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HOW TO PAINT THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME One way to give the exterior of your home a new and exciting look is by painting it. No single move can add so much awe as an exterior well painted. Be it wood, aluminum siding, hardi plank, masonite and yes, even vinyl siding; a fresh coat of paint can yield splendid results. But there are a few pointers I would like to give you before you grab the old ladder and head out. First, there are some procedures that are in place and of course there's protocol... or the right way to do things. I have been in the home improvement business for almost a quarter of a century and I got my start by painting the exterior of homes in a small town. I learned the hard way how to paint the exterior of a home and for me each lesson seemed to have been etched in stone, but nevertheless, through trial and error I became a successful painting contractor that went on to become a successful home improvement contractor. Now I don't mean to give the impression that I'm financially well off or anything like that, but to me being successful is truly loving the work you do and doing the work you love. I work for every day working class people who appreciate me giving them the best I have to offer and all the while helping to increase the value of their largest investment...their home. And I'm grateful to be able to do it too, so climb aboard and follow me down a road that I love--exterior painting. I will share with you much of what I have learned over the years in hope of helping you achieve a great paint job and at the same time saving yourself a great deal of money...at least in most cases. PREPARATION As with most home improvement projects preparation is the key to a job well done and when it comes to painting the exterior of your home preparation is definitely paramount to every thing else. I can't begin to stress the importance of preparation... and just what is preparation? Preparation is taking the necessary time and effort to make sure the substrate (your house surfaces) have been properly prepared to receive primer and paint. It's certainly not a hidden mystery that only a few have knowledge of, no; instead, preparation is a serious task that not only will determine the outcome of your job but will also determine just how well it will endure the test of time. Now that you have a working definition of preparation in relation to painting the exterior of your home, now let's dissect each aspect of it. PRESSURE WASHING THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME When it comes to exterior painting I refuse to start out with a dirty canvass. I know for a fact that paint will not adhere properly to a dirty and filthy surface, so my first task is to pressure clean the outside of the house. It's so important to take the time to look the house over thoroughly and ascertain any problems that might present themselves once you get started. In other words, check to see if there are any missing siding; fascia boards; vent covers, and any thing else that might allow water to enter inside the home and cause considerable damage. Also, just as important is the fact that water trapped behind places can cause rot and long term destruction. When pressure washing your home be sure to employ caution every step of the way to avoid damaging your home. Once I check the house out completely I begin to set up my equipment to start the first phase of the washdown. I have learned over the years not to rely on brute pressure that can blow the house down, but instead; to rely on quality cleaning solutions that are state of the art and ecologically friendly and bio degradable. In other words I want to use cleaning solutions that are pet friendly, and most importantly safe for the family that has hired me to do the job. I really prefer using a citrus base cleaning solution (limonene) with a ph (its cleaning ability) of around 12. Now that's really potent stuff but just as safe as it can be, plus it has such a pleasant smell. This product is by far my favorite for cleaning practically any type of house siding and coverings. From bricks, aluminum siding, vinyl siding, masonite, painted wood, stucco, stone; to even roof shingles, limonene has proven to be just what the doctor ordered for me. However, before I use the cleaning solution I always use a mixture of water and sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). You see, the region in which I live mildew is a formidable foe that is tenacious and unrelenting in its quest to feed and multiply. It's a fungus that attacks homes with a vengeance and it actually feeds off paint. It looks gross! And I have seen situations where it literally covered the whole house. When mildew is feeding it turns to a darkish green/black color that is down right nasty looking. But the real kicker is this: mildew can remain invisible to the human eye for up to ten years...just lying in a dormant state and then suddenly launch an all out attack. I tell you its war--but I have in my arsenal just what it takes to put an end to it...bleach. That's right. Plain old household bleach. There is no other product on the market that kills mildew. Period. Now there are a number of products that cleans mildew and give the illusion that the mildew is dead, but truth is the mildew is still active and very much alive. But with a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water you can kill mildew once and for all. But you must follow up with an immediate cleaning. In other words even though the mildew is dead you must remove it from your house surfaces. I call it my two punch knock