Different strokes for different fol
painting & decorating
Different strokes for
Feature walls are in (photo courtesy Vision Wallcoverings).
14
nzhj | February 2012
painting & decorating
different folks Is 2012 the year of wallpaper? Is grey the new white? Nick Walsh reports on market trends in the ever-evolving painting and decorating category. Around the traps, we’re hearing that the painting and decorating category has had a good start to the year with strong sales in interior paints trumping weather dependent exterior paints sales. Steady as she goes then? Not quite, for one thing the consumer dollar has continued to shift its tact… This may come as little surprise to readers, especially considering the much talked about “price wars” raging between big boxes. Industry authorities say that historically the rise of big boxes hasn’t affected the large-scale specialty stores as much as it has the smaller independent stores, with many saying the market has evened out with fewer players. Has the proportion of customers going to speciality stores for their paints changed in the wake of the rise and rise of the big barn format? Karen Warman, Marketing Manager of Resene: “We don’t see that there is really a mammoth difference. The top end customers do tend to go to trade to buy. When the market wasn’t doing so well everyone moved down a bit. So it’s not so much that people aren’t still going to independents, it’s more that there is less of a pool and the bottom of the pool has dropped out. When the market goes back to being more prosperous, everybody moves back to their original positions. So the proportions of the market are almost the same. It’s just that there is less of a market to get to.” So consumers have reshuffled their purchasing habits in line with a changing market. Paint pundits are also noticing that particularly when it comes to interior paints, there has been a move towards lower cost products. Karl Miers, Technical Manager at Jacobsen Colourplus for Colour
RAW MATERIAL COSTS PROVING A HEADACHE? In discussion with suppliers in the paint market, there is a growing concern about raw material costs. Specifically, rising titanium dioxide pigment pricing has squeezed margins for paint manufacturers putting considerable pressure on pricing. For the uninitiated, Titanium Dioxide, when used as a pigment, has a wide range of applications, from paint to sunscreen to food colouring. We’re told that for most white paints, Titanium dioxide makes up about 25% of the cost of the paint. Sources also say that due to unfaltering demand the indication is that pricing will continue to rise this year. We’ll keep you posted on how matters progress…
February 2012 | nzhj
15
painting & decorating
PAINT: TRADE TIPS Don’t know your paints as well as you’d like? Bevan Tutty, Dulux National Trainer passes on a handy list of important factors customers should be made aware of before purchasing paint. When it comes to dealing with customers on the shop floor, Bevan Tutty often recommends a change of tack to shop staff: “People talk about the features of products a lot but people do not buy products for features, they buy products for their benefits. So we’ve actually switched our training from talking about features to talking about benefits. “For example, if someone is looking at buying paint and the staff person says ‘it’s water-based’, say to yourself,‘What does that mean to the customer?’ I.e. you can get two coats on in one day there’s not much smell and you can wash your brushes and rollers out in water. “The more information a customer has the better their buying decision will be. These are just seven questions (in acronym form: QESSCOW) I invented to assist sales staff in helping customers. People just want the facts to get the job done.” • Quality – The quality of paint they customers want to use. Are they after a good quality paint that does the job for them or are they buying on price? • Environment – Is it going to be used inside or outside? In a high use area or a low use area? • Sheen level –The higher the gloss, the harder wearing it is, the lower the sheen the less wearability. • Surface – Is it a sound already painted surface or does it need some preparation before they put the top coat on? • Colour – The first thing that most customers think about when it comes to choosing paint. • Oil-based – Is this a better solution than water-based? • Water-based – Is this a better solution than oil-based?
Plus explains: “Customers are not as interested in the guarantees being pushed by premium brands. It’s really just about the colour and the price. We don’t have any problems with getting premium pricing for exterior products, but when it comes to interior we’ve definitely seen a shift to what we’d call our second tier or trade brands from ultra-premium.” There is also the perception out there that the two formats are serving distinct sets of customers, with one supplier saying: “We often use an analogy with a supermarket. There are certain people that buy there meat at the supermarket, there are certain people that go to the butcher and some that go either way.” Alan Heatlie, GM Merchandise & Business Development of Guthrie Bowron: “In the last eight years the big barns have certainly grabbed a lot of market share but there is still definitely room for the paint specialist. There is a perception of quality, particularly for an item that is quite expensive and not something that you want to be buying every year. We generally find that the premium brands are selling better as well. Our value offers are not the volume sellers. People are still very brand- and quality-orientated.” OFF THE WALL – THE RETURN OF THE FEATURE WALL Though it’s been trending for the past couple of years, wallpaper is officially back in vogue, at least that’s the word from suppliers and retailers. That isn’t to say that consumers are looking to plaster their entire house with wallpaper circa 1980. Rather, they are nominating to select feature walls in a few choice rooms in the house.
