Preparation of the surface to be painted
The surface has to be very well cleaned and completely dried. It is compulsory the removal of mould fungus, unctuous substances, dust. In the event of re- painting, must be removed the eventual rotten materials and those points of the old painting which have lost the absorbtion capacity. The glossy surfaces shall be primed in order to favor the pores. This is a compulsory stage for the achievement of a good absorption of the paint. All the surfaces which follow to be painted necessitate previous priming.

Priming
The efficiency of the primer is proved, so that the life duration of the painting system is extended, when the primer has enetered in the wall and did not formed crust. This is achieved by the recomended appropriate dilution.

Instruments of application
Instruments used for the application of paint must not be damaged from previous uses. The instruments must be clean and should be cleaned after each use with the appropriate cleaning agent.

Environment conditions for the paint application
Environment temperature is not allowed to be lower than 5 degrees and to exceed 35 degrees. Avoid painting in rainy days or with a high percentage of moisture. (higher than 70 %).

Dilution
Use appropriate dilutions, conform to the color and instructions applied on the package of each product.

Paints storage
After completing the paint job, the remaining paint can be stored in a tightly closed container placed in a well ventillated area without direct sunlight or heat exposure.  Warning! Water based diluents when stored for extended periods of time might undergo biochemical reactions due to the formation of mildue (molds/fungus) producing an unpleasant smell. If this is observed the paint should discarded in an appropriate manner.

Cleaning off the dirt surfaces
Surfaces that have been painted with Apla products and have been soiled by dirt, can be cleaned very easy with domestic cleaning materials. Avoid the utilization of a very hard brush for cleaning.
IT is advised to follow strictly the instructions of utilization LABELED on the product's packages.

How to apply the adhesive on the polystyrene plate
The adhesive AplaStyrofix (1) is applied on the plate in points and on the boards, and if the wall surface is smooth, the mortar is laid flat on the whole surface of the expanded polystyrene plate AplaEfoam EPS or extruded polystyrene XPS (2), with a toothed smoother AplaTool (3).

How to start the thermo- system setting
On the socket (1) is mounted a metal profile to start the setting (2), which is fitted with dowels (3) every 30 centimeters. The profile’s thickness is chosen depending of the polystyrene plates’ thickness. First polystyrene plates are arranged starting from the building’s downside corner. The second line of plates is placed so that the corner of a plate in the second line be placed in the middle of the upper side of the bottom line plate.

How to fix the polystyrene plates
Plates of XPS extruded polystyrene or AplaEfoam EPS expanded polystyrene are fixed on the wall with dowells too (2), to prevent the vertical sliding of the plates until the adhesive is dried. Dowels are mounted on the average of 6 pcs/m2.

How to apply the thermo- insulation near doors and windows

In case of walls openings – windows, doors – the plate must be cut- out so that to enclose the opening’s corner. The thermo- insulation plates must be additionally reinforced with patches of glass fiber mesh in the respective corners, in order to avoid further cracks. Thermal insulation is made also to the jambs..

How to apply the reinforcing layer

After thermoinsulation plates fixing, two layers of AplaStyrofix (1), with AplaMesh (2) glass fiber reinforcing mesh inserted in between. At the joints, the meshes has to be overlayed for 10 cm. It is recommended the utilization of the corner profiles reinforced with glass fiber mesh.

How to prepare a room for painting

1. Remove the furniture which is easy to be carried out of the room. Transfer the remained furniture in the middle of the room and cover it with linen. Use protection tapes (usually of dark color) around the ornaments, doors and windows and cover with linen the floor.

2. Cover the smoke detector (if existing) with a plastic bag and stop the air conditioned operation or heating station during the grinding and painting.

3. Remove the old paint surplus by grinding, pending on the situation, with abrasive paper or with a scraper, until reaching a smooth surface.

4. Fill the holes and cracks with AplaStoco putty, using a putty knife.

5. Level the irregular surfaces with AplaFill – white cement based filler.

6. For special repairs, use special techniques of coverage. For example, use resins based materials for carpentry. Grind until you reach an uniform surface.

7. Wash all surfaces with detergent and warm water in order to remove the grease and dirt. Use grease remover for paint, for glossy surfaces.

8. Rinse out with water to remove any trace of detergent. Let the surfaces to dry easy, then wipe the dust and vacuum if necessary.

9. Stop the electric power in the room, then remove the protection covers of all electrric devices, plugs, and switches. Apply small pieces of protection paper over the plugs and switches, to protect them of paint. It is safer to cut the electric power, during the room painting, but if you decide to restart the electric power, work carefully around electric installations.

