Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply your water based enamel over an oil based enamel?

Yes. Wash with sugar soap solution and sand the existing enamel back to a flat finish then apply one coat of British Paints All In One Oil Based Sealer Primer Undercoat, allow to dry for 48hrs, lightly sand then apply two coats of British Paints H2O Enamel (water based).

I'm getting brush marks when I apply British Paints H2O Enamel. Why is this?

This is caused by overworking the paint on the surface, resulting in brush marks. To rectify this problem, after the surface has dried, lightly sand the area to an even surface to remove the brush marks, then apply another coat. To avoid brush marks load up your brush to 30-40% and reduce the area you brush out. This increases the film build, which allows the paint to stay wet for longer and gives it more time to settle to an even finish.

What is the difference between your water based enamel and oil based enamel?

Water based enamels clean up in water, have far less odour, have shorter recoat times and do not yellow. Oil based enamels have good abrasion resistance, dry hard, retain a higher gloss level, leave a smoother finish, allow more time to work the paint, and have longer recoat times, but can yellow over time.

When I applied your British Paints One Coat Ceiling Paint it dried patchy. Why has this happened?

Patchy finishes generally occur when there is not enough paint applied or the paint is applied unevenly, resulting in a variation of the film build hence a variation in appearance. To correct the problem increase the amount of paint on the roller you are applying and reduce the area you are applying it to. It also helps to apply the paint in a grid fashion to ensure the finish is even. Variations in surface gloss can cause applied paint to appear patchy. By applying one coat of British Paints Acrylic Sealer Undercoat prior to top coating with British Paints One Coat Ceiling Paint, it can help with achieving an even finish.

I purchased two cans of British Paints InColour Interior tinted to a British Paints colour. When I applied the first coat using one can I was happy with the colour but when I applied the second coat using the second can the colour is different to the colour in the first can. Why?

Any colour variation between cans can occur if the paint is not stirred correctly at the time of application or if the can was miss-tinted at the store. When more than one can is required British Paints always recommends mixing the cans together to minimise the colour variation between cans.

I have timber cupboards and want to paint them with oil based enamel. What primer should I use?

We would recommend the timber be given a light sand to clean the surface then apply one coat of British Paints All in One Oil Based Sealer Primer Undercoat, then two coats of British Paints Enamel (oil based).

I have new plasterboard in a bathroom. What should I paint it with?

If standard plasterboard has been used then apply one coat of British Paints Acrylic Sealer Water Based Undercoat then two coats of British Paints Wet Area Low Sheen Acrylic. If the plasterboard has been waterproofed then seal it with a sealer binder then two coats of British Paints Wet Area Low Sheen Acrylic.

I have new timber railings and posts outside and want to paint them. What would you recommend?

We would recommend British Paints 4 Seasons. Lightly sand the timber first then apply one coat of British Paints All In One Water Based. Allow to dry for a further 2 hours, lightly sand, and then apply two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons.

I have old water based paint on the outside walls of my home and I want to repaint them. Do I need to do any preparation first?

The paint would need to be cleaned by pressure washing and any mould would need to be removed with bleach. If the paint is peeling or powdery, sand to remove loose paint or dust, then apply one coat of British Paints All in One (oil based) then two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons. If the paint is in good condition then apply 2-3 coats of British Paints 4 Seasons after cleaning and sanding any gloss surfaces to a matt finish.

I used British Paints Oil Based Enamel but after a week the paint still smells. Why?

Solvents from oil based enamels should generally be gone after a week under good conditions. There are several things that can slow down the drying process, taking longer for the smell to disappear. These include, wet weather, high humidity, poor ventilation or any combination of these.

Which paint is recommended for high traffic walls and areas indoors?

We would recommend British Paints InColour Low Sheen.

I have paint peeling from two ceilings in my home and we want to paint them. What should I do?

Firstly do adhesion tests on any remaining paint to see if other areas on the ceiling have poor adhesion. If the area affected is extensive then remove all the existing paint back to the bare surface. Then apply one coat of British Paints Acrylic Sealer Undercoat and two coats of British Paints Ceiling Flat Acrylic.

Do you make low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint for walls inside?

Yes, British Paints InColour is a low odour and low VOC paint with less than 5 g/L VOC.

Are your low VOC paints more or less washable than normal water based paints?

Our low VOC paints have the same level of washability as normal water based paint.

I have old bare cement rendered walls outside that I want to paint. How do I go about this?

To prepare the walls, pressure clean them, allow them to dry for 48hrs, then apply one coat of British Paints All In One (water based), then two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons.

Can I use your British Paints 4 Seasons directly onto galvanised iron sheets?

Yes. Wash the galvanised sheets with sugar soap, then apply two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons. For strong colours, apply one coat of British Paints All In One (water based) then two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons.