16
nzhj | February 2012
Karen Warman clarifies: “Statement walls is where it is going. Because wallpaper suppliers are focussing on that for their designs there is more and more choice. The market has gone that way and everybody is going with it.” Why wallpaper? Alan Heatlie puts it plainly: “Decorative element and fashion. You can achieve that with paint but there is an obstacle in that you would need a lot of skill and you would be basing it on solid colours. Where as wallpaper is pretty easy and relatively inexpensive.” For retailers and suppliers alike the trend has resulted in more frequent but lower volume orders for wallpaper. As a relatively inexpensive decorating option, consumers are increasingly eager to invest in a few rolls of wallpaper rather than a couple of pails of paint. In this respect, ‘paste the wall’ technology has also made the once bothersome task of putting up wallpaper easier and more appealing to the DIY market. Unlike traditional paper backed wallcoverings, paste the wall products are made on a synthetic, non-woven backing which offers significant advantages when installing and removing. Piers Braddock, Sales & Marketing Manager for Pacific Wallcoverings, says: “It means you can be brave about [choosing]. We love to look at stuff and say: ‘that’s amazing, I’m going to do that at home.’ But by the time it actually happens at home it has watered down a little bit. With paste the wall, you’re looking at two or three rolls and a weekend’s work and you’ve changed your entire room.” And there’s more to come: “Over the next 2-3 years, all of Pacific Wallcoverings, products will be produced on this new base product to reflect this move forward in technology. We have already seen an almost 100% change from our suppliers overseas, and we need to keep pace with those changes here in New Zealand.” WHAT’S HOT TO TROT? What’s hot in wallpaper? Forecasts for 2012 say wallpaper offerings will coordinates colours, textures and even fabrics, offering a bold array of options for consumers. Pundits say that the trend has its beginnings in Europe where consumers are increasingly using high value wallpaper in a wider range of rooms in the house. In New Zealand too, though traditionally most common in bedrooms, wallpaper has made a comeback in lounges, bathrooms and even kitchens. Karen Warman says: “It almost like people are saying: ‘Here’s my house – I’ll have two to three features that are wall paper.’ Then they’ll go and dot them around the house and it’s not necessarily where you would expect them to put it. The feature wall is normally the one by the fireplace but people aren’t wallpapering that, they’re painting the sidewalls. It’s almost like the anti-feature wall.” Interesting to note that the wallpaper revival has also been helped along by strong sales in Christchurch. Pundits say the drastic uptake in the region stems from the fact that wallpaper is more robust to the shock of earthquakes then painted walls. As one supplier says: “Wallpaper rides aftershocks a whole lot better than a fresh coat of paint.” It is also suggested that insurance payouts encourage homeowners to replace like for like, meaning that houses with damaged wallpapered walls have been re-wallpapered. Wallpaper wary readers need not fret. Though the trend has become well and truly entrenched in the market, suppliers are quick to point out that the days of decorating every wall in the house are not likely to return anytime soon. “People are just use to having painted finishes around them so you do get use to the reflectants of a paint – wallpaper tends to deaden the light a lot more. If you look at all the other surfaces that are developing in
MPM 8135 02/12
0800 SELLEYS (735 539) • www.selleys.co.nz
painting & decorating
PASTE THE WALL – EXPLAINED With paste the wall technology, wallpaper application has never been easier…Just prepare the walls as normal and roll the paste straight onto them, the wallpaper goes up dry, no mess, no fuss. Some of the benefits are: • Less mess: The product hangs onto the wall dry – no more messing with water troughs and wet towels. • Faster application: Simply roll paste onto the prepared wall surface. Traditional pasting methods like pasting the paper, or using a pasting machine can still be used, should the installer prefer. • Neater seams: Very little movement in the product whilst drying. This goes a long way to ensuring reduced instances of gapping, or peaking at the seams. • Quick removal: Unlike paper backed wall coverings, paste the wall products remove in one piece. This makes replacing one drop on a wall possible – great for correcting hanging errors, and easy to re-decorate at a later date. www.visionwalls.co.nz
