The term ‘paint marker’ is used loosely to refer to (1) acrylic paint markers (2) oil-based makers and (3) Permanent ink marker pens. So it’s important to know exactly what acrylic paint pens are not.
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You will have come across oil-based paint pens if you’ve ever used a pen where you have to vigorously shake the pen so the ball bearing can mix the paint with the oil before use. Being oil solvent based, these markers leave a strong odour and are, therefore, not ideal for (or around) children or for use in poorly ventilated areas. Oil-based markers will take much longer to dry than acrylic ones. Though they can be used on similar surfaces to their acrylic counterparts, oil-based markers will behave slightly differently. The paint tends to sit slightly better on porous surfaces and offers the advantage of not having to be ‘sealed’ (more on this later). That said, on non-porous surfaces, such as paper and card, they are more susceptible to bleeding on the surface.
Permanent pens, like Sharpie®, are sometimes confused for paint pens. The vital difference is that they are ink-based as opposed to paint-based and, as such, they behave very differently. Beyond drying fast and working well on white surfaces, they are rather limited. The ink will not show up well on darker surfaces nor work particularly well on porous surfaces. Blending and layering is not possible with ink.
So that leaves us with acrylic paint marker pens – a relatively new technology using water-based acrylic paint. Their ease of use amongst other things means they are gaining popularity.
Simply put, acrylic paint marker pens can be used on anything! Whether the surface is light or dark, rough or smooth it makes no difference. Porcelain, glass, plastic, fabric, wood, metal, rubber or leather you name it! So whether you are decorating a mug, a key ring or a T-shirt there is bags of fun to be had in personalizing any of your own stuff.
Perhaps the most popular use for acrylic paint pens, however, is rock painting (sometimes referred to as stone or pebble painting). Being different shapes and sizes, rocks make brilliant ornaments for children’s bedrooms or excellent presents to gift to others.
Tip: If you want to use your pens on rough surfaces such as pebbles you will want tough nibs that will not easily fray.
Being a water-based paint, acrylic pens marker pens are very popular amongst all ages – especially children (though they are generally not recommended for those under the age of 3). The pens offer an excellent trade-off between being permanent (discussed in the next section) while still being able to be washed off your hands with some soapy water.
It is a good idea, especially for younger children, to wear an apron to guard against any paint getting on their clothes as once the paint is dry it will be permanent.
It is important to remember that when using acrylic paint pens on items that you wish to consume food or drink from, you check if the paint is food-safe. Most paint pens on the market are intended for decorative purposes only.
The same goes for being dishwasher safe. Some manufacturers will claim that it is perfectly safe to put your decorative work through a dishwasher. Our recommendation, however, is to avoid this. If you’ve spent hours on your creation the last thing you want is to risk a dishwasher ruining it.
Finally, ensure that any pens you buy are non-toxic.
4. Properties
You may notice that most acrylic paint pen markers are sold as being permanent. This is sort of true! Let’s explain.
On porous (or matt) surfaces such as wood, fabric, paper and stone the paint from good quality acrylic pens will dry permanent. So you can rest assure that your artwork will stand the test of time.
If you are looking to use the pens on non-porous (or glossy) surfaces such as glass, mirror, ceramic or metal the paint will not be completely permanent once the paint has dried. It will also take longer to dry on than it would on a porous surface. On glossy surfaces acrylic paint is susceptible to cracking and chipping.
When painting on ceramic or porcelain, after the paint has dried it can be placed in the oven and this is popular with many people. Not only does it give your colours more vibrancy, but it allows the paint to set and become permanent. Before doing this always check that the porcelain or ceramic you are using is oven-safe.
If you wish to preserve your decorated work on these surfaces you can easily ‘seal’ it with a varnish spray to make the paint more permanent and protect it against cracking and chipping. An acrylic-based varnish such as Montana™ Gold varnish spray, available in gloss, semi-gloss and matt, is ideal for sealing. It is advisable that the spraying of varnish be carried out by an adult or at the very least under adult supervision.
Please see our short guide on how to apply a varnish seal to your work on non-porous surfaces.
5. Ease of use
One of the biggest advantages paint pens have over painting with a brush is that they tend to be less fiddly and messy. No cleaning of brushes and pallets is required. Just put the lid back on the pen when you are finished. Also, there is no wastage of paint as there is with traditional painting where some of the paint is often left in the pallet.
Perhaps the biggest benefit though is that most people feel they have better control with a pen than they do with a brush. Seeing as most of us use pens or pencils frequently this makes perfect sense.
Ensure you choose pens that are simple and easy to get started with. Zieler acrylic paint pens only require you to shake them and then press down the nib on some paper or card until you see the paint come down.
