Questions and answers

Which brush is best for painting mouldings? Why are extension poles so good? And is there good and bad weather when painting outside? Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about our products and about painting in general.

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Indoors

Can I plaster a textured or woven wallpaper?

Yes, you can. The trick is to plaster widely and in several layers. This is because plaster dries and does not adhere well if it is applied too thickly. The best tactic is therefore to make several thin layers instead to get a better end result. Make sure you have a reasonably smooth surface between each coat and remove any dust before applying the next coat. See how to do it here: Plastering walls – how to, step by step

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Should I paint the skirting boards and door frames or the wall first?

Start by painting the walls, then the skirting boards and door frames. However, you should paint the cornices at the same time as you paint the ceiling to get a better and more uniform result. If you’re going to wallpaper, it’s a good idea to paint the skirting boards first, so you don’t have to worry about any paint stains on the wall. See how to do it here: Paint a trim – how to, step by step

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In which direction should I paint my furniture?

Always paint and sand in the direction of the wood grain.

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From which direction should I plaster a wall?

If you are right-handed, it is easiest to work from right to left. Remember to apply hard pressure on the left side of the plaster and no pressure on the right side. This will make it easier to spread the plaster so that you don’t get any edges.

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In which direction should I paint the ceiling?

Roll in the direction of the light. This makes the rollers less visible.

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How do I avoid the ceiling getting patchy when painting?

Keep a lot of paint in the roller at all times, if you have too little, the result can easily become patchy. Read more about what you can do to avoid a patchy ceiling here: How to avoid patchy ceilings and walls

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Why should you paint with varnish on any knots?

Without a varnish, there is a high risk that the knots will bleed through after some time. So paint the knots with a brush and fill in any imperfections and nail holes.

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How do I pattern match wallpaper?

Start by finding out the height of the pattern. It is indicated on the wallpaper roll. The pattern height shows how often the pattern is repeated. The higher the pattern height, the more waste you can expect.

Then pull up the wallpaper strip until the pattern fit matches the previous strip. Press lightly with your hand to secure the strip and slide them to the correct height. Then continue as usual with the wallpapering.

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How to get a stable corner when wallpapering?

To get a stable corner that won’t crack, the wallpaper needs to overlap the corner by 1 cm. Start by measuring the distance from the corner to the previous strip. Measure both up and down. If the measurements are different, use the largest measurement.

If you have a pattern on your wallpaper, you’ll also need to match the pattern with the previous one to see where the wallpaper needs to be trimmed.

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What is important to consider before wallpapering?

Start by cover your floor with rosin paper and masking tape to protect against wallpaper paste. Remove all switches and wall sockets. Check which of the corners of the room is the least eye-catching. Start or finish wallpapering there. This is especially important if you are using patterned wallpaper.

The first layer of wallpaper should overlap the corner by one centimetre. Measure the width of the wallpaper roll with a folding ruler and subtract 1 cm from the width. Then mark the measurement (width of the wallpaper roll – 1 cm) on the wall with a pencil.

Walls are rarely perfectly straight. To make sure all the waves are straight, you need to solder the first wave. You can do this by drawing a so-called plumb line on the wall with a pencil and a spirit level.

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Outdoors

Can you paint when it's sunny outside?

Do not paint on a hot wall or in direct sunlight. The paint dries too quickly and does not have time to adhere properly. Then the paint does not protect as intended.

This is especially important when you are using oil paint, which must penetrate the wood before it dries. You may also expose yourself to unnecessary solvent fumes. This is particularly true of old-fashioned linseed oil paint and sometimes linseed oil based alkyd paint.

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Is it necessary to scrape the facade before painting?

For paint to adhere properly, the substrate must be clean, dry and firm. Otherwise, you may end up painting a cap of paint over moisture and dirt, which will cause the paint to crack and flake quickly. Usually you just scrape off the bad-looking surfaces. If the previous layer of paint is good, it will serve as a base for new paint.

However, there may be so many layers of paint that the whole thing risks losing its grip and coming loose. All that remains is to scrape off all the layers of paint. You can easily test if you need to scrape e.g. a wooden facade. Cut a sample of a 1 cm thick grid pattern where the facade looks tarnished. If the paint in the squares comes off, the fastener is bad. If you scrape so the wood shows, the wood must be impregnated with base oil. Also remember that the paint you scrape off may be toxic. Keep small children away and wear both safety glasses and respiratory protection. One tip is to cover the ground underneath with plastic so you don’t have to pick up paint chips in the flowerbed afterwards.

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Can you oil the terrace when it's sunny outside?

