Preparing Walls for Lazure

Wall Preparation for acrylic based Lazure Painting 
Prepare the walls as for any painting job, patching and priming, etc. Apply two coats of high quality latex flat paint, comparable to Benjamin Moore’s flat Eco Spec (a no voc paint). If a paint is too flat it will absorb too much lazure color as it is applied and result in “blotches”. Usually that will be the cheaper flat latex paints. Semi-gloss or paints too glossy will cause streaking. They will not absorb the color. Other techniques of treating walls, known as glaze or faux finishes, often work best with these satin or semi-glass paints. For rooms with very large walls an eggshell or satin finish may be used.

Floors should be protected unless refinishing is planned.
The preferred method is the application of builders floor paper – the brown paper slightly heavier than red rosin paper is preferred.  By taping the paper to the floor all the way around the edges you provide a surface that protects the floors and does not slip underfoot or snag on ladders as would painter’s drop clothes.  When applying the first run of paper around the walls apply a few inches of tape every few feet to the  the floor  as this will then be overlapped by the second run. The edges are then fully taped so that they do not get torn. Tape next to walls to keep paper from moving and to assure that drips are caught.

I recommend a brand of tape manufactured in the mid west :  Diamond Vogel holds well, does not pull paint loose and costs less than blue tape.  It is stronger and can be pulled lose more easily.  For those on the east or west coast it can be ordered at 309 829 1414.

Preparing the surfaces:
1. Always clean oily and dirty surfaces which might interfere with paint adhesion.
2. Sand and clean glossy surfaces
3. Sand bumpy or flaky surfaces
4. Naturally, all cracks, bubbles, nail or screw pops should be repaired.

Priming:
Prime glossy and repaired surfaces. When this is extensive, prime entire surface. Also, when the existing color is very dark it is best to prime before applying 2 white finish coats.

The standard 100% acrylic primers available today are quite adequate except where water stains or ink marks need to be sealed to prevent bleed through. In this case, use alcohol based “B.I.N.” on the spots and prime over with acrylic primer to assure consistent absorption.  If any patching is done after white coats have been applied the spots MUST be primed and the finished by rolling two coats of finish paint. This will assure a uniform lazure rather than having a blotch show up.

Finish paint:
To prepare the surface for Lazure painting, apply 2 coats of high quality flat acrylic paint. Keeping a wet edge between “cut in” (brushed edges) and the rolled on paint is always best and is recommended when practical to do so.  The overlap (doubled application) is rather noticeable and may effect color appearance.  The alternative, and the most commonly practice is to do all the “cutting in”  first, then allowing it to dry completely before rolling. Rolling provides a subtle texture to the paint. For very best results masking the trim ceilings prior to painting walls enables the painter to roll very close to edges. The lazure color will then be more consistent rather than leaving a lighter tone around the edges.

For very large spaces such as assembly halls or stairwells, we often recommend the application of an eggshell finish as it is slightly less absorbent than the flat paint and offers a little more working time, as well as a harder surface.  The eggshell finish can be used for all surfaces when preferred. However, using a quality flat paint enables some absorption which offers a more lively, but subtle activity  to the lazure color.  It  is important that you do not use a flat paint that is too absorbent.