When your home needs paint, whether it’s the interior or exterior, it isn’t just as simple as applying the paint. The wall needs to be prepped. With an interior, that can be as simple as cleaning, wallpaper removal, maybe some spackling. For an exterior, there is a bit more to it. Many processes and services can be involved in painting prep, but your painting contractor can perform them all, and they will be, as CertaPro Painters franchise owner Dan Mahaney explains, all figured into your comprehensive proposal by your estimator before the job begins.
What is the Proper Preparation for Exterior Painting?
The outside of your home endures a lot more wear and tear than the inside. Between weather and natural elements like dirt, dust, and grime, the outer walls have layers of build up on them, layers that need to be cleared before painting can begin. The last thing you want is for those layers to just be painted over. This is the point power washing comes into play. Power washing is the most effective, expansive way to clean the exterior completely.
You need to have your exterior examined, which will be done by your painting contractor and his estimator. You may need work you were not even aware of. There may be rotted wood that needs to be replaced – and this cannot be ignored. Rotted wood endangers the entire structure of the house, there could be much further damage if it is left unattended. There is also no point in painting over it, because it will eventually have to be replaced in the near future anyway, and this will then mean having to get that area painted yet again. Preparation for exterior painting is part preparing for the paint job, and part accomplishing all of the exterior repairs necessary before applying the paint. Make sure your painting contractor pays attention to wood trim, door and window frames, and fascia boards.
Your painting contractor should also pay special attention to areas of the house where the paint is peeling, chipping, discoloring or blistering. This could indicate areas of water leaking and damage. It is best to find these areas and repair them now, to prevent this problem from occurring with your new paint job – helping your new paint job be one that lasts. Now, of course this will require getting a plumber involved to repair the leak, but again, it is wisest and most efficient to get this work finished before you paint, in one round of renovation. Remember, it is an investment to have these repairs made. But the longer a problem continues, the more expensive it will be to repair it.
Once the repairs are made, we can return to our more focused paint prep, starting with that power washing. The next step is actually removing layers of the current, old paint. This involves scraping and sanding – both processes should be done together to make sure all the loose paint is removed and the surface is as smooth as possible. The process of repairing and restoring the surface continues onto actually creating a smooth surface. This involves processes such as caulking, masking, and finally, priming. Primer is a necessary prep for painting. It is what will bond the paint to the surface, keeping it intact, clean, and smooth for years to come. So, the exterior must go through inspection, repair and renovation, cleaning, paint removal, surface restoration, and finally priming, and then the actual paint job begins. Don’t worry, though, your painting contractor covers all these services under the umbrella of one paint job.
