding finish will be.
This simple task is easily done with a high-quality sponge such as the Trojan 120 Grit Angled Sanding Sponge.
Pro tip: To sand hard to reach areas such as decorative wood, corners or edges, use an angled sanding sponge instead of the standard block sponge - it’s angled shape can easily get into tight corners and crevices.
Fill in the gaps
Once your selected surface has been scraped, sanded and washed it’s time to fill in any gaps and holes using a gap filler and a paint scraper. Pour the gap filler or compound into a bucket or tub and add water until you reach a slightly thick consistency or use a ready to apply Gap Filler.
Using a paint scraper like the Trojan 75mm Paint Scraper, apply the filler to any holes, cracks or chips on the surface, ensuring to overfill the area. Once dry, lightly sand over the surface for a smooth finish.
Pro tip: To allow for cracks and holes of all sizes to be easily fixed, use different sized paint scrapers. The Trojan Paint Scraper is available in four different sizes, 25mm, 50mm, 75mm & 100mm, meaning no job is too small or big.
Time to paint
Now it’s time for the exciting part, painting! To ensure an even colour and consistency, it’s important to stir the paint before you begin as well as every now and then whilst painting, as the ingredients can often separate.
To mix the paint easily and thoroughly a mixer such as the Trojan 100mm Paint Drill Mixer is perfect for the task. Made from a durable heavy-duty steel and designed with moveability in mind, this lightweight mixer means it can be easily transported as you paint. Fitting any standard drill with a chuck of at least 10mm, this paint mixer can be used on 5-20 litre paint cans.
Pro tip: Make sure you don’t pull the drill mixer out of the paint tin until it has stopped spinning to ensure surrounding surfaces aren’t splattered with paint.
Clean Up
Once you’ve finished painting, thoroughly clean all the brushes and rollers before they dry. To assist you with cleaning the paint tools efficiently and quickly, use the Trojan 6 in 1 Multi Paint Scraper, featuring a curved surface that can be used to squeeze out excess paint from rollers. By removing as much excess paint as possible, the roller or brush will be easier to clean.
Pro tip: Scrape your excess paint from the roller directly back into the paint tin so it can be used next time.
Trojan tools are available exclusively through Bunnings Warehouse nationwide. For more information, visit; www.trojantools.com.au
