29 August 2016
 Categories: , Blog

If your home's exterior is made of wood, it will need to be periodically repainted with a new coat of paint to protect and keep it well-maintained. Before you can apply a new coat of paint, preparation of your home's exterior is necessary to ensure that your new paint adheres to your home. Here are some essential tips to make sure your new exterior paint looks good and lasts as long as possible.

Prepare

The first step to prepare your home's exterior for painting is to remove any attached items that don't wanted painted, such as light fixtures, metal decor, and house numbers. Then, pull back any vegetation that is growing next to your home so it does not get in the way of your painting job. You can use canvas drop cloths to wrap around and secure bushes away from your home and to cover vegetation that may become painted or damaged during the work. Canvas breathes better than plastic tarps and is a preferred material to use during painting.

Wash

Now you can wash the exterior of your home to remove any dirt, mildew, bird droppings, and any other material that may be on the exterior of your home. The main cause of peeling paint on your home's exterior is improper adhesion of the paint onto your home from debris, moisture, or a loose layer of old paint remaining on the surface. The best way to wash your home's exterior is with a power washer, using a yellow-colored universal 15 degree tip. This nozzle will give you a strong spray of water without causing damage to your home's wood surface.

Sand and Scrape

A power washer can lift off much of the peeling paint, but you will still need to scrape or sand the old paint from its surface. You can use a paint scraper and a sanding block or sandpaper to remove all the old peeling paint by hand. Use the paint scraper to wedge underneath any paint that is not stuck firmly onto your home. Then, use a sanding block or sandpaper to smooth down any chunky edges of old paint or to remove old paint from delicate areas that may become gouged or damaged by the paint scraper.

Repair

If you encounter any damaged areas of wood, including holes, gouges, or rotting wood, you will need to repair the area before it can be painted. Use wood filler and a putty knife to fill in holes and gouges in the wood exterior. Allow this to dry fully, then sand it smooth with your sanding block to make it blend in to the surrounding areas. If you have any rotted sections of wood, remove the rotting wood and replace it with a new section of matching wood.

For more information, contact Paintworks  Unlimited or a similar company.