Introduction:
Welcome to Exterior and Interior Painting Specialists Blog! Today we are going to go over a few key steps that will help your home be the dream destination for all cook outs! We will talk about what to clean and check all through-out the out side of your home! Check out our table of contents below!
Table of contents:
- Walk through- what to check
- Our exterior pressure washing and painting process
- How to test your paint for lead
- Replacing or repainting your siding
Walk through:
The first thing to do is a walk through. Bring a piece of paper and a pen so you can take notes on what needs to be completes, whether you do it yourself or hire it out!
What to check:
- Check the siding and the window/door trim all around the home. Write down any loose or damaged pieces. Also take note as to how faded it is. Paint is not only a way to update your home and personalize it, but it also protects your homes exterior and makes it last longer before you need to replace it, which can cost almost double.
- After repairing any damages and before painting, pressure wash the home. This will remove anything growing on your home and chip away any old or loose paint/stain.
- Check anything wood like a fence, patio or deck. Replace any rotted or damaged pieces. Painting or staining the wood will help protect it from the weather and normal wear and tear that is expected. If the wood is new, it will need to sit for at least a year before you can protect it. If you haven’t purchased the wood yet, you can ask the associate at the lumber yard if they know when the wood left the mill to try to avoid waiting the year. (See the video below)
- The gutters- They will more than likely need to be emptied and washed to get the remnants of fall and winter out.
- Check the driveway or any concrete/brick areas and mark any damages. The sooner you take care of any holes/cracks, the better. The longer they go by it will take more time therefore more materials and labor if you hire out. It also brings down the property value if you own or are buying your home.
- If you have a pool, check the lining and filters before filling it up for the season.
Pressure Washing:
The first step is going out to the home at least a week before you begin painting to examine and pressure wash. Doing this takes off any build up that may be on your home, as well as chipping off any loose paint or any chalking that has happened over the years. Pressure washing helps ensure the surface is clean and the new paint will adhere.
**Make sure to take around all doors and windows**
- While pressure washing and again before you begin priming, scrape, any and all loose or chipping paint, sand and prime wood where necessary.
- Also look for any loose window putty before pressure washing and replace as necessary.
- Caulk windows and doors. A small, tedious task, however infinitely important when it comes to quality and lasting paint job. This prevents moisture from seeping behind the newly applied paint, additional protection. We do it right.
- Loose trim will need to be re-nailed. While we are up there working on eaves and fascia we will re-nail any loose trim.
- Rusted metal will need to be sanded and primed. Not only wire brushed but sanded too. You must remove all areas of rust to prevent it from reoccurring.
- We also carefully cover all plants, bushes, concrete and asphalt surfaces. This again is just courteous and clean. We will leave your property as we found it.
- Clean up at the end of each workday. We respect your Residents, Business or job site. We treat it as our own.
Preparation:
Next, we protect everything around the house.
We first lay drops clothes along the ground where the painting will be completed. We do this to make sure any paint doesn’t spill or stain anything.
We also lay drop clothes over any plants to protect them from any over spray.
Next, we tape plastic over all the windows and lights. We do this so any over spray doesn’t go on the windows or lights.
Finally, we take off all the shutters and set them to the side. The shutters will be painted separately. We take them down so the whole body of the house is painted. If the shutters are being painted it is easier for them to be painted unattached. They can go on a stand and be sprayed with the airless sprayer.
Click here to read about painting and decorating your kitchen
Priming:
Now we begin the first coat, Primer. We use an airless sprayer that goes up to 3,000 psi. ALWAYS keep clean tips in an airless sprayer; this will help prevent any over over-spray and keep a constant amount of paint flowing out. If you do not change the tips often, old paint will get mixed in with the new paint and there will be issues with running. There could also be globs of old paint stuck in the sprayer and come out and ruin your project.
The primer takes at least 4 hours to dry before you can apply the first coat of paint.
When using and airless sprayer there are multiple different steps to set it up, sanitizing the lines between products/colors, and shutting it down for the day.
While the first coat dries, you can paint the shutters and anything else that is being painted (Ex: Any doors, metal awnings, or patio furniture)
First Coat of paint:
After the primer is dry and four hours have passed we can paint the first coat.
We always paint two coats on every project.
