Kleer™ does not need to be painted to retain its color or remain impervious to fresh or salt water. However, there are certain applications where it is desirable to finish Kleer™ with a painted surface. It accepts quality paints beautifully, with a finish that will outlast painted wood for years and years.
4A. Finishing Preparation
Kleer™ finishes very much like wood. Your preparation methods will also be very similar to those of wood. You may want to fill any nail holes with a recommended caulk, and clean any marks or blemishes that were left from handling and installation. You can sand the surface to remove any rough areas. Please note that once sanded, the original surface has been removed, and will be slightly textured.
Bond&Fill TrimSTICK PVC Putty A two-part epoxy designed to bond, fill and repair PVC trimboard.To use this product, cut or twist off required amount and mix in your palms and/or fingers to a uniform color. To fill nail holes, apply putty to the nail hole with your finger or putty knife within ten minutes of mixing. When repairing PVC trimboard, apply putty to the damaged area with your finger of putty knife within ten minutes of mixing. Remove excess material with putty knife before hardening begins. For best results, use damp fingers or putty knife for easier application and a smooth appearance of the cured compound. Bond&Fill TrimSTICK has a 20 – 25 minute work life. After 2 – 3 hours, nail holes or damaged PVC trimboards can be sanded or painted.
To ensure proper paint adhesion and a lasting finish it is necessary to clean the surface the same as you would with other material to be painted. For best results, the material should be clean and free from any grease or oils. Cleaning can be done with a cloth and a mixture of water and mild detergent, a mild household cleaner, or alcohol.
4C. Painting
The surface of Kleer™ has proven excellent for paint adhesion. Paint may be applied by any suitable method, such as brush, roller, or spray gun. While primers are not necessarily needed for good adhesion, most paint manufacturers require the application of primer to warrantee their paint. Consult your paint supplier for specific manufacturers paint warranty requirements.
It is important to use a suitable quality paint. Care should be exercised in the selection of paint to ensure both good adhesion and the desired finished appearance. Kleer™ has demonstrated outstanding performance with a variety of acrylic paints from different manufacturers. Best results will be obtained when using a 100% Acrylic Latex Paint. Always follow the paint suppliers recommendations.
Use of dark colors will have an impact on the thermal gain, and the expansion and contraction of the material. Better performance will be achieved using light colors. Dark colors should be avoided.
Note: Proper paint adhesion and resistance to weather are affected by various factors. Due to variables of application, and various manufacturers, Kleer™ cannot be liable for applied finishes on Kleer™. Consult your paint supplier for warranty requirements and direction in the application of particular paint products. Latex enamel paints should be avoided. 100 % Acrylic Latex Paints have shown better results with PVC foam products. Paint adhesion testing can help determine the suitability of a particular paint product.
4D. Paint Adhesion Test
Testing for paint adhesion qualities is a helpful tool in selecting a paint. A cross hatch tape test is a reliable method and should be run on a sample piece of Kleer™ that has been properly prepared and cleaned. The paint should be allowed to dry for a minimum of 48 hours before the test is performed. Note that 24 hours after the surface has been painted, it may feel dry to the touch. However, because Kleer™ does not absorb paint, like wood, the paint may not actually be fully cured. Some paints will not obtain full adhesion for 2 to 3 weeks on PVC products. Sanding the surface of Kleer™ can be used to increase adhesion. This step should not be needed with most quality paints.
Using a razor knife, make 11 parallel cuts 1/16" apart across the face of the painted surface. Next, make 11 additional parallel cuts, 90 degrees to and crossing the first set of cuts. The cuts should all break the film plane of the paint.
Apply a 1/2" wide strip of scotch tape across the scored area, pressing firmly.
In one rapid motion, remove the tape at a 180° angle.
If paint remains beyond the width of the tape, proper adhesion has been achieved. Relative paint adhesion comparisons can also be calculated by inspecting the amount of paint remaining in the area that was covered by the tape.
Important Points:
Kleer™ does not need to be painted to maintain its color, or ability to resist weather.
For best results, use only good quality 100% Acrylic Latex Paints.
Sherwin-Williams has tested and specified the following products for use on Kleer Lumber products:
1.0 EXTERIOR PAINT SCHEDULE A. KLEER™ Trimboards (Trim, Soffit) 1. Satin Latex Systems
