The capital of California is home to a plethora of skilled tradesmen. Many of those tradesmen offer the highest quality work in the entire country. A Sacramento house painter had an eye-opening point of view about the correct way to administer paint onto the exterior of a home. Since he was such a skilled painter, the ideas that he had about effective house painting and crafty techniques were plausible. We took the time to put the context of his theories together and share them with the people who are looking for real answers about the everyday struggles with painting homes.
Table of Contents
Removing the Impurities
You would think that painting a home would be as simple as slapping on a layer of nice-looking paint to cover up all of the old paint that was there. Although it sounds like a reasonable plan, the truth is that if you do not take the time to remove some of the ailments that will not allow the new paint to bond with the surface, you will find yourself painting the whole area over again within a few months.
Painting a home is a lot of work, and it takes a considerable amount of money to buy the paint that will cover the area. So, it is best to get it right the first time as opposed to doubling the work, and the money that it takes to get it done.
When painting a home it is important to understand that not all paints are created equally and that even if the paint is very high quality, it will not bond with impurities that are left on the surface. Certain oils, dirt, layers of deposits, and so on will hinder the paint’s ability to stick to the surface. Although it may stick for a little while, it won’t take long for it to peel away and look awful.
Pressure Washing and Scrubbing
One of the best ways to remove all of the external debris that could cause problems with the paint is to use a pressure washer and a scrubber. Pressure washing the area that is about to be painted will remove a lot of the residues that can build up over a period of time. The scrub brush will help as well, and also be able to knock loose any loose paint that is peeling off of the surface.
Besides oils and other residues, peeling paint that is hanging from the surface will cause problems. It may seem like all you have to do is paint over the top of it and cover it up, but it will not remove the problem. What will happen is the peeled paint will create a bubble of the area where the paint will not connect to the surface. There will be an area that refuses to bond with the wall. It will only be a matter of time when the rest of the paint will follow suit and pull away from the surface as well. This will create bubbles in the paint job that are easy to see, and look awful. Sometimes the bubble will grow larger and larger until it becomes a huge eyesore. Sometimes a hole will form in the top of the bubble that will allow for rain and other forms of moisture to get in and cause what looks like a water balloon, or a blister on the wall.
Power wash the entire surface and scrub the surface with a decking brush thoroughly before you apply even one drop of paint. Otherwise, you will have to re-paint the whole home.
Primer and Paint
Once you have made sure to thoroughly wash away the residues and buildups of existing problems of grit and grime you will have to consider your primer. When you apply primer to a surface you allow the paint, primer, and the surface to all bond together in a strong connection that can not easily be interrupted.
Imagine concrete and the way that it is mixed. When a concrete delivery company transports the concrete it has to stay in an almost liquid form or else it will dry and become hard. The ingredients that keep the concrete usable in every circumstance are crucial to the way it will develop and harden when it is placed into a mold.
The same way that the aggregate, water, and other minerals that are added to a ready-mix batch is the same way that adding primer to a paint job will help the paint to dry and set in the manner that will be most beneficial for the surface of the paint.
Applying the Paint
Upon having a clean surface and the proper bonding agent in order to facilitate a great painting job, the way that the paint is applied makes a critical difference. The paint has to be applied in an even and smooth fashion, otherwise, it will run and spill down the surface.
Painting a home does not have to be complicated or difficult, all it takes is a little bit of consideration and common sense. Clean it off, prime it, and apply the paint. Just like that. Anybody can do it. Even you.