The Value of Prep Work In House Painting

With most things in life, preparation is important. When it comes to house painting, it’s essential. Preparing an exterior surface for paint accounts for around 80% of the process, and it’s something many painters and contractors tend to overlook or rush through. And unfortunately, homeowners are the ones who have to deal with the long term outcomes.

Exterior Scraping & Paint Removal Tips

Removing paint from your home’s exterior is a multi-step process that shouldn’t be skipped. It’s important to pick a day with the right weather for the job, as too much humidity or rain will affect the process. Here are a few of the best practices for scraping and paint removal:

• Pressure-washing the exterior ensures that dirt and loose paint chips are cleared away.
• Areas of peeling paint should be scraped manually. Wirebrushing and sanding should be used where paint has bonded to the wood.
• Damaged boards or panels need to be replaced or repaired.
• Areas with gaps or cracks should be caulked to prevent moisture buildup behind the wood.
• Shutters should be removed, and doors and windows should be sealed off before priming.

What Happens When You Don’t Prepare a Surface?

When it comes to your home’s exterior, it pays to not cut corners! Failure to prepare the area will affect the lifespan of house paint. Certain paints are guaranteed to last a given number of years, but the quality of the surface has a big impact on how effective the paint will be.

While it may look like paint can cover a multitude of sins, that’s really not the case. When a surface isn’t thoroughly scraped, the new paint adheres to the old, causing it to peel up in the same places. And while using paint to fill in gaps and cracks may seem like a watertight solution, it won’t protect these areas from moisture damage in the long run.

Exterior House Painters in San Diego

What’s the best way to guarantee outstanding prep work that will last? Seek out the experts! At Chism Brothers Painting, we get the job done right, every time.