10. Remove the covers of the lighting hanging devices and cover the rest with plastic bags. Keep in mind to not switch on the lights (melted plastic smells bad). Paint within the daytime in order to profit of the natural light or use an extension for bringing a lighting source from a neighbor room.

11. Do not forget to cover the air conditioned machines and heating stations.

12. Every time apply the primer AplaInprime before the paint because this will assure a better adherence of the paint, a better fixation of the color, will considerably reduce the paint consumption, will assure a higher resistance of the paint in time and will maintain an intact color for a long time.

How to prepare the walls of gypsum boards for painting

1. Cover and fill any crack or hole with AplaJointFiller – jointing filler for gypsum boards.

2. Allow AplaJoint Filler to dry any spot. If not, you will be having problems with paint coming off, cracking or air bubbles forming.

3. Wipe any efflorescence (white crystals which form a powder, as long as the gypsum is getting dried) with a piece of rough cloth. Follow-up and continue the wiping till this does not appear anymore.

4. Prime the wall with AplaInprime interior primer and then apply two layers of AplaPremio, AplaLux or AplaChrom, allowing each layer sufficient time to dry.

How to paint a room

For painting a room, start with the ceiling and continue with the walls. Finish with pillars.

1. Prepare the walls and the ceiling. Use AplaInprime interior primer to cover any dark shade which you cannot remove (soils, nodes, ink, dark color paint). If not, the respective area will be seen trough the paint. Never paint a wall paper.

2. Be sure the room is well ventilated.

3. Prepare to apply three layers: first layer of AplaInprime interior primer and the further two layers of AplaPremio, AplaLux or AplaChrom paint. Every time, use the primer for the non- uniform and re- painted surfaces. Rough surfaces absorb the paint like a sponge, or they could reject it.

4. Paint all corners with a paint brush of 5-7 cm. Use the same brush to paint the areas where the ceiling meets the walls, around the doors and windows, above the floor and around any detail, or where the paint roller does not fit.

5. Put the paint in a small tray, dip the roller into the paint, and then roll it on the tray’s grid to eliminate the paint’s excess, and then apply on the ceiling and the walls. Put only a small amount of paint on the paint roller to apply uniform the paint and to eliminate excessive consumption.

6. Try to spread the paint with the roller prior that the paint applied with the brush to become dried, so that both paints (by roller and by brush) to be combined properly. Draw the letter “W” with the roller, on a surface of cca 1, 50 m and then fill it, so you can be sure of an uniform paint application. Come as closest as possible to the corners.

7. Cover the buckets and other paint recipients when you don’t use them. Keep a cloth and a brush at hand to remove the drops in excess and other inappropriate traces of the painting process. If a paint drop dries too rapidly and you did not clean it in time, let it dry completely, clean it later or paint over it.

8. Always wash the roller immediately, with warm water and do not let the paint to dry on it, because it became useless.

How to prepare the paint

1. Follow the instructions specified on the package to open the bucket of paint.

2. Mix the paint, using a robust pallet, sufficiently long to reach the bottom of the bucket and stir well until all sediments are mixed with the liquid.

3. Dilute the paint, but no more than it is recommended by the producer. Do not dilute the oil based paints with water and do not dilute the water based paint with solvents.

4. Stir well again.

5. Be aware that small differences of shades may occur between different packages, according to their capacity. When you are close to reach the last 25% of the amount of paint in a package, mix it with paint of the next package, so that shade differences to not appear.

How to clean the house outside

Keeping clean the outside of the house, not only makes it looks well, but it helps avoid problems that may pass as unobservable.

1. Wash the outside of the house once or twice in a year, pending on the quality of the air in the area where the house is placed, but also the amount of dust deposited by the wind and rain.

2. Use a compressor with a strong water jet. Wash from upside to the downside, in order to keep the dirt water far from the zones that have been already cleaned.

3. Prepare a solution with 1% trisodic phosphate dissolved in cca 4 liters of water. Use this solution to clean the walls, masonry, walls plated with stone and painted surfaces.

4. Treat the mildew with regular bleaching agent, applied with a sponge. The dark soils can be cleaned with a wire brush and a solution prepared of ¼ cup of hydrochloric acid in 2 ½ cups of water.

5. Eliminate the rust from the masonry and windows, by cleaning it with a cloth impregnated with kerosene.

6. Restore the natural beauty of the wood with the oxalic acid (sorrel salt) applied with a brush, with the observance of the recommendations of the producer regarding the dilution.

How to prepare the outside to be painted

1. It is important to know that, because of the endanger to bad weather, you must assure the outside of the house against the action of water, wind, strong sun, mildew, moisture particularly.