places it tends to be more paint style finishes,” says Karen Warman. In contrast with the bold and brightly coloured wallpaper options currently available in the market, for paints things have been a little tamer. Alan Heatlie of Guthrie Bowron confirms: “Whites and neutrals have taken hold and that is here to stay for a while. There hasn’t been a lot of change over the past two or three years, in the tints that we do- the greys are coming stronger. That is the only real significant change that we can see.” Across the board, Suppliers say that whites, greys and neutrals are where it’s at in terms of colour – in exterior paints too, consumers are increasingly using grey tints instead of the previously favoured terracotta reds for porches and decks. While colour forecasts are looking ahead at brighter options, the steady trend to neutrals may reflect a stubbornness on the part of consumers to be easily swayed by colour trends. WELL INTO WATERBORNE As we found last year, waterborne paints are now firmly entrenched in the market. In fact most suppliers we talked to say that between 85-95% of their offerings are now water-based. The remaining 5-15% offered by suppliers is largely made up of specialised solvent-based products, the likes of urethane undercoat paints. Colour Plus’ Karl Miers says: “It’s really just the undercoats that are holding on. But as far as DIY paint goes, we shouldn’t be too far away from a time when someone can paint anything inside or outside their house with a water-based product. The legislation in Europe and the
NEW BOSTIK PROMOTION!
FEB 1ST – MAR 31ST
Buy any specially marked Bostik construction adhesive and your customers could win a gold nugget worth $500! • There are 15 gold nuggets to be won! • High Impact POS display! • Major Radio campaign in February! Talk to your Bostik representative and stock up now. Only while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply, visit www.bostik.co.nz for full details.
Ph: 0508 222 777 Email: [email protected]
18
nzhj | February 2012
painting & decorating
US has probably helped some of the raw material manufacturers come up with some more development. So we’re seeing products that are getting as good as solvent-based alternatives.” Though a little slow to adopt, the market for exteriors is also embracing waterbased alternatives more than ever before. Miers adds: “Most major paint companies have water-based deck and furniture stains on the market. They give as good a performance as solvent-based products. Our view of it as that wherever we have a product that is a solvent-based product – we need to have a water-based alternative. There is that question being asked by certain people. It doesn’t matter whether it’s inside or out. Some people just don’t like using solventbased paint.” Anecdotally, consumer and supplier demand for water-based paints is high. But as we’ve been hearing for a while now, a move to 100% waterbased paints is not likely to occur without the passing of VOC legislation in New Zealand. The good news in this regard is that we hear our closest neighbour Australia is quickly approaching resolution on this issue. With the New Zealand market being dominated by at least two players that are Australian-based, legislation across the ditch may be the prompt the New Zealand market needs to follow suit. With a strong start to the year, 2012 is looking to be a good year for the painting and decorating category. Now check out some of the latest product offerings and product knowledge tips from our painting and decorating suppliers to get you inspired.
FOREST FOR THE TREES Wattyl Forestwood offers a choice of traditional, oil-based and new water-based stains that enhance the look of exterior timber while offering timber protection. These products add colour to timber, while also allowing the grain to show through. Wattyl Forestwood has the added benefit of helping to prevent mould forming. It’s this protection that also helps to prevent cracking, warping and splitting, keeping weatherboards, decks, fences, pergolas and outdoor furniture looking great season after season. Wattyl Forestwood is available in a wide range of popular timber colours. www.wattyl.co.nz
NEW!
ORIgINAL
• NON DRIP • HIGH STRENGTH • LOSP SUITABLE • FLEXIBLE • NZ MADE
IK OLO
ST
HN
C
INTERIOR / EXTERIOR
PRO
GRADE
TE
WALL & FLOORBOARD
GS, wAL ILIN LS CE
LOORS &F
CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE
IDEAL FO R
LOW VAPOUR
O GY B Y B
Toluene Free Low temperature performance Low Odour
Ph: 0508 222 777 Email: [email protected] Supported by THE ROCK radio ad campaign in Feb. 2012. Talk to your Bostik rep and stock up now!
