Can you colour match?
Yes, we can match any colour! You can also take any item to your local Johnstone's Decorating Centre where they will be able to scan your colour using a spectrophotometer. This will offer you our nearest colour in the Voice of Colour range to the item being scanned.
Why does my colour look different?
There are a number of factors that can cause a colour to look different to the one you initially selected. If you are selecting your colour from a website, the final colour you end up with can be very different as there can be a huge variation between how one screen monitor is set up to another. If you are selecting from a colour card or fan deck, the difference could be because the colour was printed. Some colour cards are deposited which are produced by putting small squares of wet paint pigment onto the colour card; whereas printing utilises the CMYK system and can be subject to variation from one printer to another. If you have painted your colour, you may find that the walls look different depending on the time of day or the light source in the setting that you are painting in.
You should always test colours in the location you are going to be painting, so that you can see exactly how the light influences the colour. North facing rooms can make colours look cool and bluish; whereas East facing rooms have warm light in the morning, but this light turns cooler in the evening.
We recommend that you obtain tester pots or sample, paint a small space and experiment with different options for a while before making a decision.
Why have I not achieved the coverage rate quoted on the tins?
The covering or spread rate of paint is determined by the condition, porosity or texture of the surface on to which it is applied.
Most of the surfaces on to which paints are normally applied are naturally absorbent. It may be necessary to quench this absorbency as unsealed surfaces will absorb more material, thus reducing the spread rate. The profile of the surface will also affect the spread rate of the coatings. In some instances, particularly on heavily textured masonry surfaces, the raised profile can increase the surface area by 30%.
I have painted my doors in a white oil based gloss finish. The back side of the door has started to discolour and turn yellow?
An oil based product uses UV light to stabilize the paint, in areas of low light we would recommend using a water based alternative such as the Johnstone’s Aqua Water Based Gloss.
My gloss paint has a matt appearance and has not fully dried, why?
This effect is commonly known as “Blooming”. It is usually caused by exposure of the still drying coating to cold or damp conditions before it has fully cured. Atmospheric conditions of dampness and low temperatures are not conducive to the film forming characteristics of this material. In some instances they also affect the drying properties and cause it to remain tacky for some time.
I have applied floor paint to a garage floor. How long should it be left until I can park on it?
Johnstone’s Flortred will be recoatable after 24hours however the coating should be allowed to fully cure for a minimum of 5 to 7 days before subjecting the floor to stationary or standing vehicles.
Some masonry paint I applied has washed off in a rain shower, why?
Most masonry coatings are water based, therefore, as in this case, it is highly likely that the paint film had not had time to fully cure, before the shower of rain. Water based coatings dry mainly by evaporation. Drying can be slowed or even stop during and immediately after application of the paint by cold, damp or humid conditions. It is recommended that a solvent based masonry coating like Stormshield Pliolite Masonry Paint is used in lower temperatures or when rain is imminent.
High levels of moisture in the underlying surface and temperatures, 5ºC and below prevent the paint from drying properly, and therefore it should not normally be applied during these conditions or just before they are expected.
Is a stabilising primer/solution really necessary under masonry paint?
If the surfaces which are to be treated with a masonry paint are highly porous, chalky or friable, then they should be treated with stabilising solution. Johnstone's Stabilising Solution is a highly penetrative material designed to bind unstable and quench highly absorbent surfaces, this provides a suitably bound or sealed surface which will receive a masonry coating.
To ensure good adhesion of the masonry coatings following application of the stabilising solution it is essential that a non-glossy surface be produced. The stabilising solution should be initially applied to a small test area, if it dries to and leaves a glossy finish then it should be thinned and a new test area undertaken until a non-glossy appearance is achieved.
Do I need to prime powder coated metal?
It is always advisable to prime this type of surface and the Johnstone’s Single Pack Primer is ideal.
Do I need to treat galvanised metal?
Pre-treatment of galvanised metal is dependent on the condition. If it is well weathered then once cleaned it generally will accept a paint coating. If the galvanised metal is new, bright and shiny it’s advisable to pre-treat with Johnstone’s Mordant Solution. Johnstone’s Steel and Cladding Semi-Gloss Topcoat or Water Based Steel and Cladding Topcoat will provide perfect finishes for galvanised metal.