We have to wait at least 8 hours before we can apply the second coat so we will leave the first coat to dry over night.
Exterior PreppingSecond Coat:
The second coat can be painted after 8 hours of dry time.
Detail Painting:
Most of the small detailed painting can’t be painted with the airless sprayer, so it will take some extra time and a brush or a roller.
Click here to read about getting your homes exterior ready for spring!
Clean Up:
Finally, after everything is painted and dried, we can clean things up!
*Remember, the cure time for most paint products are at least 30 days. Try not to attach or apply hard pressure on anything that has been painted within the last 30 days.*
We pick up the drop cloths and tools we used. We can take all of the blue tape and plastic off the windows and lights.
After we have picked everything up, removed the plastic and tape, and returned everything to its correct spot, we walk around the job site with the owner.
How to test your paint for lead:
- Go to your local hardware store or buy a test kit online.
- Pick a spot and carefully scrape away individual layers of paint so you can check every layer.
- Test kits show results with changes to the color of the test strip or swab. If you’re color blind, be sure to have a friend confirm the results.
Replace or repaint your siding?
General Tips:
- Check for any obvious exterior rotting, cracking or gaps. Repair any of these before washing or painting your home.
- If you find any moisture or mold on the inside of your home, check the same spot on the exterior of your home.
- If your heating/cooling bill keeps increasing exponentially, that may be a sign. Sometimes there is no obvious physical exterior damage.
- With vinyl siding be sure to check from every angle to see if there is any bulging.
- Keeping up on the basics helps your home last longer and keeps your bills lower.
Different Types of siding:
Wood:
The most common profiles for wood include:
- Board and Batten: One of the classic exteriors, board and batten or barn siding is made of wide boards joined together and a batten, which is a thin piece of wood put at the joint of two boards to cover the gap, creating a vertical design.
- Shingles – Also known as shakes, these are thin, lightweight pieces of wood with a tapered shape.
- Clapboards – Also known as bevel, lap, or weatherboarding, these are long, thin boards installed horizontally with a slight overlap.
- Drop Siding – Similar to clapboards, the top of each horizontally-placed board is fitted into a groove in the lower edge of the board on top of it.
- Vertical Boards – A series of wide boards are placed vertically with a series of narrow boards in between them.
- Wooden Sheet Siding – Simple sheets of plywood are installed for exterior walls, commonly used on inexpensive buildings.
- Log: Built with logs so exterior is logs stacked on top of one another in an interlocking design.
Replace or Repaint?
For most wood exteriors you can tell if you need to replace it by just pushing on the siding with your fingers to find rotted / soft areas. If you want to look and feel a little bit more official, you could go poking around with a rot detection device (aka “awl”).
To keep up on maintenance, look for areas with missing or dried out caulking and address them.
If everything is dry and solid, it can just be repainted! The paint will help protect the wood from weather and bugs!
Log Cabins:
Cost: The cost generally ranges from $3 to $8 per sq ft.
Pros:
- It gives the home a rustic look.
- The log exterior is long lasting if done using high quality wood and given proper maintenance.
Cons:
- The initial cost is high because it requires a professional or knowledgeable experience for a DIY and so is the cost of maintenance.
- It requires regular treatment to prevent insect infestation and the cracks in logs need to be sealed to prevent decay.
Replace or Repaint?
When checking for log rot, your best bet is to go around the home with a rubber mallet or hammer, tapping on each log (not the chinking between logs). You’ll know when you hit a spot that has damage, as it will be soft, and will make a different sound than the hollow ringing sound of solid logs.
If all of the logs sound normal and there is no water or bug damage, then there is no need to replace any of the logs! If the previous stain or paint is faded or chipping and peeling, all you need is a repaint!
Click here to read about our entire exterior painting process!
Wood shake siding:
Cost: The average cost is $7,200 per 2000 sq ft. The cost depends on the location and size of the home as well.
Pros:
- Shingles gives a home a natural look that blends well with surroundings such as waterfronts and woodlands.
- They cost less in comparison to sidings using materials such as bricks and stones, while they can last as long given proper maintenance. They need staining after every 3 years and need to be painted after every 6 years. Mildew repellents should be used if the area has a lot of moisture.
