EasyFlex Family of DIY Painted Screen Solutions - Page 8

Yes you should be able to simply paint over the pearl clear coat. I would recommend two coats if you have the paint.

The EasyFlex solution is basically dead now but I ran across something this morning that may at least represent a tiny bit of vindication for me.

From the Neutral Gray thread, Da-Lite High Contrast Matte White screen material has an RGB of 203 205 200.

From the Behr Color Laboratory testing of the original EF06 (2:1) tint, prof55 measured 203 205 201, rfisher measured 205 206 201, and finally the Behr Color Lab measured 205 206 200. Nat bad for someone limited to using my eyes to try to match the color of the Da-Lite HCMW. From what I have seen of comparisons of proprietary tint variances, I am well within the error band.

The two coats of Behr Matte Polyurethane had the following effect:

prof55 - rfisher- Behr
203 205 201 - 205 206 201 - 205 206 200 == EF06
200 202 197 - 203 204 197 - 205 206 199 == EF06 + 2 Coats Behr Polyurethane #780
-3 -3 -4 . . . . -2 -2 -4 . . . . 0 0 -1 . . . . == shift

There is quite a variation between the readings. Behr seems to be the odd man out with the least change due to the polyurethane top coat. Unfortunately I did not send them any pearl clear coat samples. At the time I did not feel it would be appropriate to ask the Behr Color Lab to do this type of testing on products from another manufacturer.

So while the color balance of the EasyFlex tints may have been way off neutral gray they were actually what I had been aiming for and that was the Da-Lite HCMW. In fact when I compared the EF tint with a pearl clear coat to my buddies Da-Lite HCMW it was hard to tell them apart other than a slight difference in shade.

This is not meant as any kind of argument in favor of using the original EF tints or pearl clear coats. Simply an explanation of how I was lead astray by using the Da-Lite High Contrast Matte White screen material as a guideline of what to strive for. If the white coats at Da-Lite can be this wrong then I guess I should not feel too bad, Eh!?

After a chat with HDholic that mech was able to join in on we concluded that since his screen is white and he wants it to remain white but just wants to kill the sheen, he should consider the Behr or Valspar clear polyurethanes. The Behr being matte and the Valspar being flat.

HDholic is goint to try applying the polyurethane to something vinyl and see how well it adheres. This is new ground! Hope it works out and HDholic can fix his sheen problem.

Ben, have you tried the satin?
I would expect it to hot spot. Is it less sheen than eggshell?

Benven uses Valspar as a clear medium for his metallic powder clear coat. I'm not sure what he paints for his own screen, but he has sent me a sample painted on some white vinyl.

I have painted two retractable screens. Since I wanted to go gray I used paint. I have also tried paint with a polyurethane top coat.

In your case, HDholic, you have a white screen with too much sheen, and you don't want to go gray so it was suggested to try the Behr 780 on some white hardboard to see what you think. The Valspar flat clear protector sounds like it is clearer (less yellow) than the Behr 780. The behr 780 will definitely make a bright white screen look more yellow or like a warm white.

So basically you have two choices, apply a clear flat coating to kill the sheen, or apply a matte white paint to cover the screen surface completely.

From what benven has said the Valspar is thicker than a polyurethane. I have not used it so I have no idea how well it spreads or levels. If it is anything like the Behr 780 then it will be very easy to apply and get a very nice uniform finish. Much easier than paint usually is. Unfortunately there are no Lowes in my area so I cannot give it a try. The other concern I have with the polyurethane or clear protector is how well it will adhere to the vinyl screen material.

The Behr Ext. ULTRA UPW Flat 4850 that Benven mentioned, is what I am using to paint retractable screens. I find it spreads and levels very well, leaving a nice smooth matte finish. It is self-priming so that eliminates a layer of primer. Over a white screen you may even get away with one coat. Even if you do apply two coats the paint layer is surprisingly thin. Assuming you have read/watched the Basic Roller Painting Instructions and are able to apply the paint well then you will end up with a very nice matte white screen. No unwanted sheen or texture. I am also very confident that it will adhere to the screen as long as you clean it well with Windex with ammonia.

Regardless of whether you use paint or a clear flat coating, watching and implementing the screen painting instruction will determine your outcome. It is not difficult but I think most people apply too much pressure when roller painting and that leads to tracks. The secret is to just apply enough pressure to make the roller roll.

I have been logging my most recent retractable screen painting work in the thread Retractable Screen Painting - The Final Development and that is where you will see photos of how I do it. This weekend I will be painting the screen area and that is what will be of most interest to you. There will be more photos and comments.

For a breif summary of painting retractable screens, take a look at the Painting Retractable Screens chapter-post in the Beginner's Guide.

The biggest difference between painting a fixed rigid substrate screen and a retractable screen is the hold of the bottom bar.


Click image to enlarge.


Then it is just like painting a wall screen.



The fact that you cannot put a lot of pressure on the roller, actually will prevent you from creating roller tracks.

I guess the bottom line is that the Behr 4850 paint is the known and proven solution, in the short term. I have only had painted retractable screens for a year. I have no idea what these screen will be like in 5 years. Applying the Valspar Clear Protector is a complete unknown, unless you opt to do some experimenting and convince yourself to try it on your screen.

That is an EluneVision screen from EastPorters. They are made in China and there is speculation they may be made in the same factory as the Elite screens.

The Valspar product is call Flat Clear Protector For Faux Finishes. I can't find it on the Lowes website. The website has the American Traditions Clear Protector though.

I beleive Benven was suggesting that a mixture of flat 4850 with the satin enamel 9850 would raise the gain without hot spotting. I would suggest the Flat 4850 is already what I would call a matte or low-lustre sheen.

I will be doing a few trials of mixtures of the 4850 with matte and satin polyurethane. This out of interest and also to see if it would be beneficial for my final screen painting. Typically a mixture of paint and polyurethane plus about 10-15% water creates a paint that can be applied using the two roller techniques and that results in a perfectly smooth finish devoid of any texture whatsoever.

As always the first concern is that the polyurethane will shift the color balance of the gray tint slightly. We will have to see.

Maybe benven or mech could comment on the clarity of the Minnwax Satin Polyurethane?

Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior Flat #4850

The 9850 is the same base but in a satin Enamel.

I'm fairly sure benven was referring to these paints because his comments were in reply to a quaetion I had asked him.

That's great news!