The biggest thing about painting exterior surfaces which puts most people off is the amount of preparation involved. It’s very true when people say that 80% of the work is preparation.
Despite all the power tools available to buy nowadays most of the work involved in preparing to paint simply involves elbow grease. This prep work will involve aching scraping, sanding and wiping. Not what you’d call fun.
This hard work is a must if you want a paint job which is smooth and will last well. It’s also much easier to paint on a good surface. The amount of effort you’ll put into preparing to paint will depend on the condition on the surface you’ll be painting on.
Amount of Work Required – Paint which is peeling will require more work. Scraping the old paint off and sanding down the wood is essential. Areas of mildew will need to be removed and the wood treated before painting. Normally aluminium siding will just need a wash and maybe some sanding.
Inspect the surface – Use a 6-8 inch scraper for areas of peeling paint. You don’t have to remove every little bit of paint, just areas which you think will continue peeling. When scraping paint in corners then use a small scraper instead. Washing – If the surface area is dirty give it a decent wash before you even think about sanding it. Although you could use a power washer it could be a little too powerful and may damage your wood. You could use TSP (trisodium phosphate) and a regular garden hose. If you are having difficulty reaching the surface, try a car washing accessory which has an extendable arm. Allow to Dry – Avoid sanding wet wood because the fibers can become damaged. Also don’t sand wet aluminium because this will shorten the lifespan of your sand paper. Expect to wait a day or two for the surface to dry depending on the weather. Sanding – If you have left small bits of paint make sure you smooth them down with your sandpaper. If the wood was affected by mildew and/or has putty in it, give these areas a sand. Wash Again – Because sanding creates a lot of dust, you’ll want to wash the area again so that the paint can be absorbed properly. If you don’t paint onto a clean surface the pain will peel and flake before it should.
Now all you need to do it get the rest of the job done is to paint.
By: George Kerr
© 2010 Impressionist Painting