Cons:
- Shingles need regular maintenance involving caulking and painting so that they do not get damaged by weather.
- They are affected by moisture and can grow mold and algae if not properly maintained. Insects and wind can also damage the wood; it can warp, curl, fade and crack.
- Shingles may loosen with time.
Vinyl siding:
Cost: The cost ranges from $.65 to $2.00 per sq ft.
Pros:
- It is low maintenance and only requires washing every now and then.
- Vinyl does not require to be installed by a professional and a DIY can manage, which reduces the cost of installation.
- It can be customized into different designs and colors.
- The color does not fade.
Cons:
- It has a synthetic look that may be a discouraging factor to natural enthusiasts. To reduce the plastic effect, homeowners can use vinyl with long siding so that seams do not appear between panels.
- Vinyl degrades the environment after disposal because it is not biodegradable and ends up in landfills for a very long time unless recycled.
- It can be damaged by extreme weather conditions such a winds and high temperatures causing cracks, rot and mold.
Replace or Repaint?
Vinyl siding is manufactured to last a very long time. Warranties for vinyl siding can range from 20-40 years depending on the thickness. Unless you have a damaged panel with cracks or holes, it won’t need replaced.
Previously, it was very difficult to successfully paint vinyl because of how versatile it is. Now there is a special product of vinyl paint that allows you to choose from hundreds of different colors to update and change the look of your home!
Metal Siding:
Cost: The cost depends on the materials used and the cost of labor ranging from $4 to $8 per square foot.
Pros:
- Metal is long lasting and durable, a feature that makes it outlive most of the other home exterior materials. It does not rot or mold due to water damage though some types of metal may rust if not well finished and maintained.
- It retains color without fading and it can be painted.
- It is not prone to pest attack, does not warp or buckle.
- Metal is fire resistant.
- It keeps the home cool during summer by reflecting sunlight.
Cons:
- Some of the metals such as weathering steel and copper may change due to exposure to weather.
- Aluminum is soft and may dent if hit by rocks or hail while it may also fade.
- Steel is heavy and may take time to install thereby increasing the cost.
- It does not retain warmth in winter and so it increases heating bills.
- Metal needs to be repainted after a few years when the paint wears off.
Replace or Repaint?
More times than not, you won’t need to replace your metal siding, it will need to be routinely painted to prevent any rust. If it has already rusted through and created a hole, then you will need to replace that area.
Brick Siding:
Cost: Full brick cost ranges from $6 to $10 per square foot but it can go up to $12 while a brick veneer can range from $4 to $6. The cost of installation is not incorporated which can be high, especially for full brick exterior because it requires specialized skills.
Pros:
- A brick exterior does not need a lot of maintenance and can do with occasional washing.
- The exterior can last even more than 100 years with proper maintenance.
Cons:
- The cost of materials and installation are high. One of the cost contributors is the labor-intensive process of installation. In this case, you may consider a brick veneer.
Replace or Repaint:
You will only need to replace any bricks in your brick home if they are damaged, cracked or crumbling. Painting your brick also is not necessary, but it will help protect it. Painting your bricks also help you decorate and make your home feel and look more like yours!
Stucco Siding:
Cost: $6 to $9 per sq ft
Pros:
- It is long lasting if there is proper installation and maintenance.
- Due to the casing it provides, stucco insulates the home, reducing the need for cooling or heating thereby saving energy costs.
- It is resistant to fire and so there is no need to add fire retardants.
Cons:
- Stucco does not do well in areas with excess moisture and therefore not suitable for use in humid areas.
- It is expensive to install with a high initial cost.
Replace or Repaint?
If your stucco is stained or discolored, it could be a sign of trouble. Moisture and leakage causes this discoloration and if you can see visible stains, there could be mold or water damage lurking below the surface. Pay particular attention to the edges and corners of windows and doors and to the areas directly below the roof line as you look for damage. If there is no damage, you can just repaint it. The paint will help protect it, and let you personalize your home!
Conclusion:
Thank you for reading all of Exterior and Interior Painting Specialists blog! Today we went over the main different types of exterior siding and how to tell if you need to replace it, or if you can repaint it! As you know replacing your siding could be three times as much as painting it! Paint adds an extra layer of protection to your homes exterior!
For a free estimate give us a call!
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