Exterior Painting

For most of us, our home is our most valuable asset. Protecting that investment is what we do best. Being in this business for over 25 years, we know that there is a big difference between putting a quick coat of paint on the outside of a house and preparing a home properly so that the paint applied will render years of lasting protection. Our professional painters are skilled and thoroughly knowledgeable in all manner of surfaces and materials. Paint not only improves the appearance of your home, but is also a barrier between your home and the elements.

Below are our steps we go through on every exterior project.

·       Pressure wash with detergent and bleach solution

·       Replace any deteriorated materials (with client approval)

·       Scrape loose paint

·       Re-secure loose materials (trim, siding, etc.) with exterior fasteners

·       Caulk joints with 45 YEAR siliconized acrylic sealant

·       Spot prime any bare wood with alkyd exterior wood primer

·       Cover adjacent areas to protect from paint overspray/splatter

·       Apply premium quality Sherwin-Williams or Kelly-Moore acrylic house paints per manufacturers recommendations  (We will also apply other approved paint manufacturer equivalents)

Washing

A clean surface is a must for proper adhesion of paint. Besides using a heavy duty detergent for cleaning, we also apply a bleach solution to the surface prior to washing. Mildew is a common nuisance in the area that we live in and tends to grow on surfaces where moisture lingers. The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, and if not killed, will continue to thrive under a newly painted surface. Sometimes it can surface and re-appear on the new finish in as little as 6 months. Although most premium quality house paints contain mildewcides, this will only prevent new mildew from growing on the surface – it will not kill existing mildew.

Deteriorated surfaces

Sometimes an issue that surfaces later is not the quality of paint or how that paint was applied, but the surface that it was applied to. During the process of washing, re-nailing, caulking, and priming, deteriorated surfaces may be uncovered that are not suitable for painting over.

Caulking

Typically a building material does not rot in the middle of a board or piece of siding, but in the corners/joints. It is in these areas that water from rain enters because they are not sealed with caulk. A good quality caulking sealant should provide protection from water penetration. Acrylic sealants that are siliconized are superior to plain, painter’s latex caulks.