How to Paint Over Vinyl Silk
Vinyl silk emulsion paints give a high sheen and long lasting finish. This type of paint is common in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas prone to dampness because it adheres well to surfaces and is easy to clean and maintain. Thorough preparation is an essential first step before painting over vinyl silk paintwork, especially in areas such as kitchens where grease and grime may have accumulated on the paintwork over time. Clean the vinyl silk surface with a grease-cutting cleaning solution and apply a matte finish primer before painting to achieve an excellent finish. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Protective gloves
- Bucket
- TSP cleaner
- Sponge or cloth
- Masking tape
- Utility knife
- Step ladder
- Matte finish primer
- Paint containers
- 2- to 3-inch paintbrushes
- 5- to 6-inch paintbrushes
- Medium-nap paint roller
- Matte or vinyl emulsion paint
Instructions
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Pour TSP, trisodium phosphate, cleaning solution into a bucket. If necessary, add water to the TSP to dilute it. Carefully follow the manufacturer's dilution and usage instructions because these may vary between TSP brands. The TSP will effectively remove ingrained dirt and grease from the old paintwork. Wear non-porous or rubber protective gloves while handling and using the TSP cleaner.
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Clean the vinyl silk paintwork with a sponge or clean cloth dampened with the cleaning solution. Start at the top of the surface and work your way down, firmly wiping the surface. Use a step ladder to reach high surfaces safely. Wait for the surface to dry.
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3
Mask any nearby surfaces, such as wood trim, that you wish to protect from paint splatter with decorators' masking tape. Apply the tape carefully over these areas by unrolling it, positioning it and pressing it into place gently with your fingers. Cut off excess masking tape with a utility knife.
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Pour the matte finish primer into a clean paint container. Paint over the clean vinyl silk paintwork with a generous coat of primer. The primer will adhere well to the existing vinyl silk paintwork and help the new paint layers to stick to the surface. Apply the primer with a 5- to 6-inch paintbrush or a medium-nap paint roller for the main surface area and a small 2- to 3-inch paintbrush for the edges. Wait for the primer to dry. Drying times vary so check the manufacturer's instructions.
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Decant the new matte or vinyl emulsion paint into a clean paint container. Paint onto the surface with a clean 5- to 6-inch paintbrush or a medium-nap paint roller. Again, use a small 2- to 3-inch paintbrush for the edges. This helps achieve a neat finish. Wait for the first coat of paint to dry and then coat the surface with a second layer of paint using the same technique. A second coat ensures a consistent and durable finish.
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Tips & Warnings
Use matte or vinyl emulsion paints to redecorate over old vinyl silk paintwork.
Read and carefully follow manufacturer's safety and usage instructions when using TSP cleaners.
References
Resources
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