Haymes Ultrahold stops stains others miss—because your walls deserve more than cover-ups.

June 18, 2025

Stain-Proof Starts Here: How the Right Basecoat Can Save Your Paint Job Before It Begins

You’ve prepped. You’ve patched. You’ve picked the perfect colour... but then that same old water mark starts ghosting through the fresh paint. That’s the moment most people realise—not all undercoats are made equal.

This is why Haymes Ultrahold exists. It’s not your everyday layer beneath the topcoat. It’s what stands between your flawless finish and the stubborn marks that just won’t quit—smoke stains, crayon chaos, pet smells, and more.

“Ultrahold gives everyday DIYers a shot at pro-level prep. It’s one of the most underrated problem-solvers for painting projects at home.” — Candeece H, Paint Specialist

What Makes Some Surfaces “Hard to Paint” Anyway?

We hear it a lot: “This paint won’t stick to that!” In truth, many surfaces around the home—particularly older walls, ceilings, and exteriors—come with baggage.

Smoke-damaged surfaces (from fireplaces or old stoves) release residue that eats through fresh paint.
Timber tannins from garden fences or trims slowly bleed through acrylic paint, yellowing the surface.
Mould-prone bathrooms or laundry walls always seem to get darker patches after a few months.
Crayon-covered walls (thanks to a little artist-in-residence) just don’t clean up enough for repainting.

All those stains and smells need to be sealed before the final coat goes near the wall. That’s where Haymes Ultrahold steps in—with a high-adhesion, fast-drying shield that literally holds the line.

Why Haymes Ultrahold Is a DIY Must-Know

Here’s what you get with one coat of Haymes Ultrahold:

Fast drying: Touch dry in 20 minutes. Re-coat in an hour. Great for one-day room flips.
Strong adhesion: Grabs onto slick or glossy surfaces (like old varnish or smoke-stained walls) and gives topcoats something to hang on to.
Barrier protection: Blocks recurring stains, wood tannins, old smoke scent, and even pet accidents.

Unlike water-based prep coats, Ultrahold has a methylated spirit base, which makes it tougher at penetration prevention—think odours, smoke damage, or past grime that could otherwise resurface. It’s ideal over:

Old fire-damaged ceilings
Crayon-scribbled bedroom walls
Kitchen renos with mysterious pre-existing marks
Exterior timber gates where tannin leaks through each winter

Here’s How It Works (And When to Reach For It)

Step-by-step prep with Ultrahold looks like this:

Clean the surface thoroughly—get rid of dust, grease, or residual smoke film.
Sand any glossy patches if needed (especially older door trims or furniture).
Apply one solid coat of Haymes Ultrahold using a roller or brush.
Wait 60 minutes minimum. The surface will dry quick—but give it the full hour to cure depth.
Once dry, paint away with your chosen acrylic or oil-based finish. No ghost marks. No weeping stains.

Planning a colour change too? Combine Ultrahold with a rich-colour undercoat to help your new shade pop and stay true. Our in-store colour mixers can dial that up on the spot.

From Damage Control to a Dream Finish

We’ve seen old watermarks completely disappear under this stuff. No bubbling, no seeping, no oil patch showing through even weeks later. One local even used it over an old timber wardrobe their kids had decorated in permanent marker—the transformation was unreal.

Paired with Uni–Pro’s Premium Wall Brush or shed-resistant roller kits, you’ll get strong surface grip and zero streaks—as long as you give the primer full wall coverage.

But do you always need Ultrahold?

Not necessarily. For clean new plaster board or already-sealed walls, a basic sealer may do. But if you even suspect there’s something lurking on the other side of the paint—stains, fire residue, kid’s “artwork”, weird smells—Ultrahold is a shortcut to peace of mind.

A quick gauge:

Any changes in wall colour over time? → Grab Ultrahold.
Sticky, smoky residue when you wipe the surface? → Definitely.
Painting pre-loved furniture with unknown history? → Yes please.

The Unexpected Hero of a Beautiful Room

It’s easy to obsess over topcoats—but what’s underneath quietly does the heavy lifting. Haymes Ultrahold isn’t about flash. It’s about function. And in homes with history (or kids!), it holds the wall—literally.

So next time you're gearing up for a fresh start in tricky spots—coat hooks, crayon zones, smoky corners—do it right from the first layer.

Here’s the simple rule worth remembering: