Exterior Paint Preparation Techniques
Paint It Correctly From The Start

Next to using top quality paint, exterior paint preparation is the most important house painting technique. Inadequate or incomplete painting preparation is the major reason for failures of the finish.

Often the exterior needs the most time and effort to prepare due to the many surfaces exposed to the harsh weather and intense sunlight.

The preparation can amount to 50% or more of the time it takes to paint a house.

You will want to know the extent of the surface preparation needed to be done to your home. A thorough and complete examination of the entire home is in order. Take your time and pay special attention to the areas that need to be fixed.

Typical areas of concern are fascia boards, wood trim and windows or doors. Severely split or rotten wood should be replaced. Light damage can be repaired with epoxy wood filler or for light rot you can use bonding glue.

Avoid Future Repairs

Many houses I work on are missing key metal flashings that could have offered protection from rain and ice damage. Instead these homes rely on the caulking and some good luck. Fascia boards should have metal flashing that extends from under the roof over the fascias. This is especially important for directing water into the gutters. This flashing can be installed if it is missing.

Windows and doors should also have flashing, called drip edge, and is installed during the initial construction. Many older homes are missing this flashing and rely on the caulking to create a water proof seal.

The condition of the paint can indicate where possible problems are. Peeling or blistering can point to water leaks are and could also show up as discolored areas. The existence of persistent moisture will cause peeling and can involve mold and mildew. Fully remove the mold and mildew then repair any sources of moisture before applying primer.

After repairs are made, prevent the mold and mildew from recurring.

Common Exterior Preparation Steps

A good place to start is with pressure washing. Pressure washing is the best method for removing chalk deposits on paint. A clean surface is a crucial exterior painting preparation step that needs to be done at the beginning.

Although washing a painted surface is rather straight forward, pressure washing stained siding requires a different mind set. Washing a home with stain, instead of paint, is the most crucial step when restaining a home.

The next step is scraping and sanding. The scraping and sanding should be combined as each can find loose paint the other technique missed.

For rough wood, such as rough sawn cedar, your only choice is to use a wire brush. Wire paint stripper attachments for power drills can also be used.

This is the most labor intensive part of exterior painting, but the most important. All of the loose paint must be found and then removed; this forms the foundation for the entire paint job.

There are environmental concerns with any scraping and sanding of the existing finish. If your home was built before 1980 the exterior finish might contain lead based paint. You need to know what to do and not to do.

The other aspects of this process are caulking, masking and priming. Top quality products are required in the beginning in order for the final look to be its best. After all preparation is finished choose the best exterior paint and exterior painting techniques for your project.

The stage is set here for the entire paint job.
Take your time and do it right.

If you choose a professional painting contractor, proper exterior paint preparation should be included in the proposal. Also many repairs can be included. This will make your life easier, not having to find another contractor for repairs.

The qualifications to do the repairs will depend on the painter. These repairs could require the need for a building permit and inspection.

In the USA you can contact your local building authority for more information.

For the needed guidance about building codes in Canada I recommend About Building In Canada, an excellent website with information on the Canadian building permit system. Including what a building permit is and when one is required for a residential project.

The bottom line, with proper and complete exterior paint preparation it is possible for your house paint to last 10 years or more.

Your Ideas

Almost every part of a homes exterior can be painted! I have shown many of the basics about preparing a surface but you will eventually find a situation that is unique. What did you do? I would love to know. Use the form below and tell the world, plus have your own web page.

What Other Visitors Have Said

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