Prep Your Home For Paint This summer

Denis Sherlock

• `Builder Grade` Materials and Comparing apples to apples:
• Commercial Services
• Major Additions and Remodel
• Protect Your Siding
• ADA standards

General Contractor Talk (more)
Commercial Services
Protect Your Siding
Sheds and Out Buildings
Helpful Tips, Tricks &Techniques (more)
`Builder Grade` Materials and Comparing apples to apples:
Major Additions and Remodel
ADA standards
Before & After`s (more)
Hallway Advancements
To See or Not to See

Start by examining all areas to be painted, have a plastic or metal scraper, and a pen or screw driver. Any areas where the paint looks to be loose or pealing, start by scraping some paint off to see how easy it comes off. In some cases a power washer will get rid of all loose paint. If there are several layers it may need to be sanded after being scraped so that you cannot see where you have been scrapping (be sure to prime all raw wood areas).  If it looks like more than 50% of a wall needs to be scraped or sanded, you may consider replacing the siding on that wall as the labor cost to sand/scrape it will be greater than just replacing it.

Any area's that may be in question of rot or damaged wood, use your pen or screwdriver to push on the wood.  Look at all trim boards, Fascia (behind gutters), chimneys and any walls facing the weather side.  If the pen or screwdriver goes in more than an 1/8 inch your wood is rotted and needs to be replaced. If painted over the paint will peel and the rot will spread. In addition, any wet or rotted wood will attract carpenter ants and or termites. Once all of the damaged wood has been replaced, scraped and primed, check caulking at all windows, doors, trim, nail holes and seems in the siding. If the caulking is bad, cracked or questionable, remove all old caulk and re caulk with an oil based long lasting product like "OSI QUAD" or "DAP SIDEWINDER"  If you have any questions all - please feel free to contact me!  You can also CALL DENIS For a free painting prep estimate!!!