Preparation Is the Key to a Professional Finish

Getting Started

It is easy to determine if the exterior of your home needs a fresh coat of paint. What is not easy, is getting the job done correctly so that the paint will last. Paint failures are either due to an outside influence or improper preparation of the surface. Contact exterior painting companies near Gilbert to get started.

 The Outside Influence

Moisture from weather, standing water, or vapor escaping from the inside the house are the main causes of paint failure. This is an issue that must be addressed before a new coat of paint is applied, or the job will have to be done again in short order. Other influences can be a caustic environment, or physical damage. Once moisture gets behind the paint, it is game over for your paint job.

 Starting Over

The best preparation is total removal of the existing, failing paint. Although this is not always feasible, it is the only way to ensure that the next paint job will last. If the substrate is wood, getting down to bare wood is essential. Where paint is flaking and peeling it must be removed. If there are multiple layers, try and remove as much as possible. New coats of paint over existing paint will not stick to the wood. The new coats stick to the old paint. If the old paint comes off, so does the new paint. Prime bare wood with a quality primer.

 Clean the Surface

Wash the surface with a mild detergent. Rinse the surface well, as some detergents may crystallize after drying and become caustic, eating the paint film from underneath, like salt on an icy sidewalk. There can be no dirt on the surface, otherwise the paint is only sticking to the dirt. Would you paint a beach? What would happen when the paint was dry? Dirt also absorbs moisture. Once the surface is heated by the sun that moisture will want to evaporate into the air, causing your paint or primer to bubble.

 Two Coats of Finish

Enjoying a finish with consistent color and sheen means having an adequate film build of product on the surface. The solids content of your paint will determine how much is left on the surface after it dries. Less expensive products with lower solids will need at least two coats for uniformity of color and sheen. Good exterior painting companies near Gilbert are standing by to help your home shine.