Exterior house wall painting. Tips for the brave
This is related to exterior wall paint and exterior paint coatings.
We offer as much information as we can related to exterior wall paint, in order that YOU may make YOUR OWN DECISION on what paint to put on your exterior walls.
Most paint that you, the public, can buy yourself, it must be said, isn't very good, as they want you to buy lots of it, and then next year, buy some more paint from them as the exterior walls by then will look bad and you will need to start the painting process all over again.
Also from our experience in the trade, it could be suggested that TRADE paint (from paint specialists and builders merchants) is a better quality than the DIY paint that can be bought, even when they are made by the same paint company!
tip: DON'T EVER BE TEMPTED TO BUY "BARGAIN" BASEMENT PAINT, IT'S A FALSE ECONOMY!
If your daft enough, and tight enough, not to choose an exterior paint or wallcoating from NPA international, then read this article all about how to paint your exterior walls.
DONT SAY WE DIDN'T WARN YOU!!!!!!!!!
Fancy painting your house this year instead of asking us to do a long life wallcoating? Well if your daft enough to attempt a paint job on your home, then read this.
This is for USA wooden houses.
Typically when painting a house, you are dealing with wood, however, there are some cases that you may be dealing with metal, and plastics. The same basic procedures are required of nearly all paintable surfaces.
The most important step is preparation! Even if you buy the best quality paint, and use the highest quality applicators, if you do not prepare your surface properly, your paint will fail.
Step 1: Remove all loose paint, rust, and other debris. There are a variety of tools to assist you with this, such as: Paint scrapers, putty knives, sandpaper, wire brushes, etc.
Step 2: Clean area thoroughly. Dirt and mildew will interfere with your paint's ability to do its job! For general cleaning, TSP does a good job in preparing an area for painting. It is available in liquid and powder form, or you might consider using a pressure washer, or a hose with house wash. For cleaning mildew, you should use a mixture of bleach and water. This will kill the mildew and prevent it from coming back later.
Allow your house to dry and go choose your paint and primer!
Step 3: Choosing Primer: This is a very important step in proper painting. Lack of primer is often the reason that many home-owners are not satisfied with their paint job. Primer acts as the glue between the surface and the paint. It adds that extra adhesion that will keep your paint where it belongs. Most paints are not chemically formulated to bond properly without primer. (*Note! Even 'factory-primed' items, such as doors, should be washed and re-primed!)
Step 4: Choosing a paint:
Be sure your paint is for exterior use. There are a variety of shine levels for you to choose from, flat, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss, being the most common. There are also two basic types of paint, Oil based and Latex. Latex being the easiest because it clean-ups up with soap and water, yet once it is dry it performs well. Oil based paints hold up well to climate, however it remains slightly tacky because it is constantly curing, and never really dries completely. All exterior paints are washable, but you may want to ask your local paint outlet for recommendations on the products that will last the longest, and offer the best protection.
Estimate the number of gallons you will need (one gallon covers roughly 350 sq. feet), and choose your color! Don't forget to pick up a brush, roller, roller pan, painting tape, and whatever else you think you may need!
Step 5: Primer: you apply a primer the same way you apply a paint (typically with a brush or roller, and sometimes with a sprayer). Cover the whole area completely and allow to dry. This will add to adhesion, and lessen the amount of paint you will need to finish your project.
Step 6: Painting: Decide which applicator would do your job best and go to town! Remember to use bumpers on all ladders to ensure stability. Once you have your whole project completed allow drying time! Also, don't forget to allow a painted surface to dry for at least 24-48 hours before re-coating (unless specified on your can). Even if a paint feels dry to the touch, it may still have moisture in it that could cause your top coat to falter.
Step 7: Drying time:
Depending on what you are painting, climate, and paint type, drying times will vary. Be sure to read the back of your can for specific information about drying.
Alternatively, instead of doing the above every year, ask us for a quotation instead, it may be more cost effective than you think!.
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