Some pens have reversible nibs or tips so that you get the use of two different style nibs in once piece. The idea of these is good, however, be warned they are fiddly. Normally, a pair of metal tweezers is supplied and, even then, it can be messy turning the nibs around especially when they are wet.
There is also a danger that the nibs may get damaged whilst trying to reverse them. If young children are using the pens it is not recommended to allow them to reverse the nibs as they are small and can be easily dropped or lost.
A criticism often cited against paint pens is that you cannot see how much paint you have left meaning you run the risk of running out of a colour whilst in the middle of your painting! On some occasions users have reported that the paint runs out so quickly that they doubt the pens were full to begin with! There can be nothing more frustrating than not being able to finish off your creative work due to unexpectedly running out of paint.
To help get around this, Zieler paint maker pens use transparent barrels so you can see that they are full. Because you can easily monitor the level of paint at all times, you can better manage your project to a finish. If you can see that one particular colour is running low, finish the section you are working on and switch to another colour.
Tip: Whenever possible, try to store your pens horizontally as this facilitates the paint flow the next time you use then pens and helps prevent the risk of the nibs from drying out.
It goes without saying that the effectiveness of any acrylic paint is only as good as the quality of the paint itself and the pigment levels it contains. As well as the paint, the quality of the nib or the tip will also play a big part.
A high quality paint pen can be used to create wonderful effects.
Applying this type of base layer is a popular technique amongst artists even when the object is a light colour to start with.
Tip: If you wish to create a base layer use traditional white acrylic paint with a brush so that it saves the paint in your white pen running out!
iii. Outlining
Tip: If you need very thin outline pen consider using alternatives such as thin-tipped, permanent marker pens which are readily available. For glass and porcelain you can consider thin glass marker pens.
A good quality nib will give you a consistent flow with a smooth action.
Zieler pens are made with highly-pigmented paint, durable fibre nibs and designed with a spring-like mechanism that regulates the amount of paint that leaves the tip.
As well good quality paint, you will want vibrant colours that show off your art work. If the paint used in your pens contains too much water it will adversely affect the vibrancy of the colours as well as the ability to layer the colours effectively.
You will want a set of markers with a good range of colours so that you can vary your projects and only blend new colours when you need to.
Most acrylic pens appear similar in appearance making it difficult to know what you are really getting.
Though the possibilities of what you can create and personalise are endless, you should consider what surface you would like to paint on and how your paint will behave on that surface. This way you will hopefully get the best results.
The table below the key details of the Zieler acrylic paint marker pens.
Zieler pens produce a semi-gloss finish. If more gloss is required on non-porous surfaces a gloss varnish can be applied.
Most of us are very good at being imaginative and do not need much help producing eye-catching, creative designs. Whatever, we decide our design will be personal to us.
What is also helpful is some guidance as to how to use acrylic pens across different surfaces. The possibilities are endless as you now know. The Zieler marker pens include instructions on how to use the pens plus a little guide with tips for painting on different surfaces.
Can this be walked on after application?
This is a waterproof product that does not cure solid - it forms a surface skin therefore this cannot be trafficked when applied.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Waterproof Painter Felt.
My shed roof is 15 foot x 12 foot how many tins will this require?
Hi, for this area you would require 4 tins of 5kg
Can you quote for enough to cover 40SQM PLEASE
Hi, the coverage of the product is approximately 1m2 per kg. To cover this space you would require 40kg or 8 x 5kgs. We can send an official quote, we would simply require your details. Please send us your address and contact details to: and i can get something back you shortly after.
Can it applied by roller for a large area
Hi,
This product can be used to patch small areas, repair holes and cracks (using the sand additive) or to ocver an entire roof surface. The coverage when painting over wider areas is 1m2 per kg.
How much paint do i need for a 10foot x 10foot shed roof?
Hi, to get an easy estimate on space from feet to metres, simply divide the total by 10. So 10ft x 10ft is 100sq ft, or just under 10m2.
Therefore you would require 2 x 5kg packs of our waterproof roof paint to cover this area. if there is anything else i can help with, please get in touch.
Hi, can it be used on steel, and can it be over painted at a later date with standard bitumen paint?
Hi, this can be used on steel. It will stick to almost any surface. Once old and dry it could be over coated with another bitumen paint.
Kind Regards,
Michael
Hi. Will this work on a felt shingle roof?
Hi, it would work for this type of surface. If the shingle is quite large then you may need a little extra to completely cover it, so i would allow for this when working out the coverage/qunantity required, but it will be perfectly suitable for your roof.
Kind Regards,
Michael
How much waterproof paint do I need to cover my 10ft by 6ft shed roof
The waterproof roof paint cover 1m2 per KG. For a roof that is 10ft x 6 ft the area you have in metres is 5.6m2 therefore we would recommend buying 10kg to be safe.
