"Labour weekend is the first long weekend of summer, the temperature is going up and the days are getting longer,' says Resene expert Jay Sharples. "It's the perfect time to start sprucing up your exterior and getting things ready for the rest of the summer."
And while the weather is notoriously unpredictable this time of year, don't let a bit of potential rain ruin your reno by making a list of plans that includes both indoor and outdoor DIY.
"As always, work to the conditions, make a plan, but be prepared to change it around if it does start to rain," he advises.
"We do have Resene Umbrella Additive, which you can add to the waterborne paints if it's looking like it might rain – this helps save the paint if you do get caught out in a shower," says Jay, who has his own lengthy to-do list close to hand.
"I'll be treating exterior areas of my house for mould/algae with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, before cleaning with Resene Paint Prep & Housewash. I then need to repaint retaining walls and fences with Resene Lumbersider. I have veggie boxes I'll put another coat of Resene Lumbersider on before planting some tomatoes. My deck needs to be cleaned down with Resene Timber & Deck Wash before I apply another coat of Resene Furniture and Decking Oil. I also use the Resene Furniture & Decking Oil on my outside timber table and chairs – I'll get my boys helping to recoat this.
"That's the plan if the weather is good. If the weather doesn't play ball, I'll be sanding and painting a wall in the kitchen that got missed when we repainted a year ago. I have enough Resene Spacecote low sheen Kitchen & Bathroom left, I'll just need to strain it to remove any bits that may have ended up in the can when it was last used and then cut and roll the wall. I have one internal door to repaint, I'll give it a light sand and then apply a couple of coats of Resene Lustacryl."
Spring into your bathroom
One of these added jobs, especially if the weather isn’t playing ball, could well be bathroom-related, an indoor DIYer’s paradise – with Labour Weekend the perfect time to give this high-traffic space a fresh spring makeover, especially if you’ve got family and friends visiting for summer.
Whether it's injecting a pop of colour, addressing mould concerns or refreshing tiles and grouting, now’s the time to get cracking.
Mould warrior
Given your bathroom’s damp nature, mould can become an issue, particularly without proper ventilation. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also damage your paint job over time, and if it gets set up it can grow through subsequent coats of paint.
Use Resene Moss & Mould Killer to kill mould and sterilise surfaces and then paint with Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint with anti-bacterial silver and MoulDefender or ask to get your Resene waterborne paint dosed with Resene MoulDefender to help slow down any future mould growth.
On the tiles
While it won’t replicate the original finish, painting tiles is an easy, budget-friendly way to refresh tiles. For most tiles, all you need is a good clean, then apply Resene Waterborne Sureseal and two coats of Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint on walls or Resene Walk-on flooring paint on the floor. Finish flooring with Resene Concrete Wax.
Revive tired grout by painting over it using a Resene test pot or Resene Walk-on flooring paint. Be sure to clean any paint that gets on tiles while it’s still wet.
VIP: Very Important Prep
Whatever DIY you get up to for the long weekend, Jays says the importance of thoroughly cleaning surfaces to prep them for paint or stain can’t be underestimated.
The question he gets asked most at this time of year?
"'Do I have to clean – do I though? Do I really need to prepare the surface?' And yes, the answer to these questions is 'yes. Don't skip the prep'. It's the hardest part but done correctly makes painting and staining a lot easier, and the coating will last longer."
"My favourite newish product is the spray application Resene Deep Clean," says Jay. "You attach the hose and spray your decks, pathways, driveways etc, and leave it to slowly clean and limit the growth of mould and algae. Super easy."
You can find these products at your nearest Resene store or grab them online here.
Article created in partnership with Resene.
