Painting Problem - Eggshell Touch Up

[Ranked1_of_1]

Wonder if anyone can help me? Last week we had some interior windows sills painted by a professional P&D. He used an eggshell paint and left a tin when he left. Last night I noticed a couple of areas that needed touching up, so in my ultimate wisdom I decided to do it myself.

The tin was labelled with the colour we asked for and was half full. I gave it a quick stir (?) and touched up the problem areas. It did look a slightly darker shade, but I assumed it would dry the same colour. When I came down and looked at it this morning it had dried the darker shade.

So before I go red-faced back to the Painter can anyone give me some advice? Would the fact that I only gave it a quick stir cause this thing to happen. A quick google shows that you should stir Eggshell paint for at least a minute and I certainly didn't.

 

[Participant]

Maybe he mixed it with some water to save money.

 

[matt_fsr]

Maybe he mixed it with some water to save money.

Shouldnt affect the shade though surely? Adding water just makes the stuff go on thinner? *non-professional opinion here*

Sounds more likely that it hasnt been well stirred, or maybe you stirred up some thicker/darker pigment that had settled from the bottom of the tin and painted using that.

Give it a ~3 min stir and re-paint. Whats the worst that could happen?

 

[Participant]

You're probably right actually, otherwise you'd have to mix precisely the same amount of water each time you used the paint.

 

[Ranked1_of_1]

Thanks, yeah I may as well just try again and give it a good stir first. Was gutted this morning as it has spoilt what was a very good job.

 

[Participant]

A 'very good job' that needing touching up?

 

[Ranked1_of_1]

Yes, the area that needed touching up was due to my dad leaving something on the paint when it wasn't fully dry. It felt dry to the touch, so I can't really blame him.

 

[Thermo Nuclear Penguin]

Being window sills, the paint has probably been bleached slightly in the sun.