2. Evaluate the surface which for you will need the paint, by multiplying the length of each wall with its height and then add 25-30 %. Apply the paint, and what remains use it for small further repairs. Each paint brand has a certain coverage specified on the package. AplaCryl exterior paint has one of the highest covering powers: 12-16m2/l/layer.

3. Buy good quality paint. Usually you get what you pay and a first quality indicator is the price.

4. Procure a good, robust ladder. You will use it for a long period. Be sure it is high enough. You don’t want to balance on the last step with a bucket of paint in your hand. If the building is too high, get scaffoldings.

5. Buy good quality rollers and brushes. The ones designed for exterior painting are usually less fine than the interior ones. Apla offers various AplaTool rollers.

6. Buy sufficient abrasive paper, sufficient scrapers, outside putty (see AplaStoco).

7. Buy sufficient masking tape (see Apla Masking Tape) for limiting the surfaces that don’t have to be painted. (windows and doors frames, lighting fixtures, etc) and linen for the protection of plants and alleys, neighbors’ cars and properties.

8. Consider solvent based paint for the outside joinery. This paint dries slowly and is harder to be used, but is more resistant in time. Use it mainly for the doors, balustrades and terraces.

9. For the walls, choose acrylic paints of very good quality AplaCryl or decorative plastering textured AplaTencoPlast, with good flexibility and high resistance to extreme atmospheric conditions. Before these, always apply an acrylic prime on solvent base, special for outside, like is AplaExprime. This penetrates the pores of the surfaces forming a uniform and un-penetrable surface which assures a better adherence and spreading of the finale layer of paint or decorative plastering on the support surface and reduces the paint consumption. Furthermore, it has a remarkable resistance to the alkalinity of the concrete walls, fact that increases considerably the resistance in time of the acrylic washable paints or colored plastering. In the case of applying of a colored finishing, the primer extends the life duration of the respective color.

How to paint the exterior of a house

1. Repair or replace all damaged surfaces: wood, plastering, masonry or metal.

2. Wash all surfaces that are to be painted. Use a high pressure water spray, for higher efficiency. Wait till the entire surface dries well.

3. Use abrasive paper to remove any trace of exfoliating paint and obtain rough surfaces if necessary. Use a piece of cloth to wipe the paint drops. Hire a specialized company if you consider the exterior of your house needs to be grinded.

4. Seal all the holes and cracks of the walls with AplaStoco. To smoothly level the surfaces, use AplaFill for exterior with red label.

5. Cover with Apla Masking Tape the borders and corners of the doors and windows or anywhere two different materials meet, e.g. where the frames meet the masonry.

6. Use AplaStoco – knife putty for wood and masonry to seal cracks of the joinery.

7. Cover the dark soils (wood knots, old paint, mordant stains) with AplaExprime exterior primer. The same primer is indicated also for the surfaces with mildew, after being removed the moisturing source and the respective surface cleaned –up and well dried. You can purchase primers or special additives against the mildew.

8. Polish all surfaces, rough or glossy. For the paint’s application you need a surface partially rough. Remove the dust resulted after the polishing.

9. Remove or cover all accessories, sanitary or electric installations.

10. Use pieces of cloth for any surface that you don’t want to stain (plants, lanes, cars or neighbors’ properties).

11. Apply AplaExprime exterior primer on all rough surfaces. Have in mind the fact that each type of surface – paint, metal, wood or plaster – needs a special type of primer.

12. Allow the primer to dry then apply AplaCryl exterior paint in two layers or AplaTencoPlast textured decorative plaster in a single layer. Let each layer to dry according to the indications on the package. Use a brush for joinery, for corners and for the places difficult to access and a roller or sprayer for other surfaces. If you apply AplaTencoPlast, protect the walls against rain for the first 24 hours since application.

How to select the color range for a room

1. Decide which colors you like and wish to use in your room.

2. Consult home decorating dedicated magazines for suggestions. Your wardrobe, a valuable picture, a carpet or a fine tissue can inspire you.

3. Appreciate your choice according to the light in the room. A room with limited light seems darker when the dark colors are predominant. When the purplish or rusty colors are found among your preferred colors, if you wish to create a bright atmosphere, radiant, use these colors for the decorative cushions, vases, floor lamps, candles, and other color accents.

4. Use each color many times, in order to get an unitary scheme. When a color is used only once, this seems that it was introduced in the room and then it was forgotten.

5. Stick or fix, with pins, on a special panel, pieces of paper in the colors which you desire. With these samples, you can vary the room’s illumination, so that to obtain a pleasant ambient. You have to appreciate the colors or combination of colors according to the light in the room.

