Exterior Painting
Preparation
Exterior preparation is important! High pressure water is used in many cases to remove grime, mildew, mold, loose peeling paint and dirt. This is an excellent time to have your concrete walks and driveways cleaned thoroughly.p>
Exterior surfaces, such as siding, doors, casings and windows are sanded, dusted, and cleaned as necessary to remove dirt. The new paint must adhere and proper preparation will ensure a good job. Excessively dirty surfaces are cleaned as needed with appropriate cleaner.
Any loose paint must be scraped away first before sanding, cleaning and caulking. We use sharp metal scrapers to remove any loose, peeling paint left after pressure washing. These surfaces are thoroughly sanded and dusted off. Cracks are caulked with latex caulking. Holes are filled with exterior spackle or caulking, depending on finish coat used. Unusual preparation needs are thoroughly discussed before the job starts.
Cover UpWe use drop cloths to protect your concrete and asphalt. We mask off windows and doors to keep overspray and splatters off the surface. It is much easier and wiser to keep paint off unwanted surfaces than to clean it off after the fact. We use clear plastics to cover most of your windows. We cover and protect your plants with reasonable care. Some minor pruning may be necessary to gain access to the surface being painted to produce a quality job.
Priming
We use oil based primers in most cases on raw, bare and weathered wood, as is needed. The new acrylic primers are quite good and we are using them more. We usually prime as we go to protect the wood from rain before the finish coat(s) are applied. This makes the job ready for painting immediately after the rain stops. We also renail loose siding as we prepare surface. Any boards that need replacing is extra unless it is agreed before starting. We always discuss any wood replacement BEFORE it is completed. You must approve all aspects of the job.
Choosing Paints
The five main choices are:
-Flat exterior acrylic latex - covers well, looks good on most wood and masonry surfaces.
-Satin exterior acrylic latex - covers well, looks good, dirt doesn't adhere as well- especially goof for light colors on trim.
-Semi-gloss exterior acrylic latex is usually used on trim such as doors and windows - very washable.
-Gloss exterior acrylic enamel is usually used only on very smooth surfaces. The higher the sheen, the more imperfections are shown. This is the most expensive paint to apply, because it requires more time and effort to apply perfectly.
Choosing Colors
Choosing colors for exterior painting:
-To make your house appear larger, use a lighter color trim.
-Darker color trim will downsize your house.
-Light to medium colors will last longer than dark colors.
-Use accent (3rd color) for front door or other architectural trim.
-Consider parts of the house that aren't painted ?roof, brickwork, rock work, concrete.
-Consider neighboring homes. Make yours to be compatible as well as distinctive.
-Look at other homes you like, take pictures. Look through magazines and books.
-Don't be afraid to express your own good taste with a distinctive color scheme.
-Experiment with colors. Cut out your color chips and rearrange them in different ways.
Go for it!
Questions and Answers
What about odor, smell and drying time?
Most of today's latex paint products are very low odor, produce no fumes and dry quickly. With reasonable air temperature and mild air circulation many surfaces can be second coated the same day. Most doors can be closed at end of day.
What about painting in cold or rainy weather?
Most of today's latex paint products dry quickly. After years of experience we know what we can or can't do. Bad weather is not as big of a deal that it used to be. Most surfaces don't need to be extremely dry. Moisture under old layers of paint isn't trapped by application of new latex paints. It only takes a few minutes for the paint to set before rain can disturb it. The life of the job is generally not affected by application in cool weather.
Of course we can't actually apply paint on exposed surfaces while it is raining. We can do all pressure washing on rainy days. Most finish coats are water thinned, so waiting until weather is perfect is not necessary is most cases. If rain washes off wet paint on a job, it is our responsibility to fix it.
What kind of materials do you use?
Only the best and most durable paints are used. Oil based primer is a top choice for most exterior wood for a first coat or a spot primer. Exterior acrylic latex house paint as a top coat will withstand weather elements, sun fading or heat changes. Two coats are desirable on weathered surfaces. All materials used are of the BEST QUALITY!
Will deep colors last as long as light colors?
NO! There are fewer pigments and they hold more heat in summer, instead of reflecting it. Black may last half as long as white. Other deep colors may last 75% as long as light colors. Because deep colors hold the heat more, the old layers underneath usually deteriorate faster.
What is the best paint job?
It is only as good as the surface. If wood is badly cracked or dry rotted, even the best paint job probably won't help. It must include preparation, materials and application.
Why does exterior paint usually fail?
Most paint fails because the old or original layers underneath the top layers lose its bond. Most paint eventually fails this way and it is not the fault of the paint, painter or anyone - it just happens!
What is inter-coat peeling?
If paint fails between the several layers and not at the bare wood or original surface, it is called inter-coat peeling. It is usually due to improper penetration of the last applied coat(s) of paint, improper preparation, too thin paint or poor quality paint.
What do I have to do to prepare the house to paint?
Most of our customers prefer to remove their personal belongings themselves, such as BBQs, lawn furniture, attached decor and house numbers. We will move large items.
Do you leave touch-up paint?
We leave a small can of each color and type of paint used. If you nick the surface in coming months, you can touch it up yourself easily. If it is small, use the tip of your finger to apply - don't dirty a brush for that small nick.
How do I keep mildew from forming on exterior surfaces?
A mildewcide can be added to the paint before it is applied. Cleaning off any existing mildew before applying the new paint. Cleaning off mildew off existing surfaces in between paint jobs can be done by using a detergent and mild bleach or commercial mildew solution. Test a surface before doing a large wall. Rinse thoroughly with clear water.
Why use oil based primer on bare or weathered wood?
Oil primer is good for proper penetration. It will also seal in tannic acid and other wood stains to keep them from bleeding through the finish coat acrylic latex.
What is the difference between acrylic and vinyl latex paint?
Acrylic latex is always the best quality. Vinyl latex is lesser quality. The combination of acrylic vinyl is the second best quality, vinyl being the lowest quality.
What is the difference between acrylic latex and oil based paint?
Acrylic latex holds color better and in generally better for most exterior work. Oil based paint takes longer to dry, but flows better for interior trim work and is a harder finish for cabinets. It is preferred by many contractors for interior trim. That is where most oil paint is used, except for exterior/interior stains, which can be wiping, semi or solid coat stains or a specialty product such as Wolman F&P.
What about painting concrete surfaces resting on the ground?
No paint will ever last a long time, but we recommend you use an acrylic latex porch and deck paint. One or two coats on a clean somewhat dry surface is recommended. You should avoid walking on these surfaces for several days if the weather is cool or a couple in warm weather. Don't drag objects across new paint for a minimum of 30 days. Most paints require about 30 days to properly totally cure.
Copyright © 2003 The Good Stuart, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
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