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Introduction
Priming
Application
Drying Time
Tinting Strip FX
Applying Strip Fx to a wall
Carving Strip FX
Stenciling with Strip FX
Coating Dry Strip FX
Decorating Strip FX
Final Sealing of Decorated Strip FX
Useful tips for Applying and Decorating Strip FX
Strip FX as an Underlay for Other Finishes
Porous Surface Treatment
How to Remove Strip FX
Introduction to Strip FX™
Strip FX is a decorative strippable plaster for interior use. Strip FX is also a texturing plaster and is usually applied in ONE Coat to achieve multiple effects. On average the coverage is 100-200 Square feet per 25KG pail. When used as a partial cover over a primed surface, 100-600 square feet of coverage.
Preparation and Priming
Surface must be free of loose paint, grease and dirt. No need to fill small holes or cracks. Anything larger, repair and prime as you would for any normal surface preparation. The surface must be sealed with wallpaper size or a water based primer. For the best surface preparation, we recommend using a quality PVA Primer given tooth by mixing in #30 or smaller masons' sand in a quantity of two cups per gallon. This primer mix now has tooth and makes applying our Strip FX a breeze. It will allow the product to be applied without rolling away from you, and is more economical as it reduces the amount of product necessary to cover. In addition, it allows for easy removal while protecting the wall during this process. If applying primer for later removal, any primer used must be strong enough to protect the wall underneath during the process.
If applying over wall panels in basements remember to use the correct primer and fill any grooves, as they will telegraph through the texture. Always prime wallpaper with an
oil primer and remove any blisters that occur during priming, fill and spot re-prime. Respect the manufacturers instructions of any primer before applying Strip FX.
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Application
Use drop sheets and cover any areas where needed. Use masking tape to prevent the material from going onto adjacent surfaces. NOTE: Remove masking tape the same day the product is applied. If any nibs occur when pulling the tape they can be sanded once the Strip FX is dry
Drying Time
Strip FX on average will stay "open" (workable) for about 12 hours and take 12 -24 hours to completely dry in a well ventilated room. It can take longer in humid or cool temperatures and shorter in dry or hot climates.
Its long open time is one of its greatest features allowing for manipulation for a longer period of time.
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Tinting Strip FX
If desired, Strip FX can be tinted with any of our pigment colors. Small amounts can be tinted directly onto your palette. For larger quantities it is recommended
that a paddle mixer suitable for plasters be used to ensure even color. Pre-wet pigments with an equal volume of water before adding. Follow normal plaster mixing
procedures to color the product in the mass. Strip FX can also be tinted with Universal tints.
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Apply Strip FX to a Wall
Apply Strip FX with a trowel or spatula to the substrate. If a pitted texture is required use a hooped roller. Alternatively you can create a stucco effect by using a trowel.
Strip FX can be textured with any number of tools, rollers, combs, brushes, sea sponges, or even a rag to make a finish. Skim over the surface with a dampened plastic float to
smooth out the peaks leaving a pitted effect. Pull any tapes the day you apply the product.
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Typical procedure using Strip FX, hooped roller and plastic float.
Carving with FX™
Strip FX can be carved using a clay-carving tool available at your local craft/art supply store. You carve Strip FX after it is dry and before you seal it.
Once you have completed your carving, sand off any nibs created from carving and remove sanding dust from the surface.
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Stenciling with Strip FX
Strip FX can be stenciled over dry and uncoated Strip FX. It can also be used to create a
stencil on a painted and prepared surface where there is no first coating of Strip FX.
DO NOT use stencil adhesive on dry Strip FX to attach your stencil. The adhesive will be
absorbed and could affect coloring. Strip FX attaches to itself very easily so simply place your stencil using either low tack tape or push pins. Stencil and remove tape or pins.
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Coating Dry Strip FX
To seal Strip FX, it MUST BE COATED BEFORE proceeding with decorative effects, whether you are just coloring the dry Strip FX or layering and using other products. (The only exception to this is if you are stenciling with Strip FX onto the now dry Strip FX wall.)
Coat and seal the Strip FX using Latex paint, Milk Paint or a Glaze, using a 1-4 ratio for glaze. As Strip FX is porous, when using latex paint, primers and
varnishes it is always preferable to dilute with 20% water when using over dry uncoated Strip FX. Strip FX allows this diluted coating to fully absorb. By diluting,
you end up with a more solid substrate for taping or applying other coloring mediums over the surface. Allow the coating to dry thoroughly.
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Decorating Strip FX
At this stage the finish could be complete. It depends on the look you are trying to achieve. Strip FX can be antiqued using our Finish Waxes or color washed using our
dry powder pigments and water. Metallic effects can be achieved using paint, waxes tinted with our micas or gold leaf. The choices are numerous and solely dependent on the application.
In all cases follow the manufacturers instruction for application.
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Final Sealing of Decorated Strip FX
To seal your Strip FX after all color work is complete, use either flat/satin water based varnishes like our Zero Gloss or Satin Wax for a one coat process.
Use our White wax, Burnishing Wax or Black Bison Wax for one coat or when using multiple coloring processes. If simply left painted or glazed - then a final sealer is optional.
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Useful tips for Applying and Decorating Strip FX
Porous Surface Treatment
As Strip FX is porous, when using latex paint, primers and varnishes it is always preferable to dilute with 20% water when using over dry uncoated Strip FX. As
Strip FX is porous, by diluting you will end up with a more solid substrate for taping or applying other coloring mediums over the surface.
