DIY Freebies - Free stuff and offers for anyone doing some DIY

Leftover paint and estimating how much paint you'd need

Leftover paint

Lots of people have a shed with cans of half used paint in. Why? Because we don't estimate properly how much paint we'll need.

If you overestimate the amount of paint you needed then you might end up with too much paint.

How to dispose of leftover paint or varnish.

Firstly, remember to calculate how much paint you need before starting the job (see below) This should eliminate the need to dispose of large quantities of paint or varnish - or indeed the storage of it.

Do not pour leftover paint or varnish in to drains and wipe excess coatings back in to the container.

Remove excess material from brush/roller by wiping off onto newspaper or old cloths and spread out to dry before disposal. Use an inert, absorbent material such as cat litter to soak up small amounts of water based coatings – then dispose of in a dustbin.

For larger amounts ask your local authority for guidance. Some local authorities have separate facilities for coatings and recycling of empty or dried out cans as many do not want coating waste in the dustbin.

Remember that when disposed of as waste, paints and varnishes can create problems for landfill sites if not mixed in with other rubbish and due to its messy nature, it can contaminate recycling schemes.

If leftover product is stored carefully it can often be re-used. Keep the lid firmly on and invert the can to make a seal. Protect water based coatings from freezing and all coatings from temperatures above 30°C.

Consider donating any leftover material to friends, family, local charity group or community repaint scheme. See the Save Waste and Prosper Website www.communityrepaint.org.uk for further information.

How much paint will I need?

For an emulsion paint, 1 litre of paint will cover approximately 12 square metres per coat

One or two coats are usually sufficient but allow for an extra coat if covering a bright or dark colour with a light colour.

Calculate how big your walls are
(height of room X wall length) will give you a figure.

An average door is about two square metres

Most gloss paints will cover slightly less – 1 litre will cover approximately 11 square metres.

Varnishes generally show higher coverage rates, averaging 16 square metres per litre. This is only a guide and depends on surface texture and porosity, and the thickness of the film applied. In most cases manufacturer claims differ and it is advisable to check on the paint can for advice on coverage.

Check the back of cans of paint to see how much they reckon the coverage is.

Bare walls need more than painted walls, and wallpaper might absorb paint.

UK DIY Freebies finds you the very best deals on the Internet and in real Life - to find you the best bargains and offers for every aspect of home DIY. Whether you're a newbie to the world of DIY or a seasoned expert we hope you'll enjoy this site.
If you have any questions or comments then please contact us immediately by email.

Privacy Statement