FAQs
A little help on some common questions, from us to you.
Paint Information
What are the paint ingredients?
+ Our ingredients are 99% UK sourced
+ 0% Added VOCs
+ 100% Made in Britain (Accredited)
+ 100% Water-based using pristine water from the Lake District catchment area
+ All paints exceed UK / EU safety regulations
+ No Microplastic or beads
+ 100% APE and NPE free
+ 100% Vegan and cruelty free
+ Child Toy Safety Certified (BS EN 71-3:2013 Certified)
+ EU Limit for this product: 2004/42 IIA WB (A) 30
+ This product contains less than 5g/L VOC
+ Contains 2 preservatives: 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one [EC No. 247-500-7] and 2-Methyl-2Hisothiazol-3-one [EC No. 220-239-6] (3:1)
Where are your paint datasheets?
Are your paints certified REACH?
All products are certified independently and comply with Regulation (EC) REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), you can find more information on this here.
Paint finishes
Are your paints available in other finishes, such as eggshell or exterior?
We are currently supplying Matt Emulsion (our paint sample pots are matt emulsion too) but our subscribers and commercial customers get access to eggshells, gloss, exterior paints and other products.
Sign-up here.
Does Electric Blue come in eggshell?
Not yet, watch this space. ;)
I would like eggshell paint, where can I find it?
If you would like eggshell or gloss right now - you can subscribe to our mailing list and then contact us on hello@yescolours.com and we can process a custom order directly with our manufacturer. Lead times are 4-6 days depending on delivery address.
Can I use Electric Blue on furniture?
Electric Blue is the only colour in our palette which doesn't come in eggshell.
You can apply all our other matt emulsion on woodwork and furniture as long as it’s sanded and primed accordingly.
Can i use Electric Blue on exterior woodwork or doors?
Our Electric Blue Matt Emulsion is not to be used on exterior projects as we cannot guarantee the longevity and durability of the paint in that environment.
Electric Blue (Exterior) Masonry is recommended but should still be used with care on low-traffic areas.
What are the correct finishes for woodwork, cupboards, kitchens and bathrooms?
We always recommend eggshell for high traffic areas, including skirting boards in hallways, cupboards, any furniture which is being used constantly throughout the day.
Our eggshell has a sheen level of 17-22% which means it’s more durable and wipeable. It’s a very practical option for frequently used areas.
We always recommend eggshell in humid areas rather than matt emulsion.
This applies to all matt emulsions with any brand.
Application
How do i get started?
Make sure paint is evenly mixed and check your colour
Pour paint as required into a container or tray
Apply evenly with a quality nap paint roller, paint brush or spray equipment
For best results apply 2 coats allowing 4 hrs drying time
Trouble with air bubbles?
Air bubbles will appear on the surface when working with a foam roller. This is a natural process. It is the air within the foam that is being transmitted onto your surface. Allow for air bubbles to dry naturally (no breeze or wind within the room) and it will vanish completely once dry.
If you didn’t have a problem with a brush, it’s often likely it’s the roller nap type/length.
Another tip is to backfill with a dry unloaded roller a few mins after applying paint. It usually generates an even coat and lessens any orange-peel-like texture.
Can I use your paints on radiators and metalwork?
It's possible to use our paints on metal with good results - but matt emulsion won’t match the performance of a radiator-specific paint.
When painting a radiator make sure the radiator is turned off and completely cool then prime before painting, and leave to dry for at least 24 hours before turning the heating back on.
Please note that we also we advise against the use of our paint on oil-fired radiators.
Colours
How many colours are there in your palette?
49, and counting.
Do you have any colour swatches or fandecks?
Colour swatches and fandecks will be coming this winter, keep e'm peeled.
If you are an interior designer / commercial business please email hello@yescolours.com and we will be happy to help you.
Measurements
How do I work out how much paint I need?
At YesColours, 1 litre of paint will cover 15 square metres of wall.
To know how much paint you need to cover, measure the length and height of the space.