February 2012 | nzhj
19
painting & decorating
Pelican pail Fine flip frame The Jumbo-Koter Flip Frame mini roller adjusts in four directions to reach different angles and faces of a surface. This product is suitable for painting or staining cabinets, railings, shelves, decks, pipes and more. Users can change the shank position during the job by pushing the bright red button. This product’s handle is made of fibreglass-reinforced nylon for added durability and features a solvent-resistant plastic cage. The Jumbo Koter Flip Frame will work with 6½” and 4½” Jumbo-Koter rollers. Jumbo-Koter rollers are made with Wooster branded fabrics to greatly increase capacity and consistently match finishes to full-size rollers. Their open, 3/4” core makes cleaning easy while trilingual, colour-coded bags have headers for better merchandising. www.wooster.co.nz
Attention:
The Wooster Pelican pail is designed to work with a brush and roller and can hold one quart of paint. This product is durable and cleans easily. Users can switch from using a brush to a roller by placing the brush against the back of the pail where an integrated magnet will hold it in place. Features include a security strap that expands to make room for large hands, grip indents for extra control and soft-feel elastomer for comfort. Thanks to a built-in roller grid, all rollers of 4½ inches or smaller work seamlessly with the Pelican. Form fitting Wooster Pelican Liner 3-Packs are designed to work with the Pelican pail, allowing for quick colour changes and easy disposability. www.wooster.co.nz
All Paint Accessory Stockists
y read t n i PE Pa A — T e v i CK hes
A R C ESS R T 3 Easy Steps S d Self A
PEEL
Perfect for fixing s cracks & hole in gib and plaster
Fast Patch Packs
STICK
l l l l l l
PAINT
Paint-ready No Sanding No Mess No Tools Save time and cost Edges can be skimmed for perfect finish
Stress Crack Tape Packs Stress Crack Tape Rolls
Talk to us TODAY about stocking this unique product! 0800 600 789 e
20
[email protected]
nzhj | February 2012
Newfield Group l Christchurch
Whitewash wood New to the Resene Woodsman exterior wood care range is Resene Woodsman Whitewash, a new way to achieve a whitewashed style effect on exterior timber. Resene Woodsman Whitewash is low in VOC compared to solvent borne exterior stains and polyurethanes. It’s easy to apply and suitable for use by professional or home decorators. Resene Woodsman is also available in a range of other colours from traditional timber colours to brighter colours. You can also get it tinted to many Resene Colorwood colours for a consistent colour palette inside and outside. www.resene.co.nz
painting & decorating
Stop that stain
All the gloss
Environmental Choice approved Resene StainLock is a waterborne stain sealer formulated to hold back a wide range of common surface stains to prevent them damaging subsequent topcoats. It is suitable for exterior and interior projects and is designed for overcoating with a Resene waterborne decorative topcoat. This product can be used on substrates such as brickwork, concrete, fibre cement, old stained surfaces, plasterboard and over stained areas where stain transmission is more likely. One coat is all that is needed to lock in most stains. www.resene.co.nz
The Dulux Roof & Trim range has been expanded with a new semi-gloss offering in addition to traditional gloss. The range is available in Dulux Colours of New Zealand and Colorsteel colours so users can match their existing roof colour or find a hue to complement their colour scheme. Dulux Roof & Trim has been developed and tested for NZ conditions and is guaranteed for 15 years against flaking, blistering and peeling. This self-priming product is ideal for covering small surface cracks and resists mould, dirt and stains. It is suitable for all types of roofs including galvanised iron, Colorsteel & concrete tiles and trims such as plastic spouting, timber fascias, masonry and structural metals. www.dulux.co.nz
Jumbo-Koter
®
Is All Grown Up. Chrome-plated steel shank comes in two lengths, 14” and 26½”. Painters can choose 6½” or 4½” rollers and use the same frame for both!
Professional grip fits adult hands and all poles, including the no-twist Sherlock GT.®
MPM8134 02/12
Complete range of sleeves available in 2 sizes, 115mm & 165mm. Precision-engineered cage rolls smoothly every time—and makes Jumbo-Koter refills cost less.
Open core makes cleaning easy. Refills offer more value because mechanics are built into the frame instead.
