When I first started out as a professional decorator, pretty much all we used on woodwork was oil-based gloss. In the last fifteen years, everything has changed!
Gloss is not as popular as it was, with alternative finishes like satin and eggshell (and even matt) being more widely used on wood and metalwork, particularly indoors. And the industry is moving away from oil-based towards water-based, largely because the former has a tendency to discolour over time (particularly whites, and particularly gloss).
So, assuming you are looking for a gloss finish on your doors, door frames, skirting boards or other internal wood- and metalwork, what are the best products to use? How do you go about applying water-based gloss paint? What are the pros and cons, and what tools do you need to achieve a great finish? Read on, because that’s exactly what I plan to cover in this blog on how to apply water-based gloss.
Tools & Materials Needed
- Dust sheets
- Masking tape
- Sugar soap or mild detergent
- Sandpaper
- Dusting brush
- Primer/undercoat
- Paint kettle (or if you’re rolling you can work from the mini roller tray)
- Paint brush(es)
- Possibly mini-roller (depending on the surface – see below)
- Water-based gloss paint
- Paint conditioner
- Stirring stick
Preparing the Surface before Applying Water-Based Gloss
Every decorator will tell you that the secret to a good finish is thorough prep. Here are some simple but essential steps:
- Start by protecting the surfaces that you don’t want to get paint on; remove as much furniture etc as possible from the room, and cover the floor and any remaining furniture with dust sheets.
- Apply masking tape around the edge of the flooring where it meets the skirting board.
- Wash all the woodwork down with sugar soap or mild detergent, followed by a further wipe down with a clean damp cloth. It’s important to remove any grease or other contaminants that could stop your paint adhering properly.
- Next, give all the surfaces you will be painting a good rub down with some sandpaper; the objective is not to sand back to bare wood, but just to “dull down” the surface. Again, this stage is all about helping the new paint to adhere properly, and it’s particularly important if you’re going to be applying your new water-based gloss over old oil-based paints.
- Wipe away all the dust you have created, using a dusting brush (or you can use a damp cloth).
Priming/Undercoating before Applying Water-Based Gloss
Painting gloss (whether oil- or water-based) straight onto old gloss without a primer or undercoat is really bad practice. The chances are that it won’t adhere properly and will soon start peeling off. The exact process to follow will depend on what you are painting onto:
- New wood – one coat of primer, one undercoat, two topcoats.
- “Pre-primed” MDF – one undercoat, two topcoats.
- Untreated MDF – probably two primers, one undercoat, two topcoats.
- Existing water-based paint – one undercoat, two topcoats.
- Existing oil-based paint – one adhesion primer, two topcoats.
For general priming or undercoating, Bedec’s Aqua Advanced Primer-Undercoat is a great “all-rounder”. If you want a product that will stick like glue to multiple surfaces (such as untreated wood and MDF, old glossy paints and varnishes, various metals and even plastics) and also inhibit rust and block stains such as wood knots, then Bedec All Prime is great, and not ridiculously expensive either. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly, then give it a rub-down with some sandpaper to remove any “nibs”, and dust off again.
Applying Water-Based Gloss
Give your paint a thorough stir to make sure the consistency is…err…consistent. Decant some from the tin into a paint kettle. I find that some water-based paints can be a bit thick, particularly when they’re cold.
This means that they don’t flow as nicely in use and so are more prone to brush marks. You can solve this to some extent by placing your paint tin in a bucket of hot water for an hour or so before use. A quicker solution is to add a paint conditioner such as Smith & Rodger Flow & Bond, which not only helps the paint to flow better, but it also helps it to adhere better to the surface underneath.
Tips for Applying Water-Based Gloss
Use a Damp Cloth
If you’re working on a particularly hot day, wipe the surface you are going to be painting with a damp cloth immediately before painting it. This will help with the paint flow.
Keep Your Brush Wet
Water-based paints dry quickly; to stop your brush clogging up with dried paint, give it a quick rinse in some cold clean water every hour or two. Not a thorough clean, just enough to remove most of the paint, especially any that’s starting to dry.
Use a Mini Roller
If you’re painting large flat surfaces such as doors or larger windowsills, I find it easiest to get an even coverage quickly by applying the paint with a mini-roller first, and then laying off with a brush. Recently I’ve been using Axus Décor’s PureFlow Ultra 4” rollers with the 4mm nap; I find they’re ideal for this type of work.
Use the right Brush
Use a brush with synthetic bristles for water-based paints. With the growth of water-based paints for woodwork, brush manufacturers have now responded, and there have been some great new brushes arrive on the market recently.
I’m a massive fan of Axus Décor’s Silk Touch Ultra brushes; I’ve been using them on walls for a while now, but have only recently started using them for woodwork (smaller ones, obviously – I find the 1.5” Silk Cutter ideal for most woodwork projects). Click here for product details.
Get You Paint Even
Apply thin, even coats (which is why I like using the mini-rollers on larger surfaces) – water-based products tend to drip and sag if you apply too much paint. Work in the direction of the wood grain (if there is any).
Stick to the Recommended Recoat Time
Check the paint tin and make sure you leave the recommended amount of time before applying your second coat. Most water-based pints will be touch dry very quickly, re-coatable in 2-4 hours, but some don’t fully cure for days afterwards, so avoid touching the newly painted surface as much as possible in the first week, and certainly don’t expose it to any serious wear and tear (e.g. having new carpets fitted a day after painting the skirting!).
