Tuesday, 27 January 2015
What to Do with Old Paint
Not sure what to do with old paint cans cluttering up your basement or garage? Follow this action plan to either condense or dispose of your surplus—and win back some valuable floor and shelf space in the bargain.
Leftover house paint is not the easiest stuff to get rid of. You can't simply throw it out without risking pollution and fines.
1. Determine if the paint is still good. Solvent-based paints have a 15-year shelf life. If you can stir it, it’s probably okay to use (even if you have to remove the “skin” on the surface first). Latex has a shelf life of 10 years. If it has been subject to freezing, it may not be usable. Test by stirring and brushing onto newspaper. If there are lumps, the paint is no longer good.
2. Decide what to keep. If the paints are in colors that are still on your walls, it makes sense to hang on to them. They will be useful for touch-ups and repainting when the time comes. If the lids are loose, seal them carefully; transfer small amounts in smaller containers. Be sure to label with color name, number and date of purchase.
3. Ways to use leftovers. Even if you’re sure the paint color is not one you’ll return to, consider mixing leftovers of the same paint type (latex with latex, acrylic with acrylic, oil with oil) to use as an undercoat primer.
4. Donate paints you don’t want. If you have good paint that you can’t use, offer it to family, friends and neighbors, or call a local paint contractor. Some charities may take paint too, especially those that do work helping the elderly with home renovations.
5. Dispose of what you can’t use and can’t give away. How you do it depends upon the type of paint, but it’s critical that it be done in a manner that won’t cause pollution to drinking water or waterways. One gallon of paint can contaminate many thousands of gallons of water, harm fish and aquatic plant life and eventually poison the food chain. Listed below are the proper ways to dispose of paint:
To solidify old latex paint, pour powder into the paint using the amount specified by the manufacturer and stir.
Latex and acrylic paints: Many municipalities will allow you to solidify these paints and throw them away with the household trash. One way to do this is to mix it with a clay-based cat litter at a ratio of two parts litter to one part paint. Do this in a well-ventilated place that’s off-limits to kids and pets. Another way is to use an additive. I tried XSORB’s Rock Solid and found that about a cupful turned the old latex paint in the photos to a solid after an hour.
Old paint gets an oatmeal consistency after only a couple of minutes of stirring.
Oil-based and alkyd paints: Check to see if there is a scheduled household waste collection day in your community (typically posted on your state’s Department of Environmental Conservation web site). You can also call your town hall. Bring paints to the specified collection site along with other toxic products you want to get rid of, such as paint removers, used solvents, pesticides, and herbicides.
If your community does not offer this service, call your County Extension Home Economics Agent, the local waste management agency, your area’s water treatment plant or the local landfill, and ask what the procedure is for where you live.
For more on paint and painting, consider:
Disposing of household paint and other hazardous household waste
Products such as paint, weed killers, pesticides, household cleaners and chemicals, creosote, fuel and other flammable liquids, motor oil, motor fluids, tyres, fluorescent tubes, etc, are all deemed hazardous and potentially damaging to the environment if disposed of incorrectly.
They should never be disposed of by placing in your normal rubbish bin or by tipping down the drain.
Try to avoid these products becoming waste in the first place. Check the guidelines on the tin to help ensure that you only buy enough of the product required for the job, and try and use up all of the product, for example, by spreading another coat to use up the last amount.
If you can't use it up yourself, see if your neighbours, friends, or relatives could find a use for it, or store it safely for future use, following the storage guidelines on the packaging.
Once completely empty, the containers of paint products and other chemical products may be placed in the normal rubbish bin.
Household waste recycling centres
Certain hazardous wastes can be taken to the household waste recycling centres for safe disposal. These include:
- Used engine oil.
- Domestic and vehicle batteries.
- Fluorescent tubes.
If you take these to the household waste recycling centres, they must be placed in the designated container.Do not take paint or any other hazardous waste to the household waste recycling centres as they will not accept any containers with paint or any other substance that is still in liquid form.
Vehicle tyres
Old vehicle tyres will be accepted by the fitting garage whenever they fit a new tyre to the vehicle. They may also accept additional old tyres though a disposal charge may be made for this.
