Advice and Recommendations

In order to honour its commitments and express depth, resonance and delicacy, each Argile colour is available in various different finishes. They should be chosen not only according to your taste and preference, but also according to the area and surface to be decorated. If you require further advice or recommendations, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Which product for which finish?

Argile offers three additional finishes: matt, velvet and satin. Each one interacts differently with light, giving each of the 184 shades unique delicacy and resonance. These three finishes can be combined within a single decor in order to show a room’s different surfaces to advantage.

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How to compare the brightness of the paints

A paint’s brightness is due to the way it reflects light. This phenomenon is measured with a “brightness metre”. A standardised procedure (EN 13300) is used to establish the percentage of light reflected by a film of paint. Theoretically, an entirely matt paint would give a reading of 0% and a very bright paint a reading of 100%.

Argile Mat Profond gives surfaces a very matt finish with great depth, a very finely structured grain when applied with a roller and a slightly veined look when applied with a brush. Its brightness stands at around 3%.

Argile Mat Velouté Intérieur is silky in appearance, fine and velvety with a smooth, taut surface which barely reflects any light. Its brightness stands at around 10%.

Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur is velvety in appearance with a finely structured surface. Its brightness is slightly lower than 10%.

Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur and Argile Laque Satinée Extérieur both have a slightly satiny appearance. However they are applied their surfaces are smooth, taut and resistant and reflect the light while emphasizing the brightness and intensity of the colour. Their brightness is measured at between 25% and 30%.

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How to prepare surfaces

Surfaces to be painted must be sound, clean, primed and insulated.

Preparing an untreated surface

After filling in any cracks or holes and if necessary, skim coating or plastering, the surface must be cleaned with water or a gentle detergent. It must then be carefully rinsed before being sanded and dusted.

Oily wood must be carefully degreased with an appropriate grease-remover such as trichloroethylene- or acetone-based products.

Preparing a painted surface

When a surface has already been painted, you must ensure that the previous coat is sound and resistant. Any part that is peeling, blistering or splitting must be entirely removed by scraping or machine sanding. The surface must then be carefully cleaned in the same way as an untreated surface.

What are the right conditions for painting?

It is important to apply paint in the right conditions. Room temperature should be between 7°C and 30°C maximum, preferably between 10°C and 25°C for water-based paints, with an ideal temperature of around 20°C.

Weather permitting, rooms should be well ventilated with no higher than 60% humidity. To avoid humidity, do not paint when it is raining or if there is condensation in the room.

The surface must also be at a reasonable temperature (between 7°C and 30°C) and always be absolutely dry when the paint is applied.

How to proceed indoors

The various rooms of a house and the surfaces within them (walls, ceilings, doors and skirting boards) can be enhanced by using four different finishes: Mat Profond, Mat Velouté, Laque Satinée and Satin Couvrant.

Argile Laque Satinée Intérieure is a hard, shock-resistant coating which copes with impacts and scratches as well as humidity and frequent wiping down and washing. This finish is therefore recommended not only for rooms with a humid atmosphere but also for children’s bedrooms, stair wells and busy corridors.

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Kitchens, bathrooms, rooms which are humid or whose walls need to be frequently wiped:

PREPARATION : filling, skim coating, sanding, dusting.

PAINTING ON HARD SURFACES (tiles, old lacquer or old glycerol paints) : apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel followed by two coats of Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur.

PAINTING UNTREATED AND ABSORBENT SURFACES (old matt paints, plaster or plasterboard) : apply an undercoat of Argile Sous Couche de Préparation followed by two coats of Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur.

TOOLS : for undercoats, brush and textured 12 mm polyamide roller. For overcoats: brush in natural silk and 7 mm or 12 mm polyamide roller.

Ceilings

PREPARATION : filling, skim coating, sanding, dusting.

PAINTING AN UNTREATED CEILING OR OVER OLD MATT PAINT : apply an undercoat of Argile Sous Couche de Préparation followed by two coats of Argile Mat Profond.

TOOLS : brush in natural silk and 12 mm textured polyamide roller.

Bedrooms, reception rooms, living rooms

PREPARATION : filling, skim coating, sanding, dusting.

PAINTING ON HARD SURFACES (tiles, old lacquer or old glycerol paints) : apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel. Then according to the desired effect, two coats of Argile Mat Profond, Argile Mat Velouté, Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur or Argile Satin Couvrant.

PAINTING UNTREATED AND ABSORBENT SURFACES (old matt paints, plaster or plasterboard) : apply an undercoat of Argile Sous Couche de Préparation. Then according to the desired effect, two coats of Argile Mat Profond, Argile Mat Velouté, Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur or Argile Satin Couvrant.

TOOLS : for undercoats, brush and textured 12 mm polyamide roller. For overcoats: brush in natural silk and 7 mm or 12 mm polyamide roller.

Furniture

PREPARATION : filling, sanding painted or varnished furniture, dusting.

PAINTING : apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel, then:

  • if the furniture is not subjected to frequent rubbing: two coats of Argile Mat Velouté;
  • to obtain a harder surface: two coats of Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur;
  • if the furniture is greatly subjected to rubbing, strengthen with a final coat of Argile Vernis Mat or a water-based varnish.

TOOLS : brush in natural silk and 7 mm textured polyamide roller.

Woodwork: doors, skirting boards, architraves, window frames

PREPARATION : filling, sanding, dusting.

PAINTING : apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel followed by two coats of Argile Mat Velouté or Argile Laque Satinée Intérieur.

TOOLS : brush in natural silk and 7 mm textured polyamide roller.

How to proceed outdoors?

Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur contains supple, micro-porous and resistant resins which are ideal for exterior painting, on masonry and all types of wood: shutters, timber-clad houses, etc.

Argile Laque Satinée Extérieur, heavy-bodied, taut and satiny is designed to protect wood and is specifically intended for painting exterior woodwork.

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Woodwork

PREPARING AND PAINTING WOOD WITH A LAYER OF OLD PAINT, VARNISH OR STAIN : scraping, removing the parts which do not adhere well, sanding, dusting. Apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel followed by two coats of Argile Laque Satinée Extérieur.

PREPARING AND PAINTING UNTREATED HARDWOOD : degreasing, sanding, dusting. Apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel followed by two coats of Argile Laque Satinée Extérieur.

PREPARING AND PAINTING SOFTWOOD (pine, fir) : degrease, clean, sand down, dust off. Apply two coats of Argile Laque Satinée Extérieur or Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur directly, without an undercoat.

Outils : brosse en soie naturelle et rouleau polyamide texturé 7 mm.

PREPARING AND PAINTING RENDERED OR PAINTED STONE OR BRICK MASONRY : If necessary sand down any loose parts and fill any cracks or holes. Apply two coats of Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur directly.

PREPARING AND PAINTING SURFACES THAT ARE UNTREATED, ABSORBENT OR COVERED WITH MATT PAINT : If necessary sand down any loose parts and fill any cracks or holes. Apply an undercoat of Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur diluted with 5-10% of water, followed by two coats of Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur.

PREPARING AND PAINTING CRUMBLING OR POWDERY SURFACES : If necessary sand down any loose parts, fill any cracks or holes and clean. Apply a suitable sealant then two coats of Argile Mat Velouté Extérieur.

TOOLS : 12 to 18 mm textured polyamide roller.

Other surfaces

For all hard surfaces such as PVC, plastics, hardwoods, nonferrous metals, old varnishes, old glycerol or polyurethane paints and tiles (after testing) apply an undercoat of Argile Primaire Universel followed by two coats of an Argile paint.

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