Avoid oiling the surfaces in strong sunlight. This allows the oil to dry before it has penetrated the wood. Also, don’t start oiling too late in the evening, as there is a risk that the dew will settle on the surface before it has time to dry.

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How do you wash a wooden facade?

To clean the facade from dirt, mould and peeling paint, you need to wash with a paint or mould remover. Then scrape off any loose paint with a paint scraper. Wood affected by rot should be replaced.

Tips! Wash the facade every two years to reduce the risk of algae and mould growth.

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Do you have to wash and sand the terrace before oiling?

Yes. All surfaces to be oiled must first be cleaned with a wash brush and detergent. If the surfaces are affected by fungus, clean them with a special mould detergent. Rinse thoroughly with water and allow to dry before proceeding. Once the wood has dried, sand to remove any wood grain, dirt, sharp edges at the ends, knots and roughness around screws, for example.

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Do you need to prime the facade?

If you scrape so wood is showing, the wood must be impregnated with base oil.

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What painting tools do I need to paint the facade?

A façade painter needs at least two brushes. A wide bevel brush that takes up a lot of paint, so you don’t have to dip as much, and a radiator brush for all those hard-to-reach areas. For distemper/red paints, a good emulsion brush is suitable.

Tip: Choose the width of the facade brush according to the width of the facade panel. If the panel is about 100 mm wide, choose a 100 mm outdoor brush that covers the entire width of the panel to make the job easier and faster. Also remember that you may need more brushes if there are more of you painting, so the work will go even faster.

Also have an extension pole handy. You’ll reach further from both the ground and the ladder, and spare your back and arms.

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Should I wipe off excess oil when oiling the terrace?

Excess oil should be wiped off before it dries out and gets ugly. Put oil-soaked rags in a tin bucket as soon as you’re done with them – they can self-ignite! Then soak the rags in water or burn them as soon as possible.

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How do you know it's time to repaint the windows?

Check the windows every year. If you see cracks in the putty and paint at the bottom of the window frames, it’s a sign that it’s time to repaint. This is where the windows are most vulnerable. If the window is otherwise good, it may be enough to paint the bottom piece and about 20 cm up the sides. But remember that even if you’re only going to paint the base, it should be done thoroughly.

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What kind of paint should be used for windows?

Windows are less well insulated than other parts of the façade and are constantly exposed to moisture and condensation due to temperature differences between inside and outside. Therefore, it is important to paint the outside of the window with an outdoor paint and the inside with an indoor window paint. Always follow your paint dealer’s recommendations.

It is important that the windows are properly primed on the outside as well, with penetrating primer oil under the paint. Let the primer oil “soak” for a maximum of 30 – 60 minutes before overpainting with primer.

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How to maintain a teak front door?

A teak exterior door is easy to maintain. It is only oiled after a thorough cleaning. On the other hand, it should be done every year.

If the door is lightly soiled, washing the dirt off is enough, but if the dirt is a little harder, you may have to sand it off. If the door is very dirty, it may be a good idea to “scrape” off old oil, dirt and weathering, then lightly sand it. Use a recommended teak oil and follow the instructions on the can. Be aware that cotton wool pads used to wipe off excess oil can very easily self-ignite and should therefore be soaked in a jar of water.

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Does it matter if it rains on my wooden outdoor furniture?

It doesn’t matter if it rains on your outdoor furniture. The constant moisture from the ground is worse. Especially if the moisture is in contact with the end wood of the table and chair legs, which absorb 10 times more moisture than the planed sides of a board.

If you want to keep your outdoor furniture for a long time, this is where you can make the most important contribution. The Bucket Lid Trick is well worth trying. Put a paint bucket lid under each leg. Add oil and let the wood soak for a day or so.

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Should you use a brush or a roller when oiling the terrace?

Applying oil with a roller is just as good as with a brush, but using a roller saves time and energy. Try Anza’s terrace 2-in-1 tool, which is specially designed for all types of terrace treatments. The pad covers two boards at a time and makes the work go faster than with a regular brush.

Also, don’t forget to use a extension pole to get more power to those big areas. Remember to stroke in the same direction as the grain of the wood.

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How to prepare outdoor furniture for painting/oiling?

All surfaces to be oiled or painted should first be cleaned with a paint cleaner. If the surfaces are affected by fungus, they are cleaned with a special mould detergent. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Old, flaky paint is scraped off. In corners and angles you can use a small triangular scraper, in larger areas a larger paint scraper. Then sand the surfaces with an abrasive paper to remove any fibre residue and unevenness.

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Can you oil your outdoor furniture when the sun is shining?