6. Use compatible colors for the spaces which seems to combine themselves. For example, a bedroom in tones of bleu, yellow- maize or navy blue will better fit with a bathroom in which you use light blue and butter color, than with a bathroom in green-sage and grey.

How to create a monochromatic scheme in a room (a dominant color in the room)

1. Use neutral color, like white, „dirty” white, grey, grey-ashen or beige, in order to create a sofisticated, calm atmosphere. Add accents of color from the same pallet – for example, use accents of brown- reddish or dark golden in a scheme where the beige prevails.

2. Use different textures and brightness in order to add a plus of refinement. In a beige room, an oak floor, a small carpet of agave fibers, semi shiny orange walls, a sofa of embroidery and a table of maple wood are appropriate.

3. Use strong textures, like a small fury carpet or a large cuff of velvet to create a familiar corner in a room where you have used cold colors, like green or white- blue.

4. Put small accents of color in various places to add a plus of vitality to the room. For example, put a picture with a great spot of red paint, a pot with red apples, a vase with red tulips, a phone set and/ or a cushion of red velvet in a living- room in which prevails the white. Never use a color accent only one time. Repeat utilization of the color accent guarantees the unity of the desired scheme.

5. Harmonize the room in which you have used a monochrome scheme with the adjacent spaces. For example, a living room in which prevails the white, with green color accents matches with a hall with light- green walls with accents in dark green and light- yellow and white floor.

How to choose the color so that create the sensation of space

1. Use neutral colors for the walls, to create the sensation of space and to create the illusion that the walls are more far than real.

2. Create sensation of aired space, by painting the walls in white and using accessories of white color, which reflects the light.

3. Reflect the light and make the room to seem larger with light colored and radiant floors and ceramic tiles.

4. Enlarge the room with the light shadows of yellow paint and wall paper with small prints, in light colors.

5. Use pastel colors to light a narrow hall, a small bathroom or bedroom.

6. Make the ceiling to seam higher, by using wallpaper with thin stripes in pastel colors and white.

7. Choose furniture pieces of light color wood.

How to choose the colors that induce a certain mood

1. Use warm colors, radiant, like coral red or apple green, to create a warm, intimate atmosphere, in a family room. These colors can warm a cold, insufficiently lighted room.

2. Cheer a room by using yellow. This color raises the spirit, in a kitchen or washroom for instance.

3. Consider red, when you wish to animate a room, for example the office.

4. Let soothing colors like sober-green, light–blue give you a calm mood in the bedroom, for example. These colors can cool a room, so that are indicated in bright rooms.

5. To counteract the stress, consider neutral colors, like pale grey, ashen or beige, which induce a mood of quietness. These colors can chill a room so they are indicated in bright rooms.

6. Create a youthful atmosphere, joyful, with the primary colors. These colors are very appropriate in the children’ room or play room.

7. Paint the walls in dark, strong colors, like dark grey, brick red, slate-grey or sapphire-blue, when you wish to create a sophisticated atmosphere, formal or special. 8. Avoid the bright white, which creates a cold, rigid atmosphere, reminding of a surgery room. White can be often associated with rose, ivory, or light grey traces.

How to choose the best color of paint for a room

1. Study the colors cards from the specialized magazines and choose the examples you like the most. Take with you these samples when you go to buy the paint.

2. Keep in mind that usually the color is more intensive on the wall than on a paper sample. When you have doubts choose a shade with 1- 2 tones lighter.

3. Consider rose and yellow shades create a warm atmosphere. Green, blue and grey are cold colors.

4. Avoid bright white, excepting ultramodern, minimalist spaces, because will appear like very austere, creating a sterile effect, of a surgery room. It is preferable white which contains traces of peach, rose or beige color.

5. Use courageous colors schemes in the rooms where you don’t stay too much time, like the bathroom or the place for lunch. These colors can tire you, if used in rooms where you stay much time, like the office, kitchen or living room.

6. Take with you a sample of the material that you would like to use. If you don’t have a material sample, take a pillow from the sofa, the bed clothes or a piece of curtain.

7. Begin with buying a small quantity of paint, which you apply by brush or roller on a limited wall area. Or test the color on a plywood, a fiber plate fragment of adequate dimensions (at least 3 m2), or a cardboard piece. Stay in the front of the wall and appreciate the color in different lights including artificial light, for a few days.

8. Test a combination of two colors, like one color for carving and another for the wall, by painting two plates in two different colors or painting the same plate in two different colors.

