House Painting: A Few Things to Consider Beforehand

by Brett Freeman

It can be exciting to paint your house. Whether you're going for a total makeover or just a little freshening up, the sense of anticipation is the same: The house is going to look so good when it's done!

But paint does more than make your house look pretty. It also provides a fundamental line of defense against the elements, slowing by decades the aging of your home's siding and trim. For it to do this effectively, paint must be able to adhere to your siding, and it's critical to remember this when it's time to repaint.

When to Paint
It's tempting to want to start painting as soon as the weather starts to improve in the spring, but you're better off waiting at least a few more weeks. Your siding has been absorbing moisture during the wet winter and spring months, and if you paint before that moisture has dried out, it will cause the new paint to peel. You should also avoid exterior painting during the hottest part of summer. If it's too hot, paint will dry too quickly, leading to blistering. Ideally, you want dry weather, low humidity, and temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees when you paint.

What Are You Painting Over?
The most important part of any exterior painting job is not the actual painting, but rather surface preparation. The degree of preparation required depends on a number of factors. Unless there are signs of large-scale paint failure (paint peeling down to the bare wood), begin by scraping to get rid of loose paint. Follow this with a light sanding, which will help the new paint adhere, and a thorough hand washing using water and a mild detergent.

Time to Strip
If the existing paint is failing over much of your home, it needs to be completely stripped off. Fortunately, there are new chemicals and infrared paint guns that break the bond between old paint and siding, making this arduous process much more manageable. Hopefully you will be exposing healthy-looking siding. But if the wood is gray or feels soft, you will need to sand away the top, decaying layer of your siding prior to painting. If you are mindful that paint does more than make your house look pretty, and prepare accordingly, your new paint job will keep your house looking great for many years.

Source:
AskTheBuilder.com
ThisOldHouse.com

About the Author
Brett Freeman is a freelance journalist. He also owns a landscaping and irrigation company in North Carolina. Previously he has worked as a beat reporter, a teacher, and for a home improvement company, and he used to own a bar/live music venue.