A Video Demo
Mike Cupit Explains How to Apply Water-Based Gloss
A video demo of everything you need to know.
Pros and Cons of Using Water-Based Gloss
Pros
Quick drying – This means you can usually get two coats on in a day (impossible with oil-based). It also means that you can paint the woodwork first, and then tape it (using a low-tack masking tape) the next day and paint the walls, if you like working that way. Equally, you can still work the more “traditional” way if you like – whatever works for you and helps you achieve the best finish.
Low odour, low VOC – This makes the painting experience healthier and more enjoyable, and is safer for kids and pets in the house as well. Basically water-based products are generally regarded as being more environmentally-friendly.
Non-Yellowing – White oil-based gloss is the worst offender when it comes to discolouring over time, particularly where it doesn’t get much exposure to natural light. Water-based paints don’t discolour in the same way, or if they do, it takes much longer, meaning that your paintwork will stay looking crips and white for longer (saving redecoration costs).
HOWEVER, not all “water-based” paints are 100% water-based. Some are hybrids, and so will still discolour with time (but maybe not to the same extent, or it may take longer). Bedec are specialists in water-based products, and their Aqua Advanced gloss is one of the better fully water-based glosses on the market.
It’s stunningly white and stays that way for a long time (I don’t know how long, nothing I have ever used it on has discoloured yet, so I have no way of measuring the time scale!). It flows nicely (especially if you warm it on cold days and/or add a little Flow & Bond) and isn’t so thin that it drips everywhere. Click here to see product details.
Easy clean-up – Simply clean your brushes and rollers in cool clean water, or use a little Pretty Boy Brush Cleaner & Conditioner for a gentle but thorough clean and to help your brushes last longer. No need for harsh chemicals, white spirit, etc.
Cons
Sheen Level – It’s hard to find a water-based gloss that achieves the same ultra-high sheen levels of an oil-based gloss. No problems with satins or eggshells, but with gloss they haven’t quite got that sheen yet. Don’t get me wrong – if you follow the advice above it will still look great, but if the most important thing to you is achieving a really high sheen level, you may be disappointed with water-based products.
Finish – Historically, water-based products for woodwork have been criticised for leaving a poor finish; drips, sags, brush marks etc. However, the technology is moving on all the time, and these days, with the right paint and equipment, there’s no reason why you can’t achieve a great finish using water-based gloss.
Conclusion
OK, I’ll be honest. Having used oil-based gloss from my first day as a professional decorator, it took me a while to adapt to these new water-based alternatives. They’re formulated differently and perform very differently in use.
It takes a while to get used to them, and the advice and tips above have taken me a few years to work out for myself. But with the right paint (Bedec Aqua Advanced Gloss is a great call), the right application tools (Axus have done a great job in developing brushes and rollers that work brilliantly with these paints), and the advice above, there’s no reason why you can’t get a professional finish when applying water-based gloss.
FAQs
Does water-based gloss paint go yellow?
Fully water-based gloss will never go yellow. However, a lot of gloss products which are marketed as “water-based”, are in fact, hybrids. A hybrid is basically a compromise between oil and water bases. They are primarily water-based, but do contain a little bit of oil, which is used as a “carrier”. This oil helps the ease of use, the sheen level and the durability. The downside of a hybrid is that it will still eventually discolour over time.
Johnstone’s Aqua, Dulux QD and Crown Fastflow are all examples of hybrid paints. These are not necessarily products to avoid, however you do need to be aware of the issue before deciding on which gloss product to use.
If you’re in any doubt about whether a “water-based” gloss is in fact a hybrid, check the technical data sheet. You’ll normally find this on the manufacturer’s website. If the data sheet has the word “alkyd” anywhere, you know it isn’t a true water-based.
Is water-based gloss as good as oil based?
Generally, water-based gloss does not have the sheen level or overall finish of oil-based. It also isn’t as durable either. However, the redeeming qualities such as “non-yellowing”, easier to apply, better for the environment, low odour and easier to get off your skin can make up for what it lacks in other areas.
You need to put a little bit of thought into your selection when choosing a water-based gloss. There are a lot of poor products out there that don’t give the best results.
How long does water-based gloss take to dry?
This differs somewhat between manufacturers, but there are three timeframes you need to be aware of. The first is “touch dry”, which, you guessed it, is when the painted finish is dry to the touch.
The second is “recoat time”. This is the period you should wait before applying additional coats. If you do not adhere to these times, you can experience problems further down the line, such as paint peeling away, cracking, dragging, or an extended cure time.
Lastly there is the “cure time”. Just because a water-based gloss feels dry, do not assume it has the tough, durable finish you’re led to believe it should have. Water-based products tend to take a week or more to fully cure and harden. So, always wait a few days before replacing carpets anywhere you have used water-based.
You can speed up the drying process by circulating the air. The water in the paint needs to evaporate in order for the paint to set. Opening a window will help the moisture from the air escape a room and a fan heater will both warm a room and circulate the air.
Is Water-Based Gloss Better for the Environment?
The simple answer is, yes, for a few reasons. Production being the main one. Oil-based gloss is kept at a higher temperature as it is being made, meaning it takes a lot more energy to produce, thus more carbon. Then, you need to clean all the tools used to make oil-based gloss after each batch. For this, they use large amounts of white spirit.
The chemicals used in oil-based gloss are another factor. Also, the clean-up; you may dispose of white spirit and turps responsibly, but others do not. Some of the white spirit used in cleaning brushes will end up in our waterways.
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