Here Are Six Things to Do before Painting Your Exterior

When painting the exterior of a building, the key to an outstanding paint job is putting a lot of effort in the preparation before the actual painting is done. Exceptional preparation before painting adds aesthetic value to the home and the paint also lasts longer. On the other hand, failure to prepare properly before painting will only create a mess.

To help you avoid extra costs and achieve a flawless, durable paint job, below are six things to keep in mind when preparing for your exterior painting.

1. Planning
   During exterior painting, the first thing to do is come up with a good plan. It is always a good idea to identify areas that pose potential challenges so that when dealing with them, you are well prepared. A good plan has to entail the tasks that can be worked on separately and those that must be tackled in unison. So things like budget, work scope, materials (the type of paint, primer, color) and timelines can be figured out at this stage.
2. Get Rid of or Tape Around Obstacles.
   Remove all the items that are around the exterior of your home to keep them away from the paint drips. You can choose to either tape these items using painter’s tape or you can shift them to a different place. At some point, you will be required to use a ladder to tape things that are off the ground like the security lights, surveillance cameras, etc. Doing this pre-painting process ensures that you are not distracted when doing the actual exterior painting of the house.
3. Wash the Exterior.
   It is highly advisable to wash the exterior before painting due to the mildew that blossoms under fresh paint. Pressure washing eliminates dirt and loose paint on the walls that could otherwise hinder paint adherence.
   The following are important tips to take into account while pressure washing:
   • The pressure washer should be used carefully around windows to avoid breaking the delicate glass.
   • Do not direct the wand upwards and spray water under the laps because this might get water under the wood and cause mold growth.
   • Don’t use a pressure washer while on top of a ladder – the recoil force can easily send you off the ladder.
   • Allow some time for the surface to dry before scraping.
4. Sanding and Scraping.
   Scraping is a very essential process that entails removing the old, loose paint from previously painted surfaces. If the loose paint is not removed, the new paint will be flaky within no time. Scrape the surface using a sharp handheld scraper. A good scraper must have blades that are replaceable and that can also be sharpened. After scraping the surface, use a power sander to get rid of any rough edges. The dust accumulated during sanding should be eliminated using a dry brush.
5. Repairs and Caulking Joints.
   During preparation, you might come across damaged surfaces due to wear and tear caused by the weather or insect damage. Minor holes on the surface should be filled with the appropriate exterior spackling compound before putting any paint. Large holes can be repaired by filling them with quality resin filler which can also be used to fill nail holes.
   If there is considerable rot on the wood, hire a carpenter to replace the substandard wood before painting. Next, caulk all cracks to keep out water and to prevent air leaks. After applying acrylic caulk on joints or cracks, wipe off the excess, then give it some time to set before painting the surface.
6. Apply Primer.
   When priming, you can go for either an oil primer or a latex primer. Oil primers are the go-to if you are priming over new wood. Latex primer is most effective when priming on bare wood or on a surface which already has latex paint. If the wood surface has an increased tanning content, use a stain-blocking primer. The primer generally helps create a suitable surface for better paint adherence.

Bottom Line
The quality and durability of any exterior paint job highly depend on the level of surface preparation. If you don’t have the skills, tools and enough elbow grease to pull off a thorough, clean prep work, you should probably hire a professional painting contractor for the exterior painting project. And for that, Aspen Painting can help –contact us today for a free quote or more information.