Q How can I stop paint from running down the handle of my brush?
A Don't dip your brush more than 25mm - 30mm into the paint. If you are painting a ceiling you can make a paint shield by punching a hole in a piece of card or plastic (an icecream container lid is good) and pushing it over the brush handle.

Q. How can I stop paint building up at the base of the bristles?
A Do not scrape the brush against the edge of your paint pot. Tap the bristle end of the brush onto the inside of the pot after dipping.

Q What makes runs appear in my wet paint?
A Loading the brush with too much paint and/or not brushing it out enough cause runs.

Q How can I avoid visible join marks in the finished job?
A Try to avoid painting too large an area with each brush or roller load. Don't start putting on a new brush full of paint at the wet edge. Begin below it and work back in to the wet edge. If you pause during the job, try and do so where there's a natural break, in a corner, aligned with a door or window or similar spot.

Q What is the best way to avoid roller spatter while painting?
A Do not overload the roller with too much paint and do not roll too quickly.

Q What causes a roller to 'skid' on the surface being painted?
A Skidding usually means that there is too much paint on the cover. Excess paint should be laid off on the ribbed, sloping section of the roller tray.

Q How can I eliminate the bumpy 'orange peel' effect normally associated with using rollers?
A The 'orange peel' effect is usually created by using a roller with too long a nap. If you want a smoother finish when using flat acrylic and semi-gloss paints, use either a 'Universal' or 'All Paints' 8mm pile cover.

Q Can I Paint Aluminium Cladding?
A Yes. Acrylic paint is recommended for use on aluminium. See the Which Paint Where? section for details.

Q What causes paint to blister or peel?
A An improperly prepared surface or moisture are two of the most common reasons for paint failure. Other reasons may be improper application, selecting the wrong paint type or poor quality paint.

Common moisture sources which cause paint failure are:

• Bathrooms, laundries and kitchens which have inadequate ventilation.
  
• Frequent washing and lengthy boiling of foods (e.g. a baby in the house) put a lot of moisture into the air.
  
• Seepage or leakage from roofs, eaves or plumbing.
  
• Blocked gutters or stormwater drains causing water to back up and overflow back into the house.
  
• Water running through poorly caulked seams, especially around windows and doors.

Q What can I do to help stop moisture?
A Make sure all rooms are well ventilated. Install fans in the kitchen and bathroom if necessary.

• Check for roof leaks, faulty flashing and blocked or leaking guttering by running a hose on your roof. After rain, check for water standing in gutters.
  
• Check all caulking and seams around windows and doors.

Q. The paint near the floor on our living room wall is bubbling and the room smells musty - what should I do?
A This sounds like rising damp, sometimes you'll see a whitish deposit forming on the surface too. The problem is usually caused by the damp course failing or soil being built up against the outside wall above the level of the damp course. The solution is to lower the soil level outside or replace the damp course. The wall must be completely dry before you repaint.

Q We have a single thickness brick wall, the paint is peeling from the inside, can we stop it and still keep the brick look on the outside?
A Yes, simply paint the outside face with a silicone based water repellent. The wall must be completely dry before you repaint the inside.

Q Despite everything, my painted timberwork still peels. Why?
A It could be 'green' or uncured timber, or moisture.

Q The paint on my windows is peeling, but the paint on the weatherboards around them is fine. What's wrong?
A Dried or loose putty or caulking around the window frames can let water enter which can cause the paint to peel. Scrape out the old putty or caulking and replace it with a new sealer. Alternatively, the window sill timber may not have been prepared properly before it was originally painted. All greyed timber surfaces must be sanded back to fresh, clean timber before painting. Sills are prone to weathering as they often face the sun and rainwater can pool on their horizontal surfaces.

Q The paint on my inside walls is powdery and new paint peels off.
A The original paint is probably Kalsomine. It was very popular early this century. Wash the surface with sugar soap and scrub until all the loose material is removed. Then apply a coat of Sealer Binder before repainting.

Q We've just moved into an old house and the living room ceiling is badly smoke stained.
A Wash it thoroughly with sugar soap then apply a water based Sealer to seal the surface before you repaint.

Q What's the best way to touch up damaged or missed spots?
A The biggest problems in doing an 'invisible' touch up are differences in gloss level, surface texture, colour and opacity. Generally speaking, flat paints are easier to touch up than gloss paints. Needless to say, the easiest coating to touch up is one that was properly applied in the first place, to a well prepared surface using a top quality paint.

By following these steps you'll maximise your chances of success:

1 - Try and match gloss and opacity by applying only enough paint to cover the damaged or missed area. Remember that most paints don't reach their final gloss level until several days after they've become touch dry.

2 - Use the same length roller sleeve or type of brush as was used for the original coat. In small areas it's best to brush on fresh paint, then run over it with a slightly damp roller to texture it.

3 - Be sure to use the same brand and type of paint as was used originally.