PicsAlive

Painting work in Johannesburg involves more than just opening a tin. The city's altitude, temperature swings between summer and winter, and the dusty conditions all shape how paint performs once it's on the wall. PicsAlive stocks both water-based and solvent-based options, each with different prep and application demands. Water-based paints dry faster and suit interior skim finishes and plaster work, but they need proper substrate preparation—any moisture trapped behind the paint causes bubbling. Solvent-based coatings penetrate deeper and handle exterior conditions better, though they require ventilation and longer curing. The store staff can explain these trade-offs and what your specific surface—weathered cement, new plasterwork, previously painted walls—actually needs to accept paint properly. Understanding the logistics of the work itself determines whether the job lasts or fails within months.