If you live in an area known for damp conditions, mildew will inevitably show up especially on the shaded and moist areas of your home. House painting in San Ramon on the exterior siding, bathroom, and basement walls can make a difference.
Not only does mildew make the surface ugly and damaged, mildew releases spores into the air which are hazardous to your family’s health. And more often than not, removing mildew and mold is actually harder than preventing it, as well as being more time-consuming. The best way to prevent mildew is as simple as house painting in San Ramon using mildew-resistant paint.
What is mildew-resistant paint? As the name implies, it is a paint that inhibits the growth of mildew and mold. However, despite the promise or what these paints lead you to believe, it is not a guarantee that they actually and completely prevent the growth of molds or mildew. Rather, these paints merely prevent these ugly things from reappearing on the surface.
So before applying a mildew-resistant paint to affected areas, it is important that they should be cleaned, prepped, and treated as well.
There are a lot of paint companies that manufacture and market mildew-resistant paints that are available in several colors like regular paint. When buying paints, it is recommended that you purchase one that has a long-lasting guarantee; but know the guarantee may vary depending on the brand. If you want to use fewer layers of paint (which will save you time and effort), look on the can label to see what is recommended. You will also want to make the paint can be cleaned easily and what cleaning methods should be followed.
No matter the quality of the mildew-resistant paints you’ve bought, they will be meaningless if you don’t remove the mildew from the surface before you paint. This means you will want to thoroughly clean and prepare the surface, and allowing it to dry thoroughly prior to painting.
- Clean the surface with a mixture of one gallon or water and ¾ cup of bleach. Be sure to use rubber gloves to protect your hands and open the windows so there is plenty of ventilation.
- Use a soft-bristled brush or a soft cloth to get rid of the mildew spores. Allow the solution to sit on the surface for at least 20 minutes. Then rinse the surface with clean water.
- After removing the mildew and thoroughly cleaning the surface, let the surface to dry completely. You may want to put a portable fan in the area to ensure the surface is completely dry before moving to the next step.
- When the surface is perfectly dried, apply a primer that kills or blocks mildew and mold. Remember to apply the primer on areas where mildew tends to grow and breed, such as the lower parts of bathroom walls, basements, entryways, and mudrooms. Of course, if you’re painting the exterior of your home, you’ll want to use an exterior primer sealer. Allow the primer to dry completely before painting the color on the surface.
- After priming, you can move on to applying the mildew-resistant paint. Use a soft-bristled brush or foam brush and apply at least two coats of paint (it depends on the paint if it covers the surface with just only one coat). Of course, you will want the paint to dry completely before adding a second coat.
Controlling mildew can be a lot of hassle. There are times when people encounter such problems in their homes. Prevent mildew by house painting in San Ramon using the best mildew-resisting primer and paint. The mildew-resistant paint will not only hide the moldy marks, but the chemicals in the paint will also help prevent the mildew from occurring again.
