How to Prepare Your House For Exterior Painting
Preparation is systematic. It should flow chronologically so as not to compromise other steps involved.
Cleaning
The exterior of the house must be cleaned thoroughly as the paint won't stay with dirt, grease, grime, or dust. The tool of preference is really a power washer that develops between 2500 and 3500 pounds per square inch of pressure. However, by using this machine requires experience, if not used properly it can damage your insulation and interior walls. Simply do not point pressure washer wand upward on shingled or lap siding. If you point the wand upward, you take the chance of filling the inside of the walls with water.
If the home is peeling in areas, attempt to remove the peeling paint with the power washer. Be careful not to gouge the surface. Without having access to a power washer then use a brush attachment for your hose which often has a reservoir of liquid soap below.
If the tool isn't available, you'll be able to wash it by climbing a ladder with a rag or sponge. When the siding has a minor discoloration, molds or mildew, make use of an anti-fungal cleaner to get rid of it. After cleaning, be sure to forget to rinse the house. Clean from top-to-bottom.
Drying
When the house has been thoroughly cleaned, then allow it to dry. This factor is important because if the wall isn't thoroughly dry, paint could peel prematurely and finally the whole process would fail. If you plan to color latex, wait one day. If oil-based paint is your plan, then wait Three days. If you have used a power washer to wash the blistered paint, you will want to increase time allowance for drying some.
Surface Preparation
Although taking out the blistered paint can also be essential in the cleaning process, you will need make use of a paint scrapper, putty knife or perhaps a wire brush to remove that won't appear using the pressure washer.
Check and address your siding and trim for just about any nail holes or cracks. These small blemishes can be easily filled with all purpose bondo. This works well on smaller gouges or decaying areas, but trim with larger regions of rot should really be replaced to prevent trouble in the future. After they dry, use sandpaper to smooth and level the bondo surface.
Covering Surfaces
Mask or cover places that you wouldn't want paint to spill. You need to use nowhere masking tape along the edge of the trim, window and door frames including the glass doors. Using blue masking tape and paper to wrap each one of these areas will decrease your work time. Cleanup is a minimum. Help held masking machine can make mtss is a little easier.
Place plastic drop cloths over places that paint may drip, usually on porches, roof sections, sidewalks, or driveways. This can also reduce cleanup time and produce a more professional paint job.
Now you will be ready to paint. You are certain that the quality of your paint job will look like one being carried out with a professional. If you employ a professional painting contractor, then make certain detailed preparation and repairs is included in your contract. Once all steps are followed, you're assured of the beautifully painted home for several years.