Aura issue - grid pattern (x-posted in Decorating)

17 years ago

A couple of weeks ago I asked for some help deciding on which paint to use and got some good replies. (See link below.) Now I hope for some more advice. :-)

We used Aura and have mixed reviews. I liked painting with it. I liked the low (definitely not no) odor and the way it dried quickly so we could do multiple coats in a relatively short time span. It looks great in our bathroom and bedroom.

However...it doesn't look so hot in our foyer. After the first coat, there was a definite grid pattern on the walls. I asked at the paint store about using the extender product, and they said to try doing a second coat without it first. The grid pattern is definitely still visible. It's a two-story foyer, so there is only so fast one can work, but my husband (who did the foyer) was working as efficiently as possible.

Any ideas? At this point we're looking at a third coat, but whether it will be in Aura (with extender) or in BM's Regal Matte for the top coat, I'm not sure.

Oh, and we also did some brush touchups around the thermostat, etc., and the finish looks completely different from the rolled areas. And two sections of rolling on the _same_ wall appear to have two different finishes. (They were done at different times, but the same can of paint.)

Any advice/experience/suggestions are much appreciated. We need to figure out what to do, and the guy at the paint store today was of no help whatsoever. And I quote: "Aura's not supposed to do that."

Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Paint discussion

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Comments (4)

decorativewalls
17 years ago
QUOTE: It looks great in our bathroom and bedroom.
Not dealing with a large two story foyer.
QUOTE: It's a two-story foyer.

As I was reading your first discussion, I said to myself "bet this is 2-story";

From what I read, may have over looked but I don't recall you saying what sheen you may have used; nevertheless , with a 2 story foyer or anything depending on how high is high, almost takes 2 people to perform that length of height and possibly scaffolding (depending again on how high you are talking about). One painting half way down and the other from the bottom up and lighting feathering or blending where the two meet.

Flat finishes are IMO the best choices for 2 story heights. Doesn't mean this has to be the cheapest of the cheapest flats or you might try using an extender. My suggestion is to choose XIM xtender instead of the BM aura extender. XIM is not as heavy . So maybe one person might be able to paint from the top down so far and another person meet up with the finish, all the while trying to keep a consistent pressure on the ends of the roller frame.

QUOTE: Oh, and we also did some brush touchups around the thermostat, etc., and the finish looks completely different from the rolled areas.

Unfortunately, brush and roll with a roller sleeve is two completely different techniques, methods and applicators. Whatever you used originally, the style or technique used this is what needs to be used for touch ups and to use with the lightest touch or pressure and feathered out, (depending on how big a touch up is).

QUOTE: And two sections of rolling on the _same_ wall appear to have two different finishes. (They were done at different times, but the same can of paint.)

Here again, different times, possible difference in spread rate, possible difference in technique, pressures , applicators, and application. Maybe someone could roll out the wall(s) where this has occured and complete it one time around without doing this at different intrevals.
trk65
17 years ago
Regarding the thermostat, I would detach it from the wall and then you can roll into the wall surface behind where it mounts.
Always remove everything you can from the walls. Switchplates, towel bars, shelves, you name it. Taking the time to do this makes for a professional looking job. Brushing around those types of obstacles just can't look the same as rolling the entire wall.
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credomk
Original Author
17 years ago
Sorry it took me so long to respond back on this. Thanks, both, for your comments. I appreciate it. Decorativewalls, we used a matte finish and a Little Giant ladder, no scaffolding (approx. 18-foot ceilings in the two-story area). Right now we're just living with the slight grid pattern--we're probably the only ones who notice it, after all. But when we do try a third coat we'll try the extender you mentioned and see what we can do about two of us working on it together. Your suggestions for light touch and feathering a lot for touch-ups should help, too.

TRK65, we did remove everything that we could from the walls. I don't remember exactly what the issue was that required some touch-up here--it may have been a spot that my DH noticed after we'd put the thermostat, etc. back on. But yes, definitely important to do the prep work like that.

Thanks again!
paintguy22
17 years ago
What do you mean by grid pattern? Is it possible that this is the drywall seams flashing through the finish? Usually, if it's an application issue, you will get vertical flashing or roller marks because that is the way that the roller travels.