0800 WOOSTER www.wooster.co.nz February 2012 | nzhj
21
Different strokes for
Feature walls are in (photo courtesy Vision Wallcoverings).
14
nzhj | February 2012
painting & decorating
different folks Is 2012 the year of wallpaper? Is grey the new white? Nick Walsh reports on market trends in the ever-evolving painting and decorating category. Around the traps, we’re hearing that the painting and decorating category has had a good start to the year with strong sales in interior paints trumping weather dependent exterior paints sales. Steady as she goes then? Not quite, for one thing the consumer dollar has continued to shift its tact… This may come as little surprise to readers, especially considering the much talked about “price wars” raging between big boxes. Industry authorities say that historically the rise of big boxes hasn’t affected the large-scale specialty stores as much as it has the smaller independent stores, with many saying the market has evened out with fewer players. Has the proportion of customers going to speciality stores for their paints changed in the wake of the rise and rise of the big barn format? Karen Warman, Marketing Manager of Resene: “We don’t see that there is really a mammoth difference. The top end customers do tend to go to trade to buy. When the market wasn’t doing so well everyone moved down a bit. So it’s not so much that people aren’t still going to independents, it’s more that there is less of a pool and the bottom of the pool has dropped out. When the market goes back to being more prosperous, everybody moves back to their original positions. So the proportions of the market are almost the same. It’s just that there is less of a market to get to.” So consumers have reshuffled their purchasing habits in line with a changing market. Paint pundits are also noticing that particularly when it comes to interior paints, there has been a move towards lower cost products. Karl Miers, Technical Manager at Jacobsen Colourplus for Colour
RAW MATERIAL COSTS PROVING A HEADACHE? In discussion with suppliers in the paint market, there is a growing concern about raw material costs. Specifically, rising titanium dioxide pigment pricing has squeezed margins for paint manufacturers putting considerable pressure on pricing. For the uninitiated, Titanium Dioxide, when used as a pigment, has a wide range of applications, from paint to sunscreen to food colouring. We’re told that for most white paints, Titanium dioxide makes up about 25% of the cost of the paint. Sources also say that due to unfaltering demand the indication is that pricing will continue to rise this year. We’ll keep you posted on how matters progress…
February 2012 | nzhj
15
painting & decorating
PAINT: TRADE TIPS Don’t know your paints as well as you’d like? Bevan Tutty, Dulux National Trainer passes on a handy list of important factors customers should be made aware of before purchasing paint. When it comes to dealing with customers on the shop floor, Bevan Tutty often recommends a change of tack to shop staff: “People talk about the features of products a lot but people do not buy products for features, they buy products for their benefits. So we’ve actually switched our training from talking about features to talking about benefits. “For example, if someone is looking at buying paint and the staff person says ‘it’s water-based’, say to yourself,‘What does that mean to the customer?’ I.e. you can get two coats on in one day there’s not much smell and you can wash your brushes and rollers out in water. “The more information a customer has the better their buying decision will be. These are just seven questions (in acronym form: QESSCOW) I invented to assist sales staff in helping customers. People just want the facts to get the job done.” • Quality – The quality of paint they customers want to use. Are they after a good quality paint that does the job for them or are they buying on price? • Environment – Is it going to be used inside or outside? In a high use area or a low use area? • Sheen level –The higher the gloss, the harder wearing it is, the lower the sheen the less wearability. • Surface – Is it a sound already painted surface or does it need some preparation before they put the top coat on? • Colour – The first thing that most customers think about when it comes to choosing paint. • Oil-based – Is this a better solution than water-based? • Water-based – Is this a better solution than oil-based?
Plus explains: “Customers are not as interested in the guarantees being pushed by premium brands. It’s really just about the colour and the price. We don’t have any problems with getting premium pricing for exterior products, but when it comes to interior we’ve definitely seen a shift to what we’d call our second tier or trade brands from ultra-premium.” There is also the perception out there that the two formats are serving distinct sets of customers, with one supplier saying: “We often use an analogy with a supermarket. There are certain people that buy there meat at the supermarket, there are certain people that go to the butcher and some that go either way.” Alan Heatlie, GM Merchandise & Business Development of Guthrie Bowron: “In the last eight years the big barns have certainly grabbed a lot of market share but there is still definitely room for the paint specialist. There is a perception of quality, particularly for an item that is quite expensive and not something that you want to be buying every year. We generally find that the premium brands are selling better as well. Our value offers are not the volume sellers. People are still very brand- and quality-orientated.” OFF THE WALL – THE RETURN OF THE FEATURE WALL Though it’s been trending for the past couple of years, wallpaper is officially back in vogue, at least that’s the word from suppliers and retailers. That isn’t to say that consumers are looking to plaster their entire house with wallpaper circa 1980. Rather, they are nominating to select feature walls in a few choice rooms in the house.
