Do you think painting PVC or plastic is a feat? It is certain that if you do not choose the right paint and do not prepare the substrate, the paint will flake over time. Read on to discover what type of paint is best for plastic.
Plastic and PVC are among the most difficult materials to paint. Due to their composition, their surface has a very low adhesion power because it is completely smooth and non-porous.
However, there are several options: careful preparation, specialized plastic undercoats, or specific paint that adhere directly to the surface.
3 Types of Paint Best For Plastic
Aerosol Paints
Even though Everbrite is one of the best aerosol paint for plastic, Krylon has a lot of positive feedback from satisfied customers.
Almost all of them adhere to plastic and are ideal for small objects or parts that are inaccessible to the roller. Spray paints also offer a perfect result if you know how to spray paint well. The only downside is that they only cover 1 to 2 m² per unit of spray paint, so it is better to plan a large budget.
Special Plastic and PVC Undercoats
It is the safest solution and also the one that offers the most possibilities for the support used. The undercoat makes it possible to choose any type of finishing paint. Often these undercoats also adhere to substrates such as glass, laminate, or melamine.
Special Paints for Plastics
This is the quickest solution, as it allows you to skip the undercoating stage. In addition, paints of this type are constantly evolving and provide enhanced adhesion, excellent coverage, and top maintenance ease.
Take a look at FolkArt paints for plastic surfaces; they offer a variety of colors with excellent results.
How to Prepare Plastic Surfaces for Painting
- Prepare the surface: sand and wash down.
- Apply the plastic undercoat
- Apply the special PVC paint
- Clean the equipment and remove the protections
Learn as Much as
It is not necessary to train yourself as a house painter for this work. A good reading of to paint plastics is sufficient. To spray paint without dripping, just take your time, make several passes, and do not overload with paint.
Completion Time
- 30 minutes to 1 hour not counting the drying time.
Number of Persons
- 1 person
Tools and Consumables
- Fine grit sandpaper (120 to 240)
- Sponge and brush
- Pre-painting detergent based on pine resin
- Acetone and rag
- Brush and roller
- Paint tray Protective tarpaulin, masking tape and newspaper
Personal Protective Equipment
- Respiratory protection mask
- Protective gloves
- Protective goggles
- Work clothing
This list is not exhaustive, personal protective equipment must be adapted to each work situation.
How to Paint Your Plastic Surfaces in Four Steps
1. Prepare The Substrate: Sand And Wash.
A light sanding is necessary, to remove dirt and impurities, this is called gritting or roughening. Prefer an abrasive with a fairly fine grain, otherwise, you risk seeing scratches under the paint. If your surface is really dirty, you can start with a coarse grit but always remember to finish with a finer grit.
When you’ve finished ginning, it’s time for leaching! This step allows you to clean but also to degrease your support. It is a step not to be neglected because it is a question of the paint’s resistance afterwards. A basin or a bucket, water and a bit of detergent, a sponge, a brush for stubborn stains, and rub.
Don’t forget to rinse abundantly because the detergent, however effective it may be, leaves a small deposit if it is not rinsed well. Let it dry well. This surface preparation step can be done the day before to make sure the surface is completely dry.
Optional: To be sure, to remove all traces of grease, you can wipe the surface with a cloth soaked in acetone before starting the painting work. This chemical (protect your respiratory tract) can degrease and dry instantly, allowing you to paint afterward. Then protect surfaces that are not to be painted with masking tape and newspaper.
2. Apply the Plastic Undercoat
Your substrate is ready to receive the primer, primer coat, or undercoat. It is imperative that you choose a suitable undercoat for plastic or PVC. Be careful if you choose a universal undercoat, not all of them will adhere to PVC.
Wherever you are, cover the floor to save you the chore of cleaning paint on the floor, and protect yourself with gloves, mask, goggles, and coveralls. Pour a little undercoat into the paint tray, make a few brush strokes on the edges, in places inaccessible to the roller, and finish by covering the entire surface with a roller. Allow drying before applying the paint.
3. Apply the Special PVC Paint
For the choice of paint, depending on the case, you will have to choose a paint that will hold up outdoors. and that is resistant to environmental corrosion or not, and preferably satin or gloss.
For the application, the same process as the undercoat, use a brush and then a roller to finish. Respect the drying time and then proceed to the second coat.
4. Clean the Material and Remove the Protections
Your work is finally finished, all you have to do now is close the paint pot tightly. Remove the masking paper and newspaper. If paint has gotten on the windows, clean them. Clean the brushes thoroughly and put the equipment away.