9. Repeat the test and play with colors by adding more peach, less rose or what you consider more appropriate, using small packages of paint. It is true that the samples of different colors will increase the price of the work, but will help you to avoid applying a high quantity of paint of an inappropriate color and then the repaint the entire surface.

How to remove the wallpaper

1. Move away the furniture from the walls and cover the floor with linen.

2. Choose a corner or a border of the wallpaper and try to remove it by hand or by using a spatula or special scraper for wallpaper.

3. If the paper does not unglue or only the print unglues, carefully scrape off the paper with a razor blade or another special instrument for wallpaper.

4. Apply water on the wall, combined with house made soap, or a special solution for the wallpaper removal, using a paint roller, a gun with water or a big sponge. Wet well the wall more times if necessary. Paper will absorb the water until the adhesive begins to unglue.

5. You can also use a steam machine for the wallpaper removal.

6. Try again to unglue the wallpaper with the hand. It can also be necessary the use of a scraper or a spatula.

7. Wash the major part of adhesive, until you reach the initial paint or primer. Wait until the wall dries completely, then use abrasive paper to remove completely the wallpaper’s, adhesive or plaster traces.

How to paint around the window

1. Remove old paint traces with a scraper or with a grinding machine. Grind all surfaces which you wish to paint.

2. If you want to paint the window’ s outside, check the putty between the glass and frame. If it is cracked or crushes, replace it.

3. Verify the outside to discover other areas through which the water penetrates between the windows frame and the wall, and even inside the masonry.

4. Remove or cover with Apla masking tape all elements of iron, locks, door handles, bolts and hinges.

5. Apply masking tapes near the surface you paint. Then it will be easier to clean it.

6. Cover all cracks and finely level the frame surface with the AplaStoco putty.

7. Use a primer if the surfaces are rough. Choose an appropriate primer for the respective material (wood or metal).

8. Apply a layer of glossy or semi- glossy paint. It is more resistant and easier to clean.

9. Use a brush with cone-shaped head and paint from upside to downside. Paint the frame and then the wall around it. Do not paint keeping the windows closed. 10. Scrape any drop of paint out of the glass, with a special scraper, after that the paint is dried. Easy place the scraper side between the paint and glass and then use it like a spatula, to remove the rest of paint from the glass.

How to use a paint spray

1. Protect very well the surfaces tangent to the surface that you wish to paint. The device blows a high amount of paint in air and not all the paint reaches the wall. It can float like a fog and can reach places where you don’t want to, like other rooms.

2. Insulate the respective surface if you work inside. Outside, never use the device when the wind blows and cover your car, as well as the neighbors’ cars, plants, lanes and even the exposed walls of the neighborhood buildings.

3. Keep in mind the fact that the major part of the devices operates on the same principle. The paint is put in a tank and the pump sprays it out through a hose.

4. Pour the paint in the tank using a funnel. Use a sieve to avoid the presence of impurities into the paint tank.

5. Dilute the paint, but no more than the producer’s recommendation, otherwise, the coverage will be lower or the paint resistance in time can be affected.

6. Fully cover yourself: wear a long- sleeves T- shirt and gloves eventually. Wear protection glasses.

7. Start working from a corner, from upside to downside, with calm and firm movements; a great amount of paint reaches the respective surface in a short period of time. It is preferable to apply more thin layers than one thick layer.

8. Take care to not create paint traces. These may occur as result of the overlaps.

How to hire a house painter

1. Decide which surfaces of the house need painting.

2. Establish which works must be done before the painting start. For example, you wish to replace or repair the ornaments on the walls, to repair the damaged walls or to replace the doors.

3. Establish which colors and what kind of paint you will use. Procure paint color cards. The painter you’re about to hire can offer suggestions.

4. Contact more painters or specialized companies. Ask recommendations from the neighbors, friends, constructors or architects.

5. Ask the painter to evaluate surfaces that must be painted and to fix a price. Make sure he presents the same indications, surfaces that needs painting, number of layers, etc.

6. Ask references from the house painter and contact the persons he mentioned. Were they pleased? Has the painter finished in due time the work and in a professional manner?

7. Choose the painter according to the price, quality (achievements) and your own evaluation.

8. Make a contract in which you specify the work that must be performed, total cost, payment terms, date of beginning and approximate date of the work finishing.

9. Be sure the contract specifies the paint’s brand and the colors which shall be used for each room, number of layers to be applied and the paint consumption for the respective surface.

10. Be sure the contract stipulates that the house painter is responsible for cleaning and removal of the paints soils from the surfaces, doors, windows.

11. Move away the furniture and objects which can be moved from the room before the work’s start. Objects that cannot be moved must be put in the middle of the room and covered with a linen for protection.