Common household problems and solutions

The reality of being a homeowner is that it requires a solid amount of maintenance, not only to keep your property looking its best, but to prevent any long-term damage occurring. The effects of time, foot traffic, family life and the weather conditions in our part of the world all have an impact on wear and tear, so it’s important to keep on top of anything that needs doing.

Did you know that as well as paint, Resene offers a wide range of clever solutions designed to help keep your home clean and in tip-top shape, now and in the future. Below are a series of common household problems, and Resene’s genius solutions to them.

As always, if you need advice or have a puzzling home or paint problem, you can always head into your local Resene ColorShop to ask the staff, who will be happy to oblige with practical advice, or use the free Resene Ask a Paint Expert form online.

Fly spots

These dark and dirty dots are not only gross – ahem, fly spew – they mar your paintwork and can actually be tricky to remove without causing damage, and they’re often located on the hard-to-reach ceiling. Enter Resene SpaceCote Flat Fly Deterrent, a variant of Resene SpaceCote Flat which includes an additive that discourages flies from sitting on a painted surface without harming or killing them – much like an insect repellent.

It works best indoors in dry areas and is ideal for separate toilet areas, lounges and bedrooms, but not so much wet areas, as the steam will reduce the fly deterrent effect.

Grubby walls

Anyone with kids or pets will know the horror of suddenly taking a closer look at your walls and seeing dirty marks and handprints all over the place. Using household cleaners to remove this grime is not recommended as they can affect the paint finish and sheen, and can leave behind a distinctive mark when scrubbed. Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner to the rescue. Simply spray directly onto the area that needs to be cleaned, then wipe itwith a damp cloth using a circular motion .

Remember, Resene interior wall paints are designed to be able to be cleaned. Resene has focused on common household marks and stains, finger marks around light switches and shoe scuff marks on lower parts of some walls, for example.

Using a topcoat of Resene SpaceCote Flat Fly Deterrent means you can kiss dirty ceilings goodbye.

Busy households with children and pets will see the instant benefits of a quick wipe down with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner.

Slippery outdoor surfaces

Outdoor areas like pathways, patios, pavers, decks and driveways can all end up like an ice skating rink during winter thanks to moss and mould growing on the surface. Get in first by cleaning the areas with Resene Deep Clean. This slow-acting preventative cleaner simply needs to be sprayed or brushed on and then left alone to work with nature.

Rain during all seasons can also make these surfaces incredibly slippery, so as a long term preventative solution, you can paint them with Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint, which is designed to reduce the hazard of slipping and you can mix it with Resene Anti-Slip Grip Additive for an even tougher grit finish. For a ready-mixed alternative, try Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path tinted to your favourite Resene colour.

Rusty outdoor furniture

Rust is known as the silent killer and can form and fester under a paint coating – or in breaks in the coating – resulting in flaking. If your outdoor furniture has rusted, instead of throwing it away and purchasing new items, you can scrape and sand off the rust (there are also useful drill attachments and rust removal pads, like the 3M rust and paint removal pad, which can be used). Prime with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer, a high-build, anti-corrosive primer that helps fill minor imperfections, creating a smooth and durable base for topcoats. Once dry, topcoat with Resene Super Gloss enamel in your favourite Resene colour – for a waterborne topcoat, use Resene Lustacryl.

Maintenance is key to keeping your furniture looking its best and can help prevent or slow down the formation of rust. Regularly wash exterior surfaces with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash to remove salts and contamination and extend the life of the coatings.

Instead of throwing away outdoor furniture with rusted legs, repaint with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer and Resene Super Gloss or Resene Lustacryl. Table legs painted in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Kaitoke Green.

Blistered paint is caused by heat or moisture, so adequate preparation is essential prior to painting. Weatherboards painted in Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Gull Grey.

Bubbling or blistering paint

While there can be any number of reasons for this unfortunate turn of events, it’s usually moisture or excessive heat that’s the culprit when it comes to bubbles or blisters in your paint finish.

To prevent these unsightly blemishes, be sure to repair any cracks that moisture can get into before painting. If your surfaces will be exposed to high temperatures, definitely consider painting with a Resene CoolColour or, particularly on timber substrates, consider using a lighter colour that won’t absorb as much heat.

If it does occur, fix the issue that caused the damage, then remove the blistered paint and feather the edges with a brush, then repaint.

Tip: Consider using Resene Timber Surface Prep, which is designed to perform like a fairing compound for fibreglass. It is high build and sands easily, so can help disguise the repaired areas. It’s also able to fill borer holes, making it ideal for refurbishing older homes.