Everything You Need to Know About Exterior Painting
A fresh coat of paint in today’s colors on a house is always going to look better than a dated color scheme with paint that is peeling, faded and worn. We advise choosing neutral colors that will be current in the next 5 to 10 years, this will maximize your investment. The exceptions to this rule are Victorian houses, historic properties, and homes in ocean or lakefront areas where brighter colors seem to be the norm.
The following articles explain how paint and stain can improve your property
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- How painting will boost your home’s value
- What is the best time of year to paint the exterior?
- How many colors should I choose for the exterior?
- Our process for painting Wooden Siding or Shingles
- Our process for painting Vinyl Siding
- How to stain Decks
- Everything About vertically Concrete slabs Treatment
Everything About Fiber Cement Siding/Still in process Contact for more information
Fresh Paint will boost your home’s value
The exterior of your home is the vital first impression potential buyers have when they visit. Painting is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways you can increases your home’s value. Interior painting results in a 107% return on investment (ROI), and exterior painting a 55% ROI, according to the HomeGain Top DIY Home Improvements for Sellers survey.
What is the best time of year to paint the exterior of your home?
Many Painting companies will tell you the best time to paint the exterior of your home is when it’s nice and sunny out, but not too hot. There is more to consider than simply the weather.
The criteria we follow before painting is:
- Moisture level: For optimal results, the moisture level in the wood should be up to 12% or the ph level in the concrete slabs or stucco siding can go from neutral (pH 7) to highly alkaline pH 12 or 13.
- Humidity: The ideal humidity level for painting is between 40% and 60%, but, if necessary, you can paint in up to 80% to 85% humidity.
- Temperature of surfaces: The minimum and maximum recommended temperatures for exterior painting can vary depending on the type of paint, oil or latex, as well as the specific brand of paint used. A general rule of thumb is that oil-based paint can be applied when the temperatures are between 5°-32°C and latex between 7°- 30°C.
How many colors should I choose for my exterior?
Ideally, there should be no more than three colors on the exterior of the house. We recommend following the 60-30-10% rule: 60% is the body of the home, shingles or stucco; 30% is the garage doors and trim and the final 10% is the front and shutters, just a pop of color.
More than 3 colors used on the exterior could make the house appear choppy or smaller, distracting the buyer’s eye.
CPM’s 4 step process to paint and/or stain your Wood Siding and Shingles
Scraping/Pressure Washing
To prep the home for paint and stain we use a combination of the following techniques:
- Sanding with a diamond grinder
- Scraping with paint scrapers
- Pressure washing with eco-friendly TSP solution
How to Paint Vinyl siding/step by step
1. Choose Your Paint
If you decide to paint vinyl siding, be sure to select an appropriate color based on your siding brand and current color. Too dark of a color can cause the lighter siding underneath to warp. It is generally recommended to use a siding color that is similar or lighter than the color of your current siding. Apply a 100% acrylic paint when painting vinyl siding. Acrylic paint provides the best adhesion, helping it stick to the siding for easier application and longer-lasting results.
If your paint color is darker than your current vinyl color you need to use a safe product like VinylSafe® Paint Colors Sherwin Williams, Paint Colors allows you the freedom to choose from 100 color options, including a limited selection of darker colors formulated to resist warping or buckling. Benjamin Moore also has a limited selection that will do the same job.
2. Prepare your Siding for Cleaning/Painting
Cut back any bushes or tree limbs that may rub against the siding. Be sure to cover anything that you don’t want to get paint on like nearby plants and air conditioning units with tarps to keep everything nice and clean. Remove any shutters or other exterior decorations that may impede your progress.
3. Cleaning Proces
When painting the outside of your home, it’s important to make the surface area as clean as possible for maximum adhesion. Start by cleaning your siding of any mildew, dirt, or debris. You can scrub it with a wire brush or use a power washer to make the job easier. Use a general-purpose cleaner and make sure the surface is dry before applying paint or primer. If using a pressure washer or hose, do not force water behind the vinyl panels.
We Presoak with a solution of TSP and Bleach and then a full “Power Wash” to remove dirt, salt, and mildew to ensure topcoat adhesion.
4. Painting/Spraying/Brushing
Choose a dry day to paint, and try to follow our temperature and humidity regulations. You can use rollers or brushes. If your soffits and roof trim are a different color, paint them before the walls. Paint inside the corners and around the trim. When painting the walls, roll or brush starting at the top and working down. Work quickly and try to blend your strokes or rolls so that they’re not noticeable. The faster you paint the easier this will be. Once your paint is dry, see if you’re happy with the color intensity and coverage. If needed, you can then apply a second coat.
We use a sprayer and this process requires only one coat of paint (the amount of paint that the sprayer delivers is more than two coats as compared to coverage with a roller or brush).
If you do not have time for this process or have any additional questions regarding the process, please contact us and we will assist you
How to properly stain your deck
1. Cleaning process
In order to ensure that the stain takes properly, it will be necessary to prepare the surface to accept the solution. In addition to sweeping up any dirt and debris that may be present on the deck, take some time to give it a more thorough cleaning. If you do not have a pressure washer, a scrubbing brush will be sufficient. Pay particular attention to any marks on the surface as this can result in voids in the stain if they are not taken care of. If any stains have seeped into the wood of the deck, rectify this by gently resurfacing the affected sections with sandpaper. Ensure that you wipe away any residual dust after this process. Now you are ready to apply the stain.
We usually also presoak with a solution of TSP and Bleach. Full “Power Wash” to remove dirt, salt, and mildew, this will ensure the topcoat adhesion.
2. Applying Stain
Choose a dry day to Stain, and try to follow temperature, moisture, and humidity regulations
Selecting the right tool
Choosing the right application tool is the most important part of staining with a semi-transparent stain. You may elect to use a roller, brush or sprayer. After choosing the desired applicator apply in one coat pushing into the grain of the wood.
Applying Product
After the chousing right tool applies the semi-transparent only one coat pushing into the grain of the wood. Call us for the right product and more information about our services.