Just picked up your Graphenstone paint and wondering what to do next? These simple tips will help you get a great, even finish from your natural mineral paints.
Just add water to the paint
For best results, Graphenstone paints are diluted with clean water.
Why should I add water to paint?
By keeping the water content low in the base Graphenstone paints, we can increase the amount of actual product delivered, rather than paying to ship extra water, which also reduces our global carbon footprint.
Graphenstone paints are up to 70% solid content, where most other brands typically contain between 25 and 40% solids. A little clean water added will not affect the performance of the paints and will help you with application.
Dilution rates
How much should I dilute Graphenstone paint?
- 1st coat: 15 to 20% max, OR 150 to 200ml per litre
- 2nd coat: 10 to 15% max, OR 100 to 150ml per litre
Useful tips
- Decant into a paint kettle, scuttle or roller tray and mix the paints well. Allow to settle to minimise air bubbles.
- Onto bare gypsum plaster, an extra watered-down coat (a mist coat diluted by around 20%) of the paint may be required. Alternatively, use a mist coat of Graphenstone Nevada.
Onto woodwork
Graphenstone Grafclean can be applied to woodwork with a dilution of 5 to 10% maximum, to ease application.
Opening your pots
We use recycled material. Graphenstone pots are made from 100% recycled materials and are 100% recyclable. Even Graphenstone sample pots are Cradle to Cradle certified.
Take care
Carefully ease the lids off all the way around before removing them. Clean the lids and pot edges of dried paint before putting lids back on, to keep your paints in good condition and maintain a good seal for storage.
Well kept and sealed, your paints should last around 12 months.
Application tips
Tools
- For best results, use a good quality medium pile roller on walls.
- For woodwork and panels, a sponge or flock roller can often leave a better finish.
Useful tips
- Maintain a wet edge when painting to avoid wet and dry layers overlapping, which eliminates lap marks.
- Take care not to apply the paints too thickly. The natural lime and mineral bases benefit from being rolled and worked out well, almost until the roller is dry. This will help you to achieve a rich and even finish.
- Full opacity and coverage of the lime paints will be achieved after the first 3 to 4 days. You may initially think the paint seems a little patchy. Do not rush to apply extra coats, allow the paint to cure. 2 coats will generally be sufficient onto mist coated, or most previously painted surfaces.
Drying and curing times
We cure naturally
Graphenstone paints contain zero toxins or chemical additives which can off gas, polluting not only the environment, but also the air in your own home.
How long?
- Graphenstone paints dry and cure naturally. Allow 2 to 4 hours between coats and 24 hours for full drying.
- If using outside or in an area where moisture is present (kitchens, bathrooms and showers) please protect from rain, condensation and water for 4 to 5 days, to allow the paints to initially cure.
- Some stronger colours may need slightly longer to cure due to larger amounts of pigmentation.
- Full cure of our paints is achieved in around 30 days, after which they are durable to Class 1. Avoid rubbing or cleaning during this time.
Cleaning
- Use warm, soapy water (using a mild cleaning solution) and a soft sponge (not scourer pads) to gently clean your walls. Rinse off using clean water.
- Please be aware that some natural cleaners can have quite harsh ingredients such as limonene and lactic acid, which can adversely affect coatings. Please check the details of your cleaners and test before using on paintwork.
- For full application and product information, including advice on primers, please read the instructions on the tubs and consult the Technical Data Sheets (TDS) on each Graphenstone product page.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for choosing to use natural, toxin free, sustainable paints in your space.