16
nzhj | February 2012
Karen Warman clarifies: “Statement walls is where it is going. Because wallpaper suppliers are focussing on that for their designs there is more and more choice. The market has gone that way and everybody is going with it.” Why wallpaper? Alan Heatlie puts it plainly: “Decorative element and fashion. You can achieve that with paint but there is an obstacle in that you would need a lot of skill and you would be basing it on solid colours. Where as wallpaper is pretty easy and relatively inexpensive.” For retailers and suppliers alike the trend has resulted in more frequent but lower volume orders for wallpaper. As a relatively inexpensive decorating option, consumers are increasingly eager to invest in a few rolls of wallpaper rather than a couple of pails of paint. In this respect, ‘paste the wall’ technology has also made the once bothersome task of putting up wallpaper easier and more appealing to the DIY market. Unlike traditional paper backed wallcoverings, paste the wall products are made on a synthetic, non-woven backing which offers significant advantages when installing and removing. Piers Braddock, Sales & Marketing Manager for Pacific Wallcoverings, says: “It means you can be brave about [choosing]. We love to look at stuff and say: ‘that’s amazing, I’m going to do that at home.’ But by the time it actually happens at home it has watered down a little bit. With paste the wall, you’re looking at two or three rolls and a weekend’s work and you’ve changed your entire room.” And there’s more to come: “Over the next 2-3 years, all of Pacific Wallcoverings, products will be produced on this new base product to reflect this move forward in technology. We have already seen an almost 100% change from our suppliers overseas, and we need to keep pace with those changes here in New Zealand.” WHAT’S HOT TO TROT? What’s hot in wallpaper? Forecasts for 2012 say wallpaper offerings will coordinates colours, textures and even fabrics, offering a bold array of options for consumers. Pundits say that the trend has its beginnings in Europe where consumers are increasingly using high value wallpaper in a wider range of rooms in the house. In New Zealand too, though traditionally most common in bedrooms, wallpaper has made a comeback in lounges, bathrooms and even kitchens. Karen Warman says: “It almost like people are saying: ‘Here’s my house – I’ll have two to three features that are wall paper.’ Then they’ll go and dot them around the house and it’s not necessarily where you would expect them to put it. The feature wall is normally the one by the fireplace but people aren’t wallpapering that, they’re painting the sidewalls. It’s almost like the anti-feature wall.” Interesting to note that the wallpaper revival has also been helped along by strong sales in Christchurch. Pundits say the drastic uptake in the region stems from the fact that wallpaper is more robust to the shock of earthquakes then painted walls. As one supplier says: “Wallpaper rides aftershocks a whole lot better than a fresh coat of paint.” It is also suggested that insurance payouts encourage homeowners to replace like for like, meaning that houses with damaged wallpapered walls have been re-wallpapered. Wallpaper wary readers need not fret. Though the trend has become well and truly entrenched in the market, suppliers are quick to point out that the days of decorating every wall in the house are not likely to return anytime soon. “People are just use to having painted finishes around them so you do get use to the reflectants of a paint – wallpaper tends to deaden the light a lot more. If you look at all the other surfaces that are developing in
MPM 8135 02/12
0800 SELLEYS (735 539) • www.selleys.co.nz
painting & decorating
PASTE THE WALL – EXPLAINED With paste the wall technology, wallpaper application has never been easier…Just prepare the walls as normal and roll the paste straight onto them, the wallpaper goes up dry, no mess, no fuss. Some of the benefits are: • Less mess: The product hangs onto the wall dry – no more messing with water troughs and wet towels. • Faster application: Simply roll paste onto the prepared wall surface. Traditional pasting methods like pasting the paper, or using a pasting machine can still be used, should the installer prefer. • Neater seams: Very little movement in the product whilst drying. This goes a long way to ensuring reduced instances of gapping, or peaking at the seams. • Quick removal: Unlike paper backed wall coverings, paste the wall products remove in one piece. This makes replacing one drop on a wall possible – great for correcting hanging errors, and easy to re-decorate at a later date. www.visionwalls.co.nz
