Lesson 2
Reading the Surface
Work out what a surface is made of, what's on it, whether it's sound and whether it's dry before you open a tin.
Four questions before you open a tin
Priya's 1930s semi has two magnolia walls in its back room. One is plaster on brick; the other is a 1990s plasterboard partition. The skirting carries nearly ninety years of paint. The walls look alike, and each needs something different.
Before you choose a paint, ask four questions. What is it made of? Plaster, plasterboard, timber, masonry or metal. What's on it? Emulsion, gloss, paper, a textured coating, or nothing. Is it sound? Does it hold together and hold on? Is it dry? Paint can't do its job on a damp wall (lesson 4).
Think of old paint as a stack of newspapers. The top page tells you nothing about the one at the bottom.