Autumn
has to be my favorite time of the year, now that summer is officially
over and the searing heat is
no longer a factor, life can slowly get back to normal. Down here in
the southern part of the United States summers are grueling to put it
mildly, and the humidity is almost unbearable.
With temperatures soaring over one hundred degrees and the humidity
often ranging from 90 to 100% life in the south can be horrendous;
however, it is just the right condition for mildew and mold to not only
survive but flourish. Mildew and mold are both fungi or funguses that
thrive under the right conditions. They are both part of the eco system
and play a valuable role in life itself, but they can also cause
considerable damaged for humans when it comes to their homes.
Mildew left unchecked can cause unsightly discoloration and can in
severe cases destroy the substrate that it's covering. Whether inside
or outside mildew can do considerable damaged if not destroyed
immediately. There are some products on the market that's suppose to
kill mildew but my experience has been that sodium hypochlorite or
bleach is the only product that actually kills/destroys mildew. There
are many products that clean mildew and make it appear less unsightly
but only bleach kills it.
Black mold or Stachybotrys Atra is the most deadliest mold known to
man.
This particular species of mold is not destroyed with bleach like
mildew, but there are products on the market that are formulated to
kill this type of mold. It is easily recognized because of its dark
green and/or black coloration. Its gross appearance has the tendency to
make some people ill by simply viewing it. Infants and small children
are reported to be more at risk and more likely to die from it then
others. Some of the symptoms range from nausea, vomiting, shortness of
breath as well as headaches.
Pressure
washing the exterior of your
home can help rid the exterior of home of mold and mildew if the
appropriate cleaning solutions are used correctly. Relying on brute
water pressure to remove anything from your house surfaces/substrate is
a major mistake. High pressure water is capable of damaging the
exterior of your house as oppose to cleaning it. Whether your
house exterior substrate(s) consist of wood, bricks, vinyl
siding, aluminum siding or even cement boards; it can be severely
damaged by high pressure water.
Whether you choose to purchase a pressure washer; rent one,or you own
one already, one thing stands paramount over all else: always employ
caution every step of the way and follow the manufacturers'
instructions and guidelines carefully to avoid any type of negative
consequences; in other words, do your very best to avoid injury to
yourself or anyone else for that matter. And safe operation of the
equipment will help you avoid damaging your home as well.
Pressure washing your home can be the key to giving the exterior of
your home a fresh, clean, attractive look. Often times the key to
cleaning up the exterior of your home lies in a good cleaning. That's
all. But in other cases after the house has been thoroughly washed and
cleaned; yet it still looks dull and lifeless, you might need to think
about giving it a paint job.
Painting
the exterior of your home is a
wonderful sure fire way to give your home that special "curb appeal"
that we all like to see. A house well maintained and painted looks
great and there's no denying it. But who will do the honors? Will you
seek the services of a painting
contractor or will you commit
to doing the job yourself? Painting the exterior of your home is not
rocket science either, and it doesn't take a whole lot of experience to
do it. But there are some very important questions you really do need
to ask yourself before you run out and grab the old ladder and begin.
If your home is a one story home as oppose to two or three stories that
in itself should help ease the fear of doing the job; however, if your
home has multiple stories and you have a phobia of heights it would be
best to contact a reputable painting contractor in your area;
preferably one that specialize in painting exteriors (exterior
painting contractors). If you
feel confident working two or three stories up then by all means go for
it, but remember this, you will need ladders and possibly scaffolding
to do the job and in most cases at least one helper.
The key to painting the exterior of your home is preparation!
preparation! preparations! If
I've said it once, I have said it a hundred times that the key to a
successful painting job is preparations "correctly" done and there's no
short cut to take. There is a wealth of information available over the
Internet that goes into details about the best way to go about
preparing your house surfaces to be painted. One thing for sure is that
whether it's interior
painting or
exterior painting
"correct" preparation is the key to doing a great job.
I stress the word "correct" because
half preparing the surfaces/substrates is still not good enough. The
preparation must be done the right way in order for the painting
job to look great and stand up to the test of time, and without failing
prematurely due to inadequate preparation. The reason most paint jobs
fail prematurely can be traced back to an inadequate preparation job in
my opinion. In fact, on the average preparation will take up to 75% of
the time needed to paint your house! Preparation is just that
important. I can never stress enough the importance of doing a first
class job when it comes to preparing the surfaces/substrates that are
going to be painted.
In conclusion, pressure washing and painting the exterior of your home
is the one sure way to give it a "brand new appearance". Man! No other
single move can transform the exterior
of your home quite like giving
it a quality paint job. But as stated earlier be sure to clean or
pressure wash the exterior before you paint it. In all honesty you
don't have to pressure wash the exterior of your home before you paint
it, but you certainly have to clean it. You can choose to use a water
hose and good household detergents if you prefer; however, make sure
the house has been thoroughly cleaned before you proceed.
Remember, before the cold and rainy season makes its debut you should
get the exterior of your home (as well as the
interior) properly prepared to
endure the harsh weather that is just around the corner. "Old Man
Winter" is just about to get his horn and start blowing, but before he
does, make sure your home is ready to endure all that it must endure
this winter. Make sure your home is well protected from the elements
this winter and we look forward to seeing you next Spring. Good Luck.
| Disclaimer:
The author of this article and all other articles written by him
assumes no responsibility for any and all injuries sustained due to the
content of this articles as well as all other articles written by him.
These articles are written for the sole purpose of informing and
entertaining. Please consult a reputable contractor in your area.
Thanks. |
American
Painting and
Pressure Cleaning, Inc. (318)
746-1810 or (318)
677-9055 for all your
drywall/sheetrock repair projects. We also offer carpentry
repairs; kitchen
cabinets staining and varnishing; kitchen cabinets painting; exterior
(doors and shutters) staining and varnishing; deck restoration and
rejuvenation;
drywall (sheetrock) finishing; drywall (sheetrock) installation;
drywall (sheetrock) texturing; drywall (sheetrock) repairs; popcorn
ceiling removal; plaster restoration and plaster repairs; historic home
restoration and repairs plus flooring.
We are also interior residential
(house) painters as well as exterior residential (house) painters and
so much more. For almost thirty years we have been providing homeowners
and commercial property owners with quality craftsmanship along with
down home friendly service
Proudly serving Shreveport/Bossier City/Minden La.
and the surrounding
areas.If you live in the Minden area just call us at (318) 371-1005.
Thanks, Donald
Thomas/owner |
|
| American
Painting and
Pressure Cleaning, Inc. also
provides quality craftsmanship along with friendly down home service to
the following areas: Benton Louisiana, Haughton Louisiana,
Plain Dealing Louisiana, Bossier
Parish, Cotton Valley Louisiana, Sarepta Louisiana, Sprighill
Louisiana, Shongaloo Louisiana, Heflin Louisiana, Dubberly Louisiana,
Sibley Louisiana, Webster Parish, Homer Louisiana, Haynesville
Louisiana, Claiborne Parish, Lisbon Louisiana,
Athens Louisiana, Ringgold Louisiana,Arcadia
Louisiana, Gibsland Louisiana, Beinville
Parish, Arcadia Louisiana, Grambling Louisiana,
Ruston Louisiana, and Lincoln Parish |
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