You have decided that it’s time for house painting in San Ramon. An exterior painting job is certainly a challenging job. But when it is done properly, will you arrive at a professional-looking finish? Here are some tips that will help you do a great exterior painting job.
- Exterior painting isn’t as simple as applying a coat of paint. First of all, it is necessary to properly clean the surfaces. It is better to have your house washed entirely. You may want to wash it with a regular brush. If you have to wash the house in higher and harder-to-reach areas, you may want to use a pressure washer, which will speed up the cleaning process and leave your house looking cleaner. A word of caution though, when using a pressure washer, as you may cause damage to the surface.
- When cleaning the walls, use a solution consisting of a mixture of bleach and TSP (trisodium phosphate) to get your house clean by killing mold and mildew which occur on the walls. This kind of solution will also inhibit the growth of mold and mildew in the future. It’s also fine to take your time doing this particular step to make sure that you have all of it removed and prevent mold from growing in the future.
- If you have peeling paint on your exterior walls, remove it using the following steps. Scrape the old, peeling paint from the exterior walls, and then sand the walls afterwards. This step is crucial because, otherwise, a new coat painted over the old peeling paint will result in new paint peeling with the old paint. Be sure to take your time sanding the surface to ensure a smooth surface. A thoroughly sanded and smoothened wall will help the paint to adhere better. Make sure to clean the dust off after you’re finished sanding.
- Check the surface for flaws. If found, repair any cracks, holes, crevices, or edges using caulk (a waterproof sealant). You may also want to check the trim, window frames, and door frames for possible cracks that have otherwise been unnoticed. If there are any flaws still existing in those areas, seal them with a caulk as well. Some brands of caulk, after it has been applied, will need to be sanded. It helps to check the instructions on the caulk tube before buying it.
- When doing the prepping work, be sure to use a mask. There are two kinds of masks. A face mask protects your nose, mouth and lungs to prevent dust and the smell of solvents from entering your body. Another type of mask is a tape mask to cover the trim, windows and other fixtures that you don’t want to be touched with paint. Both types of mask use are important.
- Priming the walls is not really necessarily, but it is strongly recommended. Using a good quality primer will help smoothen out the surface of the wall and help the paint to adhere better.
Proper preparation work is the key great exterior painting in San Ramon. Following the proper steps will result in a more professional-looking finish in your exterior painting.
