If the turn of the calendar has inspired you to start picking up on your home renovation and DIY plans, then great! Though picture this scenario—you open the cans of spare paint you have, and you notice it gained a gel-like consistency and a foul smell. It seems you need to halt to buy new paints when you just wanted to work on your project. Sayang naman. Leftover paint going bad happens. Hence, it’s important to know how to avoid wasting paint. Here are things to remember.
Use Paint Estimation Tools
Getting only the right amount of paint is what’s really needed if you want to be sure you’re not letting any paint go to waste. Paint estimation tools are readily available in the Boysen website and the official Boysen App. Whichever you use, you only need to know the paint product you’ll be using and the measurement of the area you’ll apply paint on.
Paint Calculators is how you ensure to purchase only what you need. Plan ahead to avoid wasting paint, getting the most from what you would spend on materials.
Be Mindful of Pot Life
For epoxy and polyurethane paints, there is what we call pot life. It tells how long a paint can be used once the paint itself and its curing agent has been mixed. Each product has its own pot life, so paint within the indicated time.
To be on the safer side, don’t mix the two components at all unless you are sure you are going to use it. Read up on this article for more tips when dealing with paints that have a pot life.
Prep and Paint Correctly
While you might have the exact amount of paint you need for a project, you’ll eventually waste paint if you do not follow the correct surface preparation and application procedure. We’ve talked about different paint problems that arise from improper painting techniques like cratering and wrinkling.
While there are some issues that are mostly cosmetic, other issues like efflorescence and chalking are caused by faulty surface preparation. Clean, sand, prime, and apply putty correctly. Ensure you won’t be changing paints anytime soon just because of avoidable problems.
Store Properly
From closing the paint container itself and where you would keep it, the key to avoid wasting paint is protecting it from contaminants and other external conditions. We already have a comprehensive guide on storing paints, so check it out if you haven’t.
While it is more advisable to purchase paint you only need, a painting session can last multiple days. Properly securing your used paint ensures you can still use the paint for the next day. And if you do have leftover paint not being used anymore, you get to reduce its chances of going bad and make it useful for your next project.
Don’t Waste Paint
Follow these tips on how to avoid wasting paint. Don’t let the resources you’ll spend on go to waste. Paint responsibly!
For more painting guides and tips, subscribe to the blog. If you have questions on painting processes, send us an email at ask@myboysen.com and our technical team will be happy to help.