I want to paint our child's cot, what paint should we use?

We would recommend an oil based enamel as recommended by Standards Australia. Allow the cot to dry in a well-ventilated environment before using.

I have bare aluminium sliding windows. What paint do I use to paint them?

To paint the aluminium sliding doors, wash with sugar soap, then lightly sand, apply one coat of British Paints All In One (oil based), then two coats of British Paints Enamel (oil based).

I have old enamel paint on the gutters that have now faded and are powdery. Can I use British Paints 4 Seasons over the enamel?

Yes, wash the gutters with sugar soap then sand. Apply one coat of British Paints All In One (oil based) followed by two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons Gloss.

Do you have a washable paint for kitchen walls?

Yes, British Paints Wet Area is perfect for kitchen walls. It is washable and provides resistance against mould and fungus.

I have painted the walls of my hallway and when I look at the paint from either end of the hallway I can see roller marks and patchiness, even though I cannot see them when I stand in front of the walls. I applied the paint correctly so is this a paint issue?

The effect you describe is called ‘glancing light’. This occurs when light glances off the walls, which highlights imperfections which would normally not be noticeable. To address this, apply two coats of British Paints InColour Matt, as low gloss finishes reflect less light.

We have an old house and the walls are made of plaster, which have been painted previously. In some rooms the paint is peeling back to the plaster. Can we fix this and how do we do it?

Yes. Wash the walls with sugar soap first. Then remove any loose paint and lightly sand. Apply one coat of British Paints All in One (oil based) to the areas where the paint has peeled and allow it to dry for 48hrs. To finish apply two coats of British Paints InColour Low Sheen to the walls.

I recently bought British Paints Interior Low Sheen tinted to a specified colour. After I painted my feature wall with two coats, the colour does not match the colour chip. The colour on the wall is lighter. Why do you use colour chips as examples if you cannot match them when you sell paint?

Colour chips are a guide to how a colour may look. Because colours can be affected by their environment (may look darker or lighter) we always recommend you purchase a sample pot to test the colour before buying the paint. This is to ensure you area completely happy with the colour.

I have old paint on my doors and do not know what it is. Am I able to test the paint to see what type it is?

Yes. Rub a small area with a clean cloth dampened with Metho. If the paint comes off it is oil based. If there is no response it is water based.

Is British Paints Ceiling Paint Flat Acrylic tintable?

British Paints Ceiling Paint Flat Acrylic paint can be tinted to a range of colours (White base colours only).

Can I apply British Paints 4 Seasons Gloss over my Colorbond gutters & down pipes?

Yes. Wash the surface with sugar soap then sand lightly. If the Colorbond is powdery, apply one coat of British Paints All in One (oil based) followed by two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons. If the Colourbond is in good condition apply 2-3 coats of British Paints 4 Seasons depending on the colour change.

My weatherboards are painted in dark red coloured water based paint, which is about seven years old, and I want to repaint them in a cream colour. Do I need an undercoat or can I apply two coats of a cream colour directly onto the existing paint.

We would recommend the walls be washed with sugar soap first, then apply one coat of British Paints All In One (water based), tinted to TU1, and then apply two coats of British Paints 4 Seasons tinted to your preferred colour. Please refer to Bunnings Team members for guidance.

 I am thinking of using your British Paints 4 Seasons Low Sheen on my eaves and want to know how long it will last.

If the correct preparation is done (as per our recommendations) and the product is applied correctly, British Paints 4 Seasons should last up to 15 yrs before it may require another coat.

I recently applied two coats of British Paints InColour Interior Matt but after two weeks I can still smell the paint.

For water based paint to still smell after two weeks, it would indicate the paint could still be drying. This can be caused by the weather conditions over this period and at the time the paint was applied. Additionally, if the room was closed off, solvents would be trapped in the room or the person who is noticing the smell may be sensitive to solvents. Other possibilities could be that there has been any other renovations done, e.g. carpets, laminex, etc. To remove the smell, ventilate the area using a fan on a low setting and/or incense to help hide the smell until it’s gone.

We recently used British Paints InColour Low Sheen tinted to your Amanzi colour on a feature wall in our house and after three coats we can still see the original colour (which was light grey). Why is the paint not covering?

If the original colour is still visible after three coats of the Amanzi, this would indicate that there is not enough paint on the surface. This could be because there is not enough paint being applied per coat which could be a result of the incorrect and/or the quality of the roller you’re using. To correct the problem, purchase a quality 10-12mm nap roller. Ensure the roller is well loaded then apply another coat, reducing the area you are covering with each load. This will ensure better coverage of the paint and should hide the original colour with one more coat.

®British Paints and InColour are registered trade marks. ®4 Seasons is a registered trade mark. ™All In One and H2O Enamel are trade marks. ®Colourbond is a registered trade mark of Bluescope Steel Limited.