places it tends to be more paint style finishes,” says Karen Warman. In contrast with the bold and brightly coloured wallpaper options currently available in the market, for paints things have been a little tamer. Alan Heatlie of Guthrie Bowron confirms: “Whites and neutrals have taken hold and that is here to stay for a while. There hasn’t been a lot of change over the past two or three years, in the tints that we do- the greys are coming stronger. That is the only real significant change that we can see.” Across the board, Suppliers say that whites, greys and neutrals are where it’s at in terms of colour – in exterior paints too, consumers are increasingly using grey tints instead of the previously favoured terracotta reds for porches and decks. While colour forecasts are looking ahead at brighter options, the steady trend to neutrals may reflect a stubbornness on the part of consumers to be easily swayed by colour trends. WELL INTO WATERBORNE As we found last year, waterborne paints are now firmly entrenched in the market. In fact most suppliers we talked to say that between 85-95% of their offerings are now water-based. The remaining 5-15% offered by suppliers is largely made up of specialised solvent-based products, the likes of urethane undercoat paints. Colour Plus’ Karl Miers says: “It’s really just the undercoats that are holding on. But as far as DIY paint goes, we shouldn’t be too far away from a time when someone can paint anything inside or outside their house with a water-based product. The legislation in Europe and the
NEW BOSTIK PROMOTION!
FEB 1ST – MAR 31ST
Buy any specially marked Bostik construction adhesive and your customers could win a gold nugget worth $500! • There are 15 gold nuggets to be won! • High Impact POS display! • Major Radio campaign in February! Talk to your Bostik representative and stock up now. Only while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply, visit www.bostik.co.nz for full details.
Ph: 0508 222 777 Email: [email protected]
18
nzhj | February 2012
painting & decorating
US has probably helped some of the raw material manufacturers come up with some more development. So we’re seeing products that are getting as good as solvent-based alternatives.” Though a little slow to adopt, the market for exteriors is also embracing waterbased alternatives more than ever before. Miers adds: “Most major paint companies have water-based deck and furniture stains on the market. They give as good a performance as solvent-based products. Our view of it as that wherever we have a product that is a solvent-based product – we need to have a water-based alternative. There is that question being asked by certain people. It doesn’t matter whether it’s inside or out. Some people just don’t like using solventbased paint.” Anecdotally, consumer and supplier demand for water-based paints is high. But as we’ve been hearing for a while now, a move to 100% waterbased paints is not likely to occur without the passing of VOC legislation in New Zealand. The good news in this regard is that we hear our closest neighbour Australia is quickly approaching resolution on this issue. With the New Zealand market being dominated by at least two players that are Australian-based, legislation across the ditch may be the prompt the New Zealand market needs to follow suit. With a strong start to the year, 2012 is looking to be a good year for the painting and decorating category. Now check out some of the latest product offerings and product knowledge tips from our painting and decorating suppliers to get you inspired.
FOREST FOR THE TREES Wattyl Forestwood offers a choice of traditional, oil-based and new water-based stains that enhance the look of exterior timber while offering timber protection. These products add colour to timber, while also allowing the grain to show through. Wattyl Forestwood has the added benefit of helping to prevent mould forming. It’s this protection that also helps to prevent cracking, warping and splitting, keeping weatherboards, decks, fences, pergolas and outdoor furniture looking great season after season. Wattyl Forestwood is available in a wide range of popular timber colours. www.wattyl.co.nz
NEW!
ORIgINAL
• NON DRIP • HIGH STRENGTH • LOSP SUITABLE • FLEXIBLE • NZ MADE
IK OLO
ST
HN
C
INTERIOR / EXTERIOR
PRO
GRADE
TE
WALL & FLOORBOARD
GS, wAL ILIN LS CE
LOORS &F
CONSTRUCTION ADHESIVE
IDEAL FO R
LOW VAPOUR
O GY B Y B
Toluene Free Low temperature performance Low Odour
Ph: 0508 222 777 Email: [email protected] Supported by THE ROCK radio ad campaign in Feb. 2012. Talk to your Bostik rep and stock up now!
