“Painting your home’s exterior is a job that’s not to be taken lightly.”
Painting the exterior of your san antonio home is an investment that you want to last for many years. Painters In San Antonio goes to extra measures to make sure that you get the results you want.
You will need a large number of tools and materials to properly paint your home’s exterior. These materials are mostly available from a paint supplier. Make sure not to cut any corners with exterior paint, as it may cost you more than what you save in the long run.
There are specific steps you can and should take in order to properly paint your home’s exterior. If you follow these steps to the letter, it should result in a successful project. Just ensure you are comfortable with all the steps, both from an application and safety perspective. Some steps will involve the use of tools such as power washers and ladders, which represent a safety risk when dealing with high areas.
Pressure Washing
Dust and dirt will find a place to hide on and around your exterior walls. You will need to work from top to bottom, which will more than likely require the use of a ladder. It is vitally important you observe recommendations for staying safe on a ladder while using a power washer.
Use a 1:4 ratio when leaning a ladder against any surface. That means you have to divide the height of the ladder by 4 to get the ideal distance to move the ladder base from the wall. Make sure both feet are flat on the ground and the ladder has locked when it was extended. If there is a rope that is used to telescope the ladder, tie it off to a lower rung, ensuring it is not a tripping hazard.
Never lean a ladder on or near power cables and do not climb any higher than the fourth rung from the top. When climbing a ladder, always use the rungs rather than the rails and keep your hips in close as you ascend. Avoid overreaching in any direction as this is one of the surest ways to have an accident.
With your power washer in hand, start working down from the top. In this case, it is also important to point the power hose jet downwards, especially if you are washing siding. Water may get in underneath siding panels if you spray upwards, which could cause problems due to moisture stagnating behind the siding. Use an eight-inch overlapping movement to ensure you get good coverage. Use a smooth and slow motion rather than fast and aggressive, as you will see much better results.
Damaged Surfaces
Damaged surfaces need to be addressed before you begin painting. You will need to inspect the exterior of your home carefully to determine if there is any damage to masonry, siding, wood, metal etc. An epoxy filler applied to cracks will fix the problem. Wait until the epoxy dries and then use a medium-grit sanding block to gently smooth over the area.
Loose Paint Removal
You can use a paint scraper or medium-grit sanding block to remove loose paint. Do not leave loose paint on your walls as it will destroy your finish. Take care and observe ladder safety rules when removing loose paint from higher areas of the walls.
Caulk Trim
Gaps may form between the house, windows, and trim. You can use caulk and a caulk gun to fill in these gaps before you begin painting. Some homes have different materials, such as siding and brick which results in gaps. You can use caulk to fill these gaps, too.
Prime Stains
You may find there are areas of your homes exterior’s which are stained or have prominent wood knots. A coat of stain-blocking primer, applied with a brush, will cover these stains and other defects to provide you with a clean surface on which to paint.
Windows, Doors, & Fixtures
You can cover your doors, windows, and fixtures with plastic sheeting, which is secured with painter’s tape. Again, this task will require using a ladder to make sure you are safe at all times.
Paint Work
You are finally ready to paint. You can use flat or eggshell paint in your paint sprayer. Apply your first coat and allow it to fully dry before deciding on whether you need another coat. You should work from top to bottom in the same 8-inch overlapping strokes you used when power washing your exteriors. Make sure to use a smooth motion in order to get good coverage.
If you change color extremes from light to dark or vice versa, you should apply a coat of primer first to improve coverage. You can now remove the protection from windows and doors and paint them with a semi-gloss sheen, using a paint brush.
Materials & Tools
As a reminder, keep this list of materials you will need in case you need to go to the hardware store:
- exterior flat or eggshell paint
- exterior semi-gloss paint
- pressure washer
- paint sprayer
- paintbrush
- painter’s tape
- drop cloths
- ladder
- paint scraper
- stain-blocking primer
- epoxy filler
- medium-grit sanding block
- spackle knife
- exterior caulk
- caulk gun
- plastic sheeting
If you think this job is too big to handle on your own, then Painters In San Antonio is on-hand to help. Contact Us today and ask about the excellence in professional services we provide.