Multiply those figures together and you now have the square metre total.
For the whole room, we suggest you measure each wall this way and then add them together.
A piece of furniture depends on the shape and surface area.
For guidance;
a dining table and chair would need approximately 1 litre of paint
a bedside table with drawers only requires 250ml of paint
and a simple stool could use as little as 100ml.
Do you have a paint calculator?
Yes, here it is.
What is the best way to meaure the paint I need for furniture?
An age old method would be to use a tape measure to measure along the length of the wall and then the height.
You can get measuring apps on your mobile device or a laser measure for those who need some extra help.
How much space does 5L (5 litres) of paint cover?
5 Litres of paint will cover appx. 75 square metres of surface. So, on average this includes two coats of paint on all 4 walls and ceiling on a room with a 3m x 3m dimension.
How many coats of paint shall I do?
This also depends on the coverage quality of the paint and whether the surface has been prepared accordingly.
We recommend 2 coats of paint for optimum coverage.
Preparation
How do I prepare my wall?
If the surface of your wall is uneven in any way, it may need sanding.
The walls could also require cleaning with sugar soap solution if there’s some dirt build up.
A natural alternative to sugar soap is to make your own with water, white vinegar and a few drops of essential oils.
For freshly plastered walls or any other absorbent surfaces that you may be painting on, priming is key before applying your paint.
Also be mindful that if you have a dark wall, you should prime it white so that the new colour has the best base start for application.
Colour matching
Do you provide colour matching if I can't find the colour I need?
Yes, just drop us an email at hello@yescolours.com or reach us on our social channels and we'll be glad to help.
How do I match a Pantone colour?
Pantones are great for print design but not so much in the paint world. For paint it's not possible to get a like-for-like, unfortunately.
Pantone is printed in lots of dots onto the substrate, which leaves gaps of white showing through (which then in turn affects the colour and vibrancy). But with paint it's a block of colour that has been painted on (ie. not in thousands of tiny dots), and nothing showing from underneath.
Martching by eye is the last resort - but we're here if you need any help.
Deliveries
What are your delivery options?
Please see our deliveries page
Packaging info
What are the key benefits of our pouches?
Resource efficient.
Flexible packaging uses 16% less fossil fuel, 26% less water, and generates 21% less greenhouse gas emissions throughout production vs. traditional packaging
Easy-open and close.
Airtight to protect paint from moisture, mould and dust.
Reducing carbon.
Up to 52 times more space and weight efficient for transportation and storage.
Easily recyclable.
Via local supermarket recycling points or at home (where accepted).
Easy to check your colour.
Our clear circle window allows you to check your colour before opening
Keeps paint better, for longer.
Fully tested for strength and compatibility.
Find out more on our sustainability page
How do I get paint back into the pouch?
Just like ketchup, pour out just what you think you need rather than the whole pouch.
Plus (side note!) even with tins, you should avoid pouring paint back in as any dust or debris will contaminate the rest of your paint. It’s pretty special stuff and we don’t want you throwing it away if that happens.
Another benefit is that our pouches are airtight so no rusty crusty mess and gone off paint. Our pouches store paint better over time vs. traditional tins.
What are your pouches made from?
The pouch is single material PE (type 4) but we will be moving to a 30-40% recycled material next year and we are looking at many options for improving this even further into the future.
The pouches are widely accepted at large stores, recycling drop offs and supermarket recycling points.
Check your local services for household recylcing pick-ups.
Are pouches better than tins?
Our focus is the entire customer journey, not just the materials we use in our products but how they are made, trasported, disposed of and/or recycled.
Our pouches save on fossil fuel, water consumptions, carbon, greenhouse gas emissions vs traditional tins and avoid over-ordering and waste going to landfill.
It’s by far better than the status quo of 98% of tins going to landfill (14,000 tonnes per year) as well as 55 million litres of paint going to waste because of over ordering and poor recycling options.
Every little helps, there's no silver bullet.