Apply Cornish Mineral Paint™

Now you have prepared your surfaces, you're ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work? Here is our step-by-step guide for how to apply Cornish Mineral Paint™ to surfaces.

Some colours such as yellows & reds may require more coats of paint as their pigments are more sheer, and this also applies to some darker colours too and this is perfectly normal as some pigments require an additional top-coat. Cornish Mineral Paint has great coverage, and the paint will build up after the first coat and will leave you with a professional finish each time. If your first coat of paint is sheer, this is normal as the paint will build up after the first coat. 
  • Remove all hardware: Remove all existing hardware (knobs, pulls & latches) and place the pieces in a plastic bag for safe keeping. You can also remove any drawers, since you'll want to paint each drawer front separately. You will see on YouTube videos and some painting websites that some people paint with the drawers and cupboards doors on. If you are blending paint to create an ombre finish, then you can leave all drawers and cupboards on to paint. We always recommend you remove any drawers etc if you are new to painting, and this will help you with having a clean finish.
  • Protect your surfaces before painting: Cornish Mineral Paint is enriched with pigment for great coverage, so if mineral paint gets on clothing, floors and carpets, the paint will stain the surface (not all colours will stain). To stop this, place down a protective drop cloth/dust sheet (aka the red carpet of the painting world) and place your furniture & projects at the centre. This will prevent paint splatter or drops from getting onto the ground. If you do get any Cornish Mineral Paint on your surfaces we do recommend cleaning the paint quickly using a household cleaner and then dry the area. Tip: Insure you are wearing old painting clothes because Cornish Mineral Paint will stain any fabrics which come into contact with the paint.
  • Prime (This stage is optional): You do not need to prime or apply an undercoat with Cornish Mineral Paint, as this is built into our mineral paint formula, but we do recommend applying one to two coats of primer before painting if your project has been previously painted or if your painting untreated wood and would like to stop any wood knots from appearing through your paint. If you're using two coats of primer, lightly sand with 120 grade sandpaper once the second coat is dry. This will add some texture, helping the paint adhere. Be sure to clean away the dust before painting. If you are unsure if your surface needs priming, you can look back at our project preparation page. 
  • It's Time To Paint: First, make sure to give Cornish Mineral Paint a good mix, to insure all pigments are mixed together. Once you have done this, open your lid and then dip your brush into the paint, wipe off any excess, and apply a thin layer to your project. Allow the first coat to dry for a minimal one hour, and then repeat the process. We recommend applying paint following the direction of any wood grain to prevent a textured finish. If you would like a textured finish, known as a ‘’shabby’’ finish, then you can paint in all different directions. Applying a thin coat will give you more control over the paint and allow for less mess, drips or a poor finish. Take your time and enjoy the process, because if you rush things, that could cause streaking, bubbling, or a gloppy paint situation. If needed, repeat for a third coat. Rich colours and light shades such as white may require up to four coats of paint, and this is normal, so do not worry if the paint finish is sheer, as the paint will build up. 

Need extra help? Reece & Joe and our family of Cornish Mineral Paint stockists are always here to help, So if you require any additional help then please get in touch with us. You can email info@cornishmineralpaint.co.uk