preparation and
preparation. At least half your house painting time will be spent in the preparation.
The upside of this is that if properly prepped, the paint might last twice as long.
see How To Paint A House: Proper Preparation
3. Read the Label and Follow Its Directions
These directions were written by the same folks who make the paint.
Who is better able to tell you about their own product?
4. Weather Conditions
Wind and direct sun are not your friends when you are painting the outside of your house. The sun
will heat up the surface and cause the paint to dry too quickly. Also, a hot direct sun will cause
the paint to dry from the outside in resulting in inadequate adhesion, meaning bubbles.
Wind means more than danger on ladders and paint splatters in your face. Windy conditions can
blow dirt and grit onto the surface of wet paint. Wind will also cause the paint to dry from
the outside in.
Rain. Do I really have to talk about painting in the rain with water base paint? Drip, drip, drip.
5. Protect Your Plantings & Shrubs
Your plantings and shrubs will thank you for covering them with plastic drop cloths. Of course,
they will breathe a sign of relief when you uncover them as soon as you are finished.
6. Safety Precautions
If you are uncomfortable climbing ladders or getting up on your roof, do not be a hero:
hire a professional.
Read the paint container label for any safety information and follow its cautions.
Do not attempt to do any power washing from a ladder. I do not believe ladders are stable
enough for this purpose. If you need to power wash are areas you cannot reach from the ground,
it is best to use good quality scaffolding that is properly erected and stabilized on solid ground.
Always use eye protection when using a power washer. Never point a power washer at a person or
any body parts of yours or anyone else's. (Do not aim it at your hand to see how it feels.)
Aim the nozzle downward, not up where the spray can get under the siding. Be careful around joints,
edges, flashing, and caulked areas. The spray can wash away the caulk or get under the flashing.
Lead Paint. Prior to 1978, the best house paint contained lead.
Prepping the exterior surfaces of your house if it was painted prior to 1978 can be hazardous.
Check out the EPA website or see additional information I have at: How To Paint A House: Proper Preparation
Please email me at deb@fsbocomplete.com
with your thoughts, comments, questions, or just to say "Hi".
Deb
How To Paint A House: Choosing the Best Paint
How To Paint A House: Proper Preparation
Siding Mold - Stucco
Siding Mold - Vinyl
Mold Household
