ICI Colour Palette October 12, 2008
Posted by admin in : Colour Chart, Painting Tools , add a comment
ICI Paints (now Akzo Nobel) has its own proprietory colour notation for the colours in its colour palette fanbook. Colours present in this range can be produced by ICI’s Dulux Colour Solutions Tinting System. The system can produce the various types of Dulux paints - Pentalite, Pearl Glo, Gloss Finish and Weathershield.
The notation used by Dulux, though different in structure, is similar to the NCS notation (see post) in its use of hue, chromaticness, and "blackness". An example of the Dulux notation is shown below:
The colour notation indicates the degree of hueness, the LRV (Light Reflectance Value), and the chroma value of the colour. 30 BG therefore denotes a colour that is between Blue and Green on a scale of 100. A number higher than 50 means that the colour is closer to Blue while a number less than 50 means that it is closer to Green.
The LRV also ranges between 0 and 100. The bigger the number, the lighter the colour. This number is somewhat similar to the first 2 digits in the NCS notation, which indicates the degree of "blackness".
The last part of the notation is the ‘Chroma’. It is a number between 0 and 999. The chroma of a colour makes the colour either intense or subtle. Therefore, the higher the number, the more intense the colour becomes.
The Dulux colour notation system is yet another type used for specifying colours. I suppose ICI adopted a proprietary system to cater to its strength in colours. Unfortunately, this system, being proprietary, is unlikely to be adopted as industry standard for specification of colours.
ICI Dulux Mouldguard July 15, 2008
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ICI Dulux Pentalite Mouldgard - A933-25664
ICI has come up with a product that solves a particular persistent problem faced by homeowners - mould growth. Mould can appear in many places, but particularly in areas where you don’t want them. Seriously, would you rather have mould present in your storeroom or in your bedroom. I haven’t heard of complaints of mouldy storeroom (yet?) but there seems to be a disproportionate occurrence in bedrooms. Bathrooms and kitchens are also favorite haunts. What they do is create an eyesore on the surface of the paint while slowly digesting the paintwork. With food and moisture, it spreads wider and wider. Before long, the entire wall or ceiling becomes a community of many different types of moulds, giving the wall an unintended spectrum of colours.
Often overlooked also is that moulds are detrimental to health. In a different period in my life, the study of mould spores in the air was, at that time, my only pre-occupation. In infested areas, spore counts can go up to a level that requires quarantine. People have known to fall sick just from exposure. No wonder those TV makeover nannies are usually masked up while cleaning in mould-infested homes.
ICI Dulux Pentalite Mouldgard is designed to prevent moulds from growing on its surface. Like I mentioned, Mouldgard is ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens where mould growth is likely. Some characteristics of the paint :
- White in colour
- Smooth, matt finish
- water-based, water clean-up
- dries in 1 - 2 hours, depending
- no lead content
- interior applications only
- coverage of about 10 sq m per litre
- 5-litre pack size
It is good to first prepare the surface by applying Dulux Fungicidal Wash prior to painting. This will kill off existing moulds and spores.
The recommended recoat time is 1 - 2 hours, but in my own use, the drying time can be as fast as under 1 hour if good ventilation exist. I used a commercial grade fan to aid air flow. I always suggest 2 coats to achieve a good finish.
ICI Dulux Pentalite Mouldgard is my recommendation (even if mould growth is only suspected).
I’ve attached the product brochure and the product datasheet for your reference.
Dulux Weathershield New “Colour Lock” Logo April 9, 2007
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips , add a commentICI has just introduced a sticker on their Dulux Weathershield range of product.
It’s has a "colour lock" logo to announce that this range of exterior paint has "colour retention" property. This is intended to address a concern some home owners have when they paint their exterior walls - fading colours. By using superior tinters that has better UV resistance, the effects of the elements take its toll much later and the paint looks fresh longer. The walls need to be painted less frequently. There is no change in the formula for the paint ie. the colour retention property is already in the current product. The sticker is there to remind you so. See also: Getting a Manufacturer’s Warranty , ICI 2007 Colour Chart
ICI Dulux Colour Card 2007 Available Online March 30, 2007
Posted by admin in : Colour Chart , 2comments
For those who have written in to request, thanks. Sorry it took so long. As usual, you would need Adobe Reader to view the chart. Most already have this software installed. If you don’t, get it here 
. Once Adobe Reader is installed, you can click on the image below to see the entire colour catalogue.
The whites do not show up well. I will see what I can do over the weekend….
Great Painting Tips recommends ICI Solarscreen for Exterior Wood March 20, 2007
Posted by admin in : Painting Tips, Recommendations , 1 comment so farICI Dulux Solarscreen
I’ve often been asked to recommend a good varnish for exterior woodwork such as outdoor deck, garden furniture, wooden roof panel etc. The concern is often peeling and cracking, resulting in run-down look. Some stick to the hardy types such as chengai to avoid having to paint or varnish the wood.
However, while chengai can withstand the harsh exterior conditions, its uncoated appearance leaves much to be desired. A chengai chair I used to own, and one that I resisted varnishing, turned greyish-white after a period of deliberate neglect. It was quite an eyesore considering that my minimum expectation was that it remained brown. Varnish forms a layer on top of the wood, protecting it from physical abrasion as well as from the elements such as ultraviolet rays, rain water and insects. Wood stains work differently from varnishes by penetrating the wood and colouring it at the same time. It does not form a physical layer on the wood and thus its function is solely cosmetic. One exterior varnish that seldom fail me is the ICI Dulux Solarscreen. It is a durable pigmented varnish based on a resin that gives it its protective properties. Resistant to abrasion and water, it is able to filter out UV rays which is the main culprit for causing to wood to peel and crack and turn flaky. It’s sheen is glossy. Solarscreen comes in 5-litre pack size. One such can theoretically covers about 90 sq m per coat. It comes in 6 different colours as shown below. These colours you see are only approximate and it is dependent on your monitor colour settings.
HoneyPine 16325
Mahogany 12493
RoseWood 14337
AntiqueRed 14338
Walnut 14331
Ebony 10484
Before applying the varnish, the surface must be clean and dry and free of any loose or poorly adhering material. Rub down with a 280 - 320 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper in the direction of the grain and dust off. Apply 1 coat
of Solarscreen and allow 4 hours to dry. Sand down again with a 320 grit before applying 2 more coats, waiting 4 hours in between coats. Note that varnishes are mostly translucent. The more coats you put on, the darker it gets. Thinning is not necessary but if required for ease of application, use turpentine from your paint retailers.