Avoid oiling the furniture in strong heat and sunshine. The oil then dries too quickly without impregnating the surface. It is best to paint in late spring, when both the wood and the air are dry and cool.

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Prime before topcoat

Fresh wood oil is a poor base for opaque paint. Instead, apply a thin coat of impregnating oil before painting.

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Smooth surfaces

Paint larger areas with a paintbrush. Work the paint in the direction of the wood grain. Finish by smoothing with long, light strokes.

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Oil properly

Apply wood oil liberally to wooden surfaces. Wipe off excess oil before it dries and gets ugly with a cloth. Place oil-soaked rags in a tin bucket with water immediately. They can self-ignite! Soak the rags in water or burn them as soon as you can.

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The Bucket Lid Trick

Wood facing damp ground must be impregnated. Put a paint bucket lid under each leg. Add oil and let the wood soak for a day or so.

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How to paint outdoor furniture?

Be aware that new pressure-treated wood contains mould-inhibiting additives that make it unsuitable for direct painting. Only after a year can it be painted over with paint or varnish.

Untreated wood that is to be topcoated should first be impregnated with standard base oil. Then sand with fine sandpaper before painting on with an outdoor paint.

Paint edges and details first. Take a little paint on the brush and paint thinly, otherwise the paint will run easily between the slats and boards. The paint covers better if you paint several coats.

To get a smooth finish, finish with a light swipe of the paint in the direction of what you’ve already painted. It is not visible where you lift the brush on the painted surface. But it shows where you put the brush in the wet paint.

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Painting tools

How do I store my roller between strokes?

Take a plastic bag or plastic wrap and seal around the roller tightly, so no air gets in. This keeps the roller moist until the next stroke. When you’ve finished painting, let the roller dry completely and then dispose of it in the incinerator. You can read more here: Take care of your roller after painting

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When should I use plasterboard adhesive instead of plaster?

Use plasterboard adhesive for gaps and damages larger than 3 mm. It dries faster than plaster.

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Why should I use an extension pole when painting walls and ceilings?

Use a extension pole for a better reach and a gentler working position.

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Which brush should I use for skirting boards and door frames?

An angle cut paintbrush gives a good angle when painting mouldings/skirting boards and door frames.

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What tools do I need when wallpapering?

Roller Set/Wallpaper Adhesive Set, Elite Extension Pole, Paperhanging Tool, Paperhanging Knife with Holster, Wash Sponge, Elite Short Angle Brush and Paperhanging Scissor.

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What painting tools do I need to paint the facade?

A façade painter needs at least two brushes. A wide bevel brush that takes up a lot of paint, so you don’t have to dip as much, and a radiator brush for all those hard-to-reach areas. For distemper/red paints, a good emulsion brush is suitable.

Tip: Choose the width of the facade brush according to the width of the facade panel. If the panel is about 100 mm wide, choose a 100 mm outdoor brush that covers the entire width of the panel to make the job easier and faster. Also remember that you may need more brushes if there are more of you painting, so the work will go even faster.

Also have an extension pole handy. You’ll reach further from both the ground and the ladder, and spare your back and arms.

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Should you use a brush or a roller when oiling the terrace?

Applying oil with a roller is just as good as with a brush, but using a roller saves time and energy. Try Anza’s terrace 2-in-1 tool, which is specially designed for all types of terrace treatments. The pad covers two boards at a time and makes the work go faster than with a regular brush.

Also, don’t forget to use a extension pole to get more power to those big areas. Remember to stroke in the same direction as the grain of the wood.

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Sustainability

How do I take care of my roller after painting in a sustainable way?

Once you’ve finished painting with your roller, use a roller scraper to scrape as much paint as possible off the roller, back into the paint can. Then let the roller dry. When the roller has dried completely, throw it in the household waste. You can read more in our article: take care of your roller after painting.

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How do I wash my used painting brush in a sustainable way?

The most important thing is to make sure that no paint containing dangerous substances ends up in the drains when you wash your brush. So, for example, use a bucket of lukewarm water to clean your brush, and repeat the process once more with fresh water. You can then return the water to your nearest environmental station for hazardous waste. We tell you more about how to take care of your used painting brush here: Take care of and clean your brush

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Do you focus on sustainability within Anza?

Yes, we have an ambitious sustainability strategy with clear targets towards 2025. See a short text and video describing our sustainability strategy here.

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How are you working to make Anza's products more sustainable?

In line with our sustainability strategy, we are progressively introducing more and more sustainable raw materials in both products and packaging. For example, we have recycled plastic paint tray inserts and we buy our wood from responsibly managed forests. Look out for more new product launches that address sustainability in the future!

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