out combination...and it works every time. After you have thoroughly washed and rinsed down the house, you should allow from 48 to 72 hours before you begin your preparation work in earnest. In winter you might have to wait even longer because of the cold weather. Whatever the case just make sure the house is completely dry before you begin scraping the flaking and peeling paint off. REMOVING FLAKING AND PEELING PAINT Assuming that your house is in the worst possible state it can be in, I am writing this article in hopes of reaching every one. If your house isn't quite as bad you can just omit these pointers I'm about to give. Before most people decide to paint the exterior of their home they first have to see paint failure to some degree. Unfortunately, it shouldn't be that way. Waiting until your paint has failed leaves your house substrate exposed to the elements and even insect infestation. For example, paint failure on wood can cause the wood to rot; become warped and splintered. And now instead of just an exterior paint job you are now looking at wood replacement and possibly even worse. So its really important that you maintain the exterior of your home and avoid pricey repairs that can leave you financially drained In order to scrape paint that is flaking and peeling you will need a real good scraper. The good news is that there are many good scrapers on the market that can assist you in removing failed paint from the exterior of your home. They come in different types, styles and sizes and are made from different materials, but whatever you choose just make sure it has a sharp edge and possibly comes with changeable blades. Usually you can find them at most hardware stores and home improvement centers. When scraping off paint try not to gouge the wood or damaged the type of substrate that you are scraping on. Remember, caution is still the operative word here and it's important that you maintain control while scraping to avoid digging pits into the substrate and/or altering its appearance. POWER SANDING In many situations where the substrate is not wood, power sanding is not an option. And in other situations where the substrate is wood, power sanding must be done carefully and methodically to avoid damaging or even destroying the wood. When I speak of power sanding I am referring to electrical tools. Electric sanders can be very powerful to say the least and you must remain in total control at all times while using them because the possibility of wood damage is very great. So stay alert and always be ever vigilant to avoid sudden disaster. I must own at least 13 different sanders and I use them all at some point or another. But each one has its own application and I try not to force one to do what it is not design to do. In other words follow manufactures' directions and instructions when it comes to operating sanders...and any other tools and equipment for that matter. It's just always best to be safe and avoid any injuries that could possibly happen. PRIMING In my opinion, a good primer is worth its weight in gold. A quality primer is the foundation that I build on. There are many different kinds of primers, but for residential application generally you have water base primers and oil base primers. Water base primers are easy to work with and even easier to clean up. All you need is water and you're done. But my personal preference is a penetrating oil base primer that dries slow. I want a primer that sinks into the capillaries of the wood and form a tight bond. I want a good surface for my paint to adhere to and I find that in a high quality penetrating oil base primer/sealer. A good primer like that has the ability to seal in stains and to prevent leeching surfactants that are capable of marring your finish work. Never purchase a cheapo when it comes to primers, buy quality and you won't be sorry. CAULKING AND PUTTYING HOLES After you have primed be sure to caulk and seal all cracks and seams and be sure to cover all nail holes with exterior spackling. To neglect to do these two things will cause your work to suffer in appearance as well as functionality. Purchase a quality exterior acrylic latex caulk that has some silicone in it and only use spackling that is formulated for exterior use...and not just for interior applications. PAINTING Oh yes, now finally the fun part. I know that there are some people out there who hate painting. And I know there are some people out there who would rather face Jack Dempsey, if they could; than paint a house. But I'm not one of them. I love to paint and it really is a 'labor of love' for me. I love beautiful colors and I truly enjoy painting with them too. From pastels to deep rich dark colors, I simply love them all. However, truth be told I think white is my favorite color when it comes to painting the exterior of a house, and I also love black (but not for painting the exterior of a house). Whether the finish is flat, semi gloss or gloss I find the color black fascinating. Painting the exterior of your home can be a very rewarding endeavor and it just might prove to be a new avocation for you as well. Take your time and do a good job and enjoy the experience. I always like to apply at least two top coats of a quality acrylic latex paint--at the minimum...and sometimes even more; it just depends on the situation and the circumstances. My point is this: do the best possible job you can do, using the best quality materials and paint, even if you have to go above and beyond the call of duty. After all, its your house and your reputation at stake--right? Right. So good luck and I wish you the best.
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