Surface Preparation

Written by Koos Vermeulen - The production and preparation of paint has gone trough many changes the past 30 years. Most of the world's industries are paying the price for bad nature conservation, garbage disposal and maintanance of buildings. Developed countries now relizes the effect of restoration of buildings. Due to lessons learned, we can now protect and preserve new buildings by using quality products to extend their lifetime. With modern technology we can also protect old buildings and prolong their life expectancy better than in the past.

The use of General Purpose PVA

When using PVA on new walls the following must be kept in mind:

• Wait for at least 5 to 6 days before any paint aplication is done on new walls to ensure curing time.
• Test the quality of the cement by rubbing your hand over the surface to see if there is any powder residue. If this is the case make use of Distemper Neutraliser or Plaster Bond.
• Clean the wall with a broom and wash properly with soap or Jik concentrate to get rid of any dirt and bacteria.
• Allow 12 hours for wall to dry properly before paint is to be applied.
• Apply firstcoat of PVA and allow at least 12 hours to drying time before second coat is applied.
• Finally paint the two final layers with Double Vinyl or Super Satin with a 12 hour drying time between each coat.
• PVA can be coloured to final finish color to ensure coverage. 

New plastered walls

The main purpose of using PVA is to neutralize the alkali in the cement mixture. PVA also have superb filling qualities, that fills hairline cracks. PVA also allows damp to escape and the wall to breath.

The acrylic percentage of the formula also assists when expanding or shrinking during heat or cold. PVA can also absorb damp and release it at the appropriate time. PVA  serves as a base coat between the wall and Double Vinyl or Super Satin final finish.

PVA is formulated to stretch the consumer's money and to re-paint a home quickly at a lower cost for re-sale or rental. It is an acrylicPVA that can be used on interior or exterior walls for a undercoat or a final coat and has a life expectancy of 5 years.

Please Note: Do not dilute PVA! The chemical formula is broken and the quality diteriate as well as the covering ability. This can result into unnecessary layers that needs to be painted that ensure a costly experiment.

New / old ceilings

General purposePVA is the ideal product to apply on to both old and new ceilings. Important to remember is to cover nails and water stains (due to leaking roofs and leaking geysers) with a universal base coat such as Magic Velvet. In bathrooms and kitchens a universal base coat such as Magic Velvet is strongly recommended as it is highly washable, steam and stain resistant. And will not yellow.

PVA on Enamel/smooth surfaces

Sand surface thoroughly until all gloss has been removed and the surface has a matt appearance. Take a wet Turpentine based cloth and clean the entire surface. Thinly paint with one coat Magic Velvet as a prime coat. Allow to dry for 24 hours. For bathrooms and kitchens apply 2 coats of Magic Velvet. See to the proper preperation takes place. As the picture below show, the enamel was sanded properly to ensure a pouruis substrate for the PVA to bond.

Stained ceilings

Sand the area thoroughly. Wipe clean with wet Turpentine based cloth. Paint stain with Magic Velvet - 2 coats - or until stain disappears. Leave 24 hours drying time between each coat. Apply two coats of Double Vinyl. For bathrooms and kitchens apply two coats of Magic Velvet with a 24 hour drying time between each coat.

Wet Walls

This can happen due to water leaking in the wall, check for water pipes leaking onto the wall. To check for water pipes leaking in the wall use a stethoscope. Open the wall and repair.

Apply Distemper Neutraliser to clean unpainted and paint frr surface.

Can also check for the following

• Roof Leaks
• Wall is chalky and peels at bottom only
• No Dampcoarse
• Leaking Gutters
• Flower box next to wall
• Leaking shower wall

See below...

Roof Leaks

Corrugated/IBR roofs. Clean roof with a broom removing all dust and loose particles. Clean roof with Galv - Etch. Leave to dry for 30 minutes. Wash thoroughly with water. Let dry. Apply Nano-Tech WaterproofingWatersealant. While wet place membrane onto the wet paint. Paint over membrane. Let dry for 4 hours. apply Nano-Tech Waterproofing as a final coat. Cover with desired colour roof paint with in 24 hours. 

Tile roofs. Wash tile roof with liquid soap and water with a broom. Let dry. Paint with roofpaint. If roof was previously painted and paint is peeling, brush roof with a wire brush, removing all loose and flaking paint, before washing the roof. Repeat process.

Wall is chalky and peels at bottom only

Scrape all loose paint off the wall. Brush with wire brush. Ensure that all loose paint has been removed. Roughen wall with rough sandpaper and putty knife. Wash wall with high pressure waterhose. Allow 12 hours to dry.

Apply 1 coat Distemper Neutraliser to the sides of the wall and 3 coats to the top of the wall. Paint wall with 3 (three) coats Double Vinyl. Leave a 12 hour drying time between each coat. Finish with paint of your choice.

No Dampcoarse

Scrape all loose paint off the wall. Brush with wire brush. Ensure that all loose paint has been removed. Leave wall for 24 hours to dry. Paint 3 coats Distemper Neutraliser. Line the trench with plastic lining. Fill trench with loose rocks and boulders. Level top with smaller rocks. Line wall (10cm. high) and ground with same plastic sheet. Pour Concrete at an angle sloping outwards onto the plastic lining, ensuring that the plastic against the wall is totally covered, and that the concrete against the wall is the highest point. 

Leaking Gutters

Sand gutters, repair or replace the gutter, or cause of water running down the wall. Repair or replace gutters. Tests the gutters to ensure that the down pipe is at the lowest point of the gutter. Make sure that down pipe is open. Down pipes that is peeling can be treated with Galv - Etch before painting. Apply Magic Velvet as a Universal Undercoat in two coats with a 24 hoer drying time between each coat. Apply final finish of desired paint in two coats.

Flower box next to wall

Remove all the sand in the flower box. Clean the flower box thoroughly on the inside. Seal the inside of the flower box with 2 coats Distemper Neutraliser. Add a sheet of plastic to the Distemper Neutraliser while it is still wet. Ensure that the flower box has outlet holes at its lowest point. Replant the soil and flowers. Consider imitation plants if the problem persists. The same process can be followed with flower pots.

Leaking shower wall

Scrape all loose paint off the wall. Brush with wire brush. Ensure that all loose paint has been removed. Roughen wall with rough sandpaper and putty knife. Wash wall with high pressure water hose. If inside the wall ,wash with wet cloth. Allow 12 hours to dry.

Apply 1 coat Distemper Neutraliser to the sides of the wall and 3 coats to the top of the wall. Paint wall with 3 (three) coats Double Vinyl. Leave a 12 hour drying time between each coat. Finish with paint of your choice.