How to Prepare Your Home for Exterior Painting
Exterior home painting is one of the most popular home improvement projects. A freshly painted exterior can improve the curb appeal of your property and increase your home’s value. A fresh coat of paint can add character to your exterior and improve its mood. Exterior painting projects have an impressive ROI of 51% on average.
Before you add a fresh coat of paint to your exterior, prepare it for painting. This is an important step in the exterior painting process. Preparing the exterior for painting is a great way to ensure your paint job lasts longer.
Follow these steps to prep your exterior for painting.
Pressure Wash Walls
Painting over dirty walls is a waste of time and effort. Dirt and dust can keep paint from bonding and drying properly, affecting paint performance and lifespan. To get rid of built-up dirt and dust on your exterior walls, pressure wash them. This will help ensure you get even paint coverage. Pressure washing walls also removes unsightly flaking and loose paint.
Work your way from top to bottom in a controlled manner and make sure each stroke overlaps by about eight inches. Proceed carefully to avoid damaging your walls. Keep the nozzle at a 45-degree angle and spray from a distance of 12 inches. When you increase the pressure, move the nozzle further away from the surface.
Repair Damaged Surfaces
Visually inspect your exterior and take a note of damaged wooden structures and masonry. Inspect your stucco or siding to see if they have cracks. To repair any cracks and holes, apply epoxy fillers to them using a spackle knife. Once epoxy cures, lightly sand the damaged area with a medium-grit sanding block.
Get Rid of Loose Paint
Once your exterior is dry, walk around your house. If you notice some spots with loose paint, place drop cloths along the ground, then scrape loose paint off using a scraper.
Repair the Trim
Take a note of any gaps between your home and the trim around your doors and windows. Repair them using exterior caulk and a caulk gun. If your house has mixed materials, add caulk along the spots where different materials meet.
Prime Any Stains
If you notice any stains, apply a coat of stain-blocking primer to the area with a paintbrush. Priming seals in stains. It helps create a smoother, even finish while ensuring better adhesion between the top coat and the surface that is to be painted.
Cover Doors, Windows, and Lights
To avoid unsightly paint splatters and spills, use plastic sheets to tape off and cover any surfaces you don’t want paint to make its way onto.
Mike Chavez Painting is a reputable exterior painting contractor in Petaluma. We have years of experience giving dull homes a radical makeover with a fresh coat of paint. To learn more, call (707) 623-5850.
