ESP Easy Surface Prep is a wipe on/wipe off product which primes and prepares any shiny surface for painting. It completely eliminates the need for difficult and time-consuming sanding and leaves the surface ready for paint or varnish to bond to. It’s a safe and effective way to prepare any non-porous surface for painting and is ideal for use on ceramic tiles and melamine units.
It is easy on the hands, colourless, virtually odourless and can be wiped on and off with a lint-free cloth making it incredibly easy to use! Therefore, it is suitable for indoor and external use. ESP may be painted over anytime after 2 hours and up to 7 days later.
Why should I use Easy Surface Prep?
The benefits of ESP are self-evident:
- Easy to apply
- Eliminates the need for sanding
- Does not remove or dull the old finish.
- Paint over with any oil-based or water-based paint or varnish
- Paint over anytime after 2 hours or up to 7 days later – so there’s no high-stress time frame!
- It prepares all smooth or slick surfaces for painting or varnishing. Without a surface preparation such as ESP, the paint would quickly flake and peel.
Easy Surface Prep is suitable for interior and exterior uses including melamine, ceramics, lacquers, baked enamels, varnishes, paint, walls, furniture, radiators, the list goes on. This makes it excellent for painting tired or outdated kitchen cabinets, old bathroom suites, and worn out furniture! The simple fact that it eliminates the need for sanding should be reason enough to consider it – what a time-saver.
Ideal Uses for Easy Surface Prep (ESP)
- Updating melamine kitchen furniture, great for revamping kitchen cupboards
- Re-painting a bathroom without having to re-tile!
- A great way to spruce up tired or outdated furniture without sanding
- Upgrading cheap furniture, time to add some colour to those flat packs!
- Suitable for use on baked lacquers and enamels, like lamps and ornaments
- Even good for use on glass, it dries totally clear
Tim Pye –
If you have old lead paint then avoid causing a toxic dust hazard by using ESP rather than sanding it. I have found success with ESP on internal painted and varnished wood.
David Cullen –
Verified Owner
Used on kichen cupboards. Wiped first with sugars oak then brushed this on.
Dried very quickly and effectively. Coated up next morning and got a great finish.
Clive Talbot-Brown –
Verified Owner
First time with this product. I have used an American product previously which included a suspended abrasive but basically worked the same way. I used Owatrol to prepare all gloss work for a flat refurbishment. It worked really well except where it picked up some dirt and I didn’t wipe it off and re-do the area. So, I would definitely recommend it as the gloss coat went on really well, but pay a bit of attention and don’t take liberties! Trade gloss went on as well as it would over undercoat. I have also used it to prep a melamine loft hatch for gloss paint and the results on that were perfect without undercoat or primer. This will be in my stock for all future decorating jobs, large or small.
Richard –
Verified Owner
Used this product along with zissner 123 undercoat paint on bedroom door furniture, which had a plastic shiny surface. Works well, although I did a test without proper preparation on another similar old spare door and found that the doors took the finished paint better if I cleaned down the surface thoroughly with a degreaser and then washed the surface thoroughly before applying ESP with a lint free cloth. I found a cloth easier than a brush. Once dry I undercoated with Zissner 123 and then over painted. You do need to be careful that you have no bits settle on the surface as they will show more on a totally smooth finish, and as I first found with the test door, if you try to pick it off when dry it will just take more of the surface off and it will look worse. So good preparation is worth the extra time for a good finish.
John –
Tried to establish if I could paint over a varnished door using this product and am left totally confused as the answer was to sand the area first. From the reviews I expected to wipe the area clean and apply the product, then paint after 2hrs.
Not sure it does what it says on the tin.
Owatrol Team –
Hi John,
We’re sorry to hear that you have been unhappy with your Owatrol experience. Could you give us some indication of who gave the advice to sand the area first as it doesn’t seem to be what we would suggest? You should be able to use ESP directly on a varnished door without the need for sanding.
Many thanks,
The Owatrol Team
Crafter –
Verified Owner
Quite an eye opener! Used this on a small melamine cupboard which I then painted with emulsion paint. I made a small mistake, and tried to scratch it off after two days drying. Nothing happened, so I had to repaint the area. Encouraged, I then used it on an old vase. This took emulsion paint beautifully. Currently looking for more things to paint…….
Stacey –
Verified Owner
Amazing. I’ve been able to paint over my old horrible melamine bedroom furniture and they look beautiful now. I’ve also used this on a large wooden dining table, it gives whatever surface your wanting to pain a good surface to stick to. It’s quick and easy to use, too. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Malcolm Hogg –
I’ve used this many times over the years, even to prepare previously waxed skirting boards etc. The results have been very good indeed. Excellent product
Ms Hardy –
Used this product for 1st time last week , I primed with esp then used eggshell paint to cover old melamine wardrobe doors in house just moved into and the results were unbelievable with new handles they look like newly fitted wardrobes and saved me a small fortune . Can’t praise this product enough . Friends and family were impressed
Jacquie Carter –
Verified Owner
Had a lovely email explaining that delivery may be a little later than anticipated but it was delivered earlier than expected which was a lovely surprise. The product does exactly what it says s it does, I love it! Would highly recommend it, it makes a tedious job so much easier!