Prepare for Exterior Painting Exclusive Home Design

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Prepare for Exterior Painting

Posted April 27th, 2011 by Patrick Eldershaw No Comments »

As spring flowers bloom, so does the desire to spruce up the exterior of your home. A new coat of paint is the most cost-effective and easiest way to facelift a home, but before you pick up a brush be sure the intended surface is ready for a paint job.

Painting Wood Siding

Before applying a new coat of paint to wood siding, do a thorough check of its condition. If the finish is unblemished but simply faded from years of exposure, then prep and paint away.

But if the finish is cracking, peeling or blistering that could be a sign of water damage. Meaning, the wood has been soaking up moisture, which causes the wood to warp which shatters the paint finish. If the source of water damage is not first corrected, your new paint job could suffer the same fate as the old finish.

If all other siding appears in good shape yet the siding around the attic shows a failing paint finish, this could mean there are ventilation problems inside the attic. Inadequate ventilation creates moisture which tries to push itself out through the walls. Correct any attic ventilation and insulation issues before tackling the repair and painting of its corresponding exterior siding.

Painting Vinyl Siding

You can paint anything, but the real question is should you? Vinyl siding can be painted, but it noticeably expands and contracts with temperature changes which will quickly wreck your perfect paint job. If your vinyl siding is so old that it has faded or become unsightly, it’s much more cost effective to replace it.

Painting Wood Door & Window Frames

As with wood siding, if the existing paint finish is cracking, peeling or blistering, you could have water problems. Because these frames wick up water, look to the bottom 6” of door and window frames and check the condition of the wood. If the wood has a “chewed up” or splintering appearance, that’s a sure sign it’s soaking up water because it was not properly flashed or sealed, or the protection has been compromised.

Check for Critters

Insects like termites, wasps or bees love wood siding and will take any opportunity to move in. Any visible gaps or holes in any type of siding are an open invitation to squirrels and birds. To avoid a surprise while you’re up on a ladder with a paint bucket, thoroughly check siding, eaves and fascia for critters. Once the invaders are removed and gaps repaired, you can expect to paint surprise-free.

Think Ahead

If you’re thinking of a new deck, doors or windows in the foreseeable future, wait to paint until after those projects are completed. These types of projects affect the siding around them (for instance, where the deck connects to the back of your home), so if you paint this spring and get a new deck next year, you’ll have to paint those areas all over again.

The key to a lasting, quality paint job is the preparation. Mosby Building Arts has a team of paint professionals who specialize in every stage of exterior painting, from repairing to prepping, and applying coatings that perform as good as they look. Learn more tips about painting your home. And for any questions or help with your exterior painting, or contact them here.

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