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Paint fails early in the tropics for three reasons: it was put onto a damp or dirty surface, the wrong product was used, or it was painted in the heat of the day. None of those cost anything to avoid. Good preparation is 80% of a paint job that still looks good in five years.

What you'll need

Everything here is stocked across our branches.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Wash and let it dry properly

    Mould, dust and salt film stop paint sticking. Wash the surface, treat any mould with a mould killer (not just paint-over — it grows back through), rinse, and let it dry fully. Painting onto a surface that is still damp from washing or rain is the most common cause of peeling here.

  2. 2

    Fill, sand and spot-prime bare patches

    Fill cracks and holes, sand back flaking paint to a sound edge, and spot-prime any bare timber, render or metal. Bare patches left unprimed will flash through and fail first.

  3. 3

    Prime for the surface — do not skip it

    New render and masonry need a sealer/undercoat; bare timber needs a wood primer; rusty metal needs a rust-converting primer. The primer is what the topcoat grips to. Skipping it to save a tin is why paint peels in sheets.

  4. 4

    Choose a paint made for the job

    Use an exterior-grade paint outside — it is formulated to flex in the heat and resist UV and mould. In bathrooms, kitchens and laundries use a washable, mould-resistant interior paint. Ask the branch to tint from the colour range; they can advise sheen (flat hides wall faults, semi-gloss wipes clean).

  5. 5

    Paint at the right time of day

    Paint in the cooler morning, out of direct sun, and stop well before the afternoon storms. Paint drying too fast in full sun skins over and blisters; rain within a few hours of painting washes it off. Give each coat the recommended time before the next.

Tips for the PNG climate

  • Mould is the tropical paint-killer. Kill it before you paint and choose a mould-resistant paint for wet rooms — painting straight over mould just buries it until it grows back.
  • Buy a little more than you think for the first coat — porous new surfaces drink the first coat, and running out mid-wall leaves a visible join.
  • Store opened tins sealed and out of the heat; paint that has been cooking in a hot shed goes off.
  • Exterior paint outside, interior paint inside — they are not interchangeable, and using interior paint outdoors fails within a season.

Common questions

Why does my exterior paint keep peeling?
Almost always damp or unprimed surface underneath, or interior paint used outside. Strip back to a sound surface, let it dry, prime the bare areas, and use an exterior-grade paint.
How do I stop mould coming back on bathroom walls?
Treat the wall with a mould killer first, make sure the room can ventilate, and repaint with a mould-resistant interior paint. Painting over live mould never lasts.
Can the branch mix a colour for me?
Yes — our branches tint paint from the colour range. Bring or note the colour you want and ask staff for the right base and sheen for the room.

Ready to start?

Add what you need to an enquiry and choose your nearest branch. We confirm the price and what is in stock before you travel — fourteen branches in ten locations.

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