Painting and decorating in winter? No problem. Try these tips!

07 May 2024

Painting and decorating your home in winter is easier than you think. With some handy tips and products from Resene you can ensure your outdoor spaces are safe and comfortable for you and your family – and you don’t have to put off that paint job due to the weather!

Outdoors:

Winterise your paint

Cold weather can play havoc with the application and performance of standard paints. With a little Resene Wintergrade Additive you can winterise your paint and keep painting through winter.

A paint film dried in the cold can crack and even just dry to a powder. This is because the acrylic base needs some warmth to make the particles soft enough to stick together. To help you keep painting, the Resene Technical Team have created Resene Wintergrade Additive, which can be added to a range of Resene waterborne paints to help them dry in temperatures down to 3°C.

When you’re painting over winter, it’s best to break your project into smaller sections.  Focus most of your work in the middle of the day and aim to finish early to give your paint plenty of time to dry well before evening.

Get a grip

With thousands of new ACC claims each year for injuries from falls it’s important to protect yourself and your loved ones this winter. Make sure your outdoor areas are non-slip and safe to walk on with Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path. This grit finish can be used on stairs and paths to help your feet and shoes grip the ground.

Apply a white strip of Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path to stair edges to make it easier to see them in low light.

Goodbye mould

If moss and mould are not addressed, they can harm wood and paint, leading to damage and they can also make surfaces very slippery to walk on when wet. Winter's dampness fosters their growth, so counteract them by using Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Apply it using a garden sprayer or brush, allowing thorough absorption. Moss and mould are most likely in damp areas, such as bathrooms and the shady side of your home.  You can also help reduce mould inside by making sure you have good ventilation in wet areas like bathrooms and that you open windows and allow air to circulate.

You also might want to give your concrete and pathways a clean with Resene Deep Clean. This slow-acting preventative cleaner is ideal for your patio, path and deck. Once sprayed on you can leave it and let it and nature do the rest! 

Bathroom walls painted in Resene Alabaster with tile effect painted in Resene Double Stack, Resene Alabaster, Resene Eighth Stack, Resene Half Stack and Resene Half Baltic Sea, floor in Resene Double Stack, stool and small bowl in Resene Incarnadine, shelf in Resene Invincible and orchid pot in Resene Half Stack. Bathtub and freestanding mixer from Plumbline, towels from Father Rabbit. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Indoors:

Spending more time indoors over the colder months means the perfect time to tackle jobs indoors and protect your home from mould, mildew and damp.

Painting ideas

Check out these ideas painting and decorating jobs to tackle over winter by MasterStroke by Resene and spruce up your home so it’s ready for entertaining over summer!

Beat the mould

On painted surfaces, mould looks like dirt and frequently the two cannot be visually distinguished. The most common species of mould are black but others can be brown or green. By wetting the surface and rubbing, mould will show up as slime.

You need to kill moss and mould before you paint, otherwise it will grow straight through your new paint finish.  You can treat it using Resene Moss & Mould Killer.

Check your ventilation at the same time – if you keep getting mould in a bathroom you may need a stronger fan to help extract the air.  Repaint using a Resene waterborne paint such as Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint or Resene SpaceCote dosed with Resene MoulDefender additive.

For more advice on how you can protect your home over winter, visit your local Resene ColorShop or Ask a Resene Paint Expert online for more advice.

Main image: Grooved wall painted in Resene Nebula, deck in Resene Woodsman Uluru, pergola in Resene Sea Fog, large amphora vase (with floral arrangement) in Resene Sea Fog, medium amphora jug in Resene Eighth Tea, tall plant pot (with fan palm) in Resene Eighth Tea, medium plant pots (with dracaena and zamioculcas) in Resene Cloud, smaller plant pot in Resene Yucca (snake plant), and tiny amphora vase and small skinny vase in Resene Yucca. Sofa and armchair from Poynters, coffee table and side table from King, throw from Citta, palm from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

Published: 07 May 2024