To get your home ready for exterior painting, keep these things in mind.
One of the most important aspects of your exterior painting project actually comes before the project starts. You have to get your house prepared for when the painting begins so that nothing goes wrong mid-project. Even the best painters won’t be able to get the job done right if the house isn’t adequately prepared. To get your home ready for exterior painting, keep these things in mind.
Understand your Exterior Material
Your home could be sided with any number of materials, such as wood or vinyl. If your home has expanded, it could be sided with multiple materials at once. It would be best if you examined your home’s trim and exterior before you start painting. You may notice that the paint is chipping or peeling. Perhaps nails have popped, or your siding might have gotten a little pale.
Gather Up Your Supplies
You’ll need to clean the exterior of your house before you start painting. Most of this is hands-on work. Some people may want to use a power washer, but the best way to wash your house is by scrubbing it by hand. Power washers tend to force water along your siding. This can result in mold and mildew developing.
To prep your house for exterior painting, you should have:
- A bucket and water
- A cleaning agent
- Work gloves
- A wire brush and scrub brush
- Sandpaper
- A putty knife
If you can get multiple people to help you, it makes the job easier. Another job you’ll need to remember is to cover your plants with drop cloths, using stakes and ropes to keep them in place.
Get the Ground Ready
Before exterior painting starts, you should get rid of any debris that’s left on your lawn. It helps to use drops cloths and ropes to get bushes and trees farther from your house. Use a rake so that you can clear the ground of dirt. You don’t want that debris to settle on your freshly-painted exterior.
Prepare Your Home’s Exterior
Use some water and a cleaning agent to gently rinse down your house’s exterior. You should aim your hose at a downward angle along the side of your home so that you don’t get water caught in your siding. Wood requires special attention because, after washing, you need to do some hand scraping and potentially use a wire brush. You might also have to use a sander or an electric paint remover so you can get rid of loose paint along your walls.
Contact Albaugh & Sons
Since 2003, Albaugh & Sons, LLC, has been dedicated to meeting the fencing, decking, and home remodeling needs of homeowners throughout the greater Frederick area. All of our team members are experienced, well-trained, and committed to exceeding the expectations of every customer.
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