Any unused product can be kept sealed for at least 24 months and can still be used to touch-up or recoat.
Alternatively you can simply apply a thicker or second coat on the first application.
Hi there I had a new flat roof last July, it's a standard felt mineral roof. Since it was put on it has done nothing but leak as the roofer was incompetent. Obviously, the best thing would be to replace the roof again, but it's more than I can afford at the moment until can save up. When it's wet, parts of the roof remain under water for quite some time as the fall on the roof is poor. Will the paint work under these conditions? Also could you give me a rough estimate how long the paint lasts? It is UV resistant? Do you need to re-coat every year for instance? Many thanks. Best regards ps also what sort of brush, applicator is best?
The Waterproof Roof Paint is a thick bitumen based paint product. It is applied by brush at around 1mm thick and would instantly waterproof any areas of cracks or aps where your felt membrane is failing. This product usually requires some remedial works after around 12-24 months, but not the whole area, it would most likely be a small amount of over coating/touching up the worst affected areas. This is very cheap and easy to do.
It is resistant to UV in terms of drying and durability, but does change colour from the contamination and sunlight so would not be used anywhere hugely visible.
The product is likely to de-bond and wear quicker if you have areas of pooling water. This product will solve the problem in the short term but the fall on the roof should be addressed for a more permanent repair.
Can you use it on glass fibre fat roof ?
Good morning Michael,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Yes the Waterproof Roof Paint will be fine on a fibre glass substrate.
Should you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kindest regards
Lucy
What is the minimum temp for application?
This product can be applied as low as Zero degrees. Ideally you would apply in slightly warmer temperatures to aid curing, but above zero would be suitable.
Is it ok on an asbestos roof?
Yes, this is fine to go on to an asbestos surface. We recommend that the surface is relatively clean and free of any loose debris prior to application.
Can you put on a poly carbon plastic roof ?
Hi, although this product does adhere to a large number of surfaces, I am afraid it would not be suitable for application to plastic. This type of material does not allow a paint coating to penetrate and bond correctly.
It is likely that the product would simply sit above the surface and wash away quite quickly. I am sorry.
Can this be painted on already painted metal to protect?
This would be fine to use on materials such as corrugated iron. We would recommend thoroughly abrading the surface first and ensuring that the area is cleaned.
Can you put more then one coat on? Will it key to itself?
You shouldn't need to put more than one coat on, except perhaps around vulnerable areas such as joints, etc. If this is what you are intending to do, it's best to go over joints, gaps and edges first with one coat of Waterproof Roof Paint, followed by one complete coat over the whole area (so basically the joints are getting 2 coats), and you won't have a problem with the two coats bonding to each other.
Can this go straight on top of heavily rusted areas?
No unfortunately not. The rust would need to be completely removed, or you could treat it with a rust converter before applying Waterproof Roof Paint. We do not have a rust converter in our range, but our sister company, Watco ( www.watco.co.uk) have one, it's called Watco Primebase.
Hi., not sure if I overlooked this but does it remain tacky or does it completely dry? Also, it's for a very old flat concrete roof that appears to have had some sort of black coating many many years ago. Will this suffice? Thanks
Yes the Waterproof Roof Paint does stay tacky due to the paint being a high solvent bitumen based product and is not suitable for use on a trafficked surface (although emergency/maintenance repairs are fine). With regards to the surface of the roof, as long as you are able to create a key for the new coating this should be fine, but without knowing what is on the roof it's hard to be 100% certain. It's always best to do a test area first.
Is it suitable for putting on standard roofing felt?
Waterproof Roof Paint will adhere to roofing felt with no problem at all. As long as the felt is clean, free of loose material and sound, you just need to brush apply it to the surface.
Can this product be used on top of a desmopol coated flat roof?
Sorry, it's not compatible. The solvent in the Waterproof Roof Paint will soften the Desmopol coating and react with it.
Can this product be applied onto fibreglass roofs?
Yes it can provided it is old and well weathered. It just can't go onto new or shiny fibreglass.
What sort of area does this cover please?
We recommend aiming to use 1kg of our Waterproof Roof Paint to 1m². Our product information sheet is available on the product page on the website which covers everything from preparation, application, drying times, etc. which you should find helpful.
Hi. Can this be over-painted? and if so what type of paint do you recommend?
Unfortunatley, this is not suitable to be overpainted as it is a highly solvented bitumend.
How much would I need for 10’ x 6’ pent shed please?
A 5kg tub will cover 5sqm, you have very slightly over this so would advise purchasing 2 Waterproof Roof Paint - weatherproof, fibre reinforced roof paint – floorsaver
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