Exterior Paint Preparation Techniques
Setting the Stage for a Long Lasting Exterior Paint Job
It is amazing that a thin film of primer and paint last as long as it does. Exterior house paint has to stand up to the most extreme conditions than nature and man can dish out. Not to mention, your home and all buildings, are constantly moving around and breathing.
Your home moves and breathes as the temperature raises (expansion) and fall (contraction). In addition wood is continuously moving, splitting and warping. When you add the weather with wind, dust, rain, hail and snow it makes it even harder on your exterior paint projects.
We’ve all seen paint peel within a few years. It’s usually a sign that proper exterior paint preparation was overlooked. If you follow the best exterior house painting tips and use the best quality materials, you can add years to the life of the house paint job. It should be years before you need to repaint.
Because so many people find it difficult to take the time needed for proper exterior paint prep work, it can be a smart investment to hire a professional painting contractor.
When choosing a professional paint contractor make sure proper exterior paint preparation is included in the proposal. As you take a look around the house, you may see some obvious repairs. A professional painter should point these out to you. If the contractor doesn’t do this, reject the bid.
You should expect to find some repairs included in the proposal. Having one contractor that will complete the entire project from prep, through repairs, to final paint will make your life much easier, but it may not be the best route to take. Each painter has different qualifications. Not every painter has strong carpentry skills.
You also need to be aware that repairs could require the need for a building permit and inspection. In the USA you can contact your local building authority for more information.
It can never be stressed to often that using the best quality painting products, knowledge and experience will result in less maintenance and repairs for the future. With proper and complete exterior paint preparation you will make it possible for your house paint to last you 10 years or more. This is the ultimate goal.
Investing in top quality exterior paint preparation tools is one of the most important investments you can make as you participate in more projects. Professional quality tools not only save you time but save you ...
To achieve professional results for your aluminum and steel siding paint job you need to imagine the job involving many steps. Each step will progress in a natural manner from one to another. Evaluate the ...
The initial preparations are generally speaking the part of the work which people tend to neglect. I can not stress the importance of cleaning the surface you are working with enough. Be sure that ...
The goal of every paint scraper tool is to efficiently and effectively remove the loose and peeling paint from any surface. There are many types of paint scrapers, from the classic putty knife to the 11 in 1 multipurpose tool to the ...
Understanding the causes of exterior peeling paint will give you many more years before repainting. The main reason of peeling is water. If water vapor condenses underneath the primer or finish pressure will result causing the paint ...
By Dave Danielson
(Vancouver, Canada)
Have you ever pealed strips of silicon or silicon-based caulking after a few years? You know, when it easily pulls off like a long elastic band? Not a good seal any more, apparently. I have read that silicon is ...
Power sanders are great tools to help with the removal of old peeling paint. The amount of effort spent sanding depends on the sander used. Your efforts can be wasted using the wrong tool. Each type of sander has very specific uses. ...
Exterior walls come in many different materials. Preparing and priming each exterior surface correctly will achieve long-term protection for your home and drastically increase the service life of any paint job. Stucco ...
Correctly preparing brick and masonry for painting depends on whether you’re painting the brick or masonry for the first time, or repainting it. Some prep is the same for both, so let’s look at the common ...
By Geoff Sharp of Sharper Impressions Painting Company
(Columbus, Ohio)
When a person decides to have their house painted they are making an investment in their property that they want the final results to look great and last a long time. It is highly important that ...
Pressure washers will blast away many years worth of dirt and grime in less time and with the least amount of effort. You have a lot of choices with these machines. From gas or electric, PSI and gallons per minute to hot or cold ...
Pressure washing, also called power washing, is the first step in preparing your homes exterior for painting. All exterior paints and coatings must have a clean surface to adhere to in order to last. Applying any primer or paint ...
Pressure washing stained siding is all about removing dust and dirt, opening the woods pores and getting rid of the old burned up stain. This is the starting point for restaining a home with unpainted wood siding, ...
By Anthony
(Pueblo, CO, US)
I have painted exterior walls in the past on Stucco using an exterior latex paint (satin finish) which has proven excellent long lasting results. I never primered the surfaces prior to rolling ...
Preparing the exterior of your home for a new coat of paint will save you time and money. Many people skip the preparation step because they mistakenly think a new coat of paint will seal and cover the imperfections of ...
Reglazing wood window that are in disrepair only takes a few minutes. Reglazing your windows can also rejuvenate your house, while adding the fringe benefit of lower heating bills. On older homes that have single-pane ...
By Joe Ruffino
(Castro Valley, Ca)
After 2 hours of scraping & sanding, plus using a Makita random orbit sander. Many more hours till this is ready for priming. I understand why a professional wanted $5000 to paint my house.
Rough sawn lumber is often more difficult to repaint than traditional, smooth lumber because of the roughness and depth of the wood grain. Paint can appear to be solidly attached, when it’s really loose. This can lead to ...
This video quickly explains/shows some aspects of lead paint containment and encapsulation per the RRP lead rules. Contractors that follow these rules know how to produce as little lead dust as possible, effectively ...
By Catherine Brooks
(Reston, VA, USA)
Infrared Paint Removal: A Safer, Gentler, Eco-Friendly Method Removal of thick layers of paint off old wood is a challenge for historic restorationists, contractors and homeowners. Professional and experienced ...
Most interior and exterior paint jobs require at least some sanding. By removing surface defects, such as paint runs, brush strokes, and hard edges (especially when paint has been scraped away) you’ll help your paint adhere better ...
While scraping is the first step of many painting tasks, the preparation should be finished by sanding away rough edges to create smooth, flat surfaces. It is important to feather – which means blend and even out – in ...
Using the right sanding tool can save a lot of time and effort. A sanding sponge will help remove old paint from crevices and other tiny spaces. We recommend SandBlaster sanding sponges because they are three times faster and last ...
Before refinishing wood, you need to remove the old finish. The easiest way to do this is by sanding the wood. This creates small abrasions that stains or finishes can soak into. This ensures color isn’t just on the surface, ...
Removing ugly, peeling paint and loose caulking is the first step of many paint jobs. Paint scrapers will remove the majority of old finishes. The goal, especially after sanding, is a flat surface. You’ll need a scraper best-suited ...
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