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Metallic Paint Finishes
A metallic paint finish requires that the dry Strip FX be coated with a complimentary color of paint before applying the metallic paint. Otherwise the dry Strip FX
will absorb a great deal of the paint and the reflective qualities could be diminished.
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Stencil Adhesive
Strip Fx will adhere easily to dry Strip FX when applying a stencil. If using a stencil adhesive, the adhesive itself may be absorbed by the dry Strip FX and affect
subsequent coloring. Use low tack tape to hold the stencil in place or where appropriate, push pins. There are many different adhesives available and if a particular
brand of adhesive is going to be used, a test is recommended before using on any dry Strip FX.
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Lace Stencils
Strip FX takes a minimum of 12 hours to dry under normal conditions allowing manipulation for a long period of time. Therefore, if lace is used as a stencil and pulled away too soon the wet Strip FX will not imprint very well. Instead the basic
imprint will be a series of peaks without any clear definition. Similar to rolling the Strip FX and then knocking down the peaks. To allow the imprint to fix the Strip
FX should be almost dry before pulling the lace. Test on a sample before installation to ensure the timing of when to pull the particular lace that has been used for the finish.
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Carving
Strip FX can be carved after it has been painted or glazed. It is just a harder surface to carve into when painted, particularly if the paint or glaze has been on
long enough to cure. In some cases this is only 24 hours. Carving into painted or glazed Strip FX may remove some paint or glaze in areas not intended to be disturbed.
Should this occur, touch-ups might be required. Usually Strip FX is carved before it is coated with paint or glaze to ensure that the carved areas are also coated before proceeding to the next coloring step.
If carving after coating the dry Strip FX , ensure these carved areas are protected with an appropriate coating when carving is completed.
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Scraping for" Old Wall" look
The "old wall" look is achieved using the sharp beveled edge of a trowel to scrape off areas of the Strip FX after it had been coated with glaze, patina or latex paint.
If the coating used has cured, which could be only a 24 hour period, the scraping becomes much more difficult as the surface has hardened. Your sample should include a
time factor as to when this surface should be scraped for the easiest removal.
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Colorwashing with Dry Pigments
Our powder Ochers and pigments can be used as water based washes over painted or glazed surfaces. To prepare a wash, dilute a teaspoon of the powder pigment into 8 oz of water and mix well. The strength of the color will depend on how much pigment-to-water is used. Very little pigment to water is required to highlight texture. These powder pigments are stronger in color than they may appear so use sparingly .If new to this type of coloring, testing is recommended. The pigment settles so re-stir as often as required. Apply this mixture using a damp cellulose sponge only (available at "home centers"). Other types of sponges may possibly leave streaking or excess powder pigment on the surface.
Allow the Pigment to set up and dry ( approx 15 min) before coming back with a well rung out sponge to distress, remove pigment or apply a different color.
Should a second color be used take into account that powder pigments sit on the surface of the coating and to a degree over-wetting or over manipulation will muddy
the 2 colors and/or remove the Stonewash pigments. If over wetting occurs, allow the surface to completely dry then come back and
make corrections. Stonewash powder pigments must always be sealed after applying to ensure that any powder left on the surface is sealed in. Our Texturline Zero Gloss
Varnish or Satin Wax are perfect for sealing over colorwashing.
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Strip FX as an Underlay for Other Finishes
As an underlay, Strip FX gives you the ability to easily remove a large number of other coatings and painted textures applied on top of it. Remember, Strip FX is porous,
so remember to seal it, (as you would any substrate) before applying other material on top of it. (Refer to Applying Strip FX to a Wall for proper application instructions.)
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Porous Surface Treatment
Since Strip FX is porous, when using latex paint, primers and varnishes on top of it, it's always preferable to dilute with 20% water when using over dry uncoated Strip FX. By diluting it, you will
end up with a more solid substrate for taping or applying other coloring mediums over the surface. Follow the manufacturers instructions to apply after sealing.
TEST on a sample before beginning to apply any finish. Remember some coatings take days/weeks to cure, it may perforate after a few hours but not at all later.
Example: Lime Paint takes 3-6 weeks to fully cure. When applying these products over the Strip FX underlay, the thickness of the product applied was considered to ensure that
the Paper Tiger (see next section) could reach the Strip FX underlay when scoring for removal.
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HOW to REMOVE Strip FX
Strip FX is easier to remove than washable wallpaper and uses the same methods. To remove Strip FX simply score the surface with a Zinsser tool called a "Paper Tiger" available at your local hardware or paint store.
The Paper Tiger will perforate the surface and allow the water to reach the Strip FX and reactivate it Apply 2 good coats of warm water with a little detergent and leave the water to soak as you would for removing wallpaper.
Remove the Strip FX from the wall with a wallpaper scraper just like you would when removing wallpaper. Ensure you cover your floor/areas where the Strip FX will collect as you remove it from the wall. Dispose of the Strip FX according to your local municipal regulations for plaster products. Do NOT dispose of down any drains or sewers.
- When fully wetted out, Strip FX slides off the wall in sheets or large pieces (not dust)
- To wet it out - perforate the surface and allow time to soak in
- When used as an underlay - perforate well into the overlayed coating to reach the Strip FX layer
- It's important to seal the substrate with a primer that will protect it from gouging when using the wallpaper scraper
- If Strip FX is applied on (texture) knockdown it will bond making removal much more difficult
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