February 2012 | nzhj
19
painting & decorating
Pelican pail Fine flip frame The Jumbo-Koter Flip Frame mini roller adjusts in four directions to reach different angles and faces of a surface. This product is suitable for painting or staining cabinets, railings, shelves, decks, pipes and more. Users can change the shank position during the job by pushing the bright red button. This product’s handle is made of fibreglass-reinforced nylon for added durability and features a solvent-resistant plastic cage. The Jumbo Koter Flip Frame will work with 6½” and 4½” Jumbo-Koter rollers. Jumbo-Koter rollers are made with Wooster branded fabrics to greatly increase capacity and consistently match finishes to full-size rollers. Their open, 3/4” core makes cleaning easy while trilingual, colour-coded bags have headers for better merchandising. www.wooster.co.nz
Attention:
The Wooster Pelican pail is designed to work with a brush and roller and can hold one quart of paint. This product is durable and cleans easily. Users can switch from using a brush to a roller by placing the brush against the back of the pail where an integrated magnet will hold it in place. Features include a security strap that expands to make room for large hands, grip indents for extra control and soft-feel elastomer for comfort. Thanks to a built-in roller grid, all rollers of 4½ inches or smaller work seamlessly with the Pelican. Form fitting Wooster Pelican Liner 3-Packs are designed to work with the Pelican pail, allowing for quick colour changes and easy disposability. www.wooster.co.nz
All Paint Accessory Stockists
y read t n i PE Pa A — T e v i CK hes
A R C ESS R T 3 Easy Steps S d Self A
PEEL
Perfect for fixing s cracks & hole in gib and plaster
Fast Patch Packs
STICK
l l l l l l
PAINT
Paint-ready No Sanding No Mess No Tools Save time and cost Edges can be skimmed for perfect finish
Stress Crack Tape Packs Stress Crack Tape Rolls
Talk to us TODAY about stocking this unique product! 0800 600 789 e
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[email protected]
nzhj | February 2012
Newfield Group l Christchurch
Whitewash wood New to the Resene Woodsman exterior wood care range is Resene Woodsman Whitewash, a new way to achieve a whitewashed style effect on exterior timber. Resene Woodsman Whitewash is low in VOC compared to solvent borne exterior stains and polyurethanes. It’s easy to apply and suitable for use by professional or home decorators. Resene Woodsman is also available in a range of other colours from traditional timber colours to brighter colours. You can also get it tinted to many Resene Colorwood colours for a consistent colour palette inside and outside. www.resene.co.nz
painting & decorating
Stop that stain
All the gloss
Environmental Choice approved Resene StainLock is a waterborne stain sealer formulated to hold back a wide range of common surface stains to prevent them damaging subsequent topcoats. It is suitable for exterior and interior projects and is designed for overcoating with a Resene waterborne decorative topcoat. This product can be used on substrates such as brickwork, concrete, fibre cement, old stained surfaces, plasterboard and over stained areas where stain transmission is more likely. One coat is all that is needed to lock in most stains. www.resene.co.nz
The Dulux Roof & Trim range has been expanded with a new semi-gloss offering in addition to traditional gloss. The range is available in Dulux Colours of New Zealand and Colorsteel colours so users can match their existing roof colour or find a hue to complement their colour scheme. Dulux Roof & Trim has been developed and tested for NZ conditions and is guaranteed for 15 years against flaking, blistering and peeling. This self-priming product is ideal for covering small surface cracks and resists mould, dirt and stains. It is suitable for all types of roofs including galvanised iron, Colorsteel & concrete tiles and trims such as plastic spouting, timber fascias, masonry and structural metals. www.dulux.co.nz
Jumbo-Koter
®
Is All Grown Up. Chrome-plated steel shank comes in two lengths, 14” and 26½”. Painters can choose 6½” or 4½” rollers and use the same frame for both!
Professional grip fits adult hands and all poles, including the no-twist Sherlock GT.®
MPM8134 02/12
Complete range of sleeves available in 2 sizes, 115mm & 165mm. Precision-engineered cage rolls smoothly every time—and makes Jumbo-Koter refills cost less.
Open core makes cleaning easy. Refills offer more value because mechanics are built into the frame instead.
0800 WOOSTER www.wooster.co.nz February 2012 | nzhj
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