Emulsion paint
In the case of emulsion paint, leave any left over paint that you will not use at a later date in the container with the lid left off and some sand added to it. When it is completely dry and is no longer in liquid form it can be disposed of in the normal rubbish bin. This does not apply to solvent based paint or to any other liquid hazardous waste.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Friday, 10 October 2014
protect your home and your fence
Anti-vandal paint is also known as anti-climb, anti-intruder and anti-scale paint. As these names suggest it is intended to prevent intruders from climbing up a surface where it has been applied and gaining access to a property. The paint generally has a gloss appearance and usually comes in dark colours so, for cosmetic reasons, it may not be suitable for all surfaces. Care should be taken to select a product that remains effective in both hot and cold weather conditions. Once applied anti-vandal paint does not dry, leaving a slippery surface which is very difficult to climb. Although it is not usually harmful, it will stain the clothes - and body - of anyone who tries to climb it.
Anti-vandal paint can be used on many surfaces and is often applied to walls and drainpipes - or any other surface or object that an intruder may attempt to climb. The paint is applied with a brush or by hand whilst wearing a protective glove. Once in place it should last for at least a year. However, the lifespan will depend on how often people attempt to climb the surface to which it has been applied.
Anti-Vandal Paint and the Law
Under the Occupier's Liability Act 1984 householders owe a duty of care to anyone on their property, whether they are entitled to be there or not. The duty is to protect people from an injury as a result of a foreseen hazard. If anti-vandal paint has been applied to a wall and an intruder slips and injures himself as a result, this is something that the householder could have predicted. Householders could also be caught up by the Highways Act 1980 if anti-vandal paint is used on a wall or surface which adjoins a public highway. The Highways Act states that care must be taken to avoid "harm or injury" to any person or animal using the highway.
The local crime reduction or crime prevention police officer should be happy to advise householders if they have any doubts about the legality, or efficacy, of any intruder deterrent methods they intend to use.
paint your fence
A fence is a very significant part of your home. Not only does it provide security and privacy, but it’s also the first thing people see when coming to your property. Whether you want to sell your home or you’re just entertaining guests, it’s important to make a good first impression. Therefore, you should maintain your fence on a regular basis and keep it looking its best.
Preparing the Fence
Before you get to the painting it’s important to prepare the fence and the surrounding area. This involves removing cobwebs from corners, trimming the grass around the fence, and either scrubbing or power washing away stains and bird droppings. If the paint is flaking, remove it with a scraper or wire brush. Also, be sure to inspect the fence for loose parts or signs of termites. If you suspect an infestation call an exterminator before you begin to paint.
If parts of the fence are loose, be sure to tighten them or call a local contractor. Additionally, before painting, be sure to place plastic or some other protective material beneath the bottom of the fence so that your grass doesn’t get painted and your brush won’t get dirty with leaves and dirt.
Wooden Fences
When it comes to wooden fences, paint can do more than just improve the look. Without quality UV-inhibiting paint, your fence will be more susceptible to sun damage. Use outdoor paint that’s specially-formulated to withstand fading from the sun, mold and mildew, and moisture from the rain. This will keep your fence looking great and help it withstand exposure to the elements.
Metal Fences
While metal fences don’t warp or rot, they do tend to rust over time. This looks very bad and can also weaken the fence and cause screws to fall apart. Before painting, scrape off any loose rust with a wire brush. Then apply a rust converter to all areas where you see rust. This acts like a primer and converts the rust into a protective layer, over which you can paint.
Tips
Invest in quality materials. A cheap paintbrush will lose its bristles and become stiff easily. The same is true for paint – the better the quality the longer it will last and protect your fence. Alternatively, some people prefer painting with a roller and feel it’s more comfortable; so purchase a good one if that’s what you’ll be using.
When beginning to paint, be aware of where the sun is and try not to paint in its path or during the hottest part of the day. Not only will the sun make things harder on you but it will also make the paint dry faster than it should.
Once everything is ready to go, be aware that the painting itself can take quite a long time. You’ll have to paint the front, sides and top of the fence, and apply two or three coats. This can be an exhausting, time-consuming project. If you’re not sure you’re up to the task, contact the painting specialist .
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