Home Improvement News Bureau

Give Your Home A Facelift

Exterior painting can ratchet up a home’s curbside appeal

THE MONEY PIT NEWSBUREAU – March 1, 2005: Dramatically improving your home’s exterior is as simple as a new paint job – and though it’s a large project, it is something that you can do yourself.

“Painting your home truly gives it an entirely new look and better protect it from the elements,” said nationally syndicated co-host of The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show Leslie Segrete. “It’s a good opportunity to take a good look at your home and repair small exterior problems that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.”

Tom Kraeutler, Segrete’s co-host on the program agrees. “The preparation for exterior painting is the most important step,” he noted. “Both Benjamin Moore (www.benjaminmoore.com) and Sherwin-Williams (www.sherwinwilliams.com) websites offer very helpful on-line resources to assist homeowners tackling exterior home painting. Their resources include helping to choose a color and the proper tools, to identifying and fixing problem areas, such as those with mildew, cracking or peeling paint.”

For professional results, Kraeutler and Segrete recommend following these steps:

• CLEAN ALL SURFACES – a power-washer is best to remove dirt, build-up and possible mold. (For more information on power-washers see sidebar).
• INSPECT- Inspect all surfaces carefully, being alert for anything out of the ordinary. “If there is loose, bubbled or peeling paint, it usually means there is a leak and you need to check for a water problem. It’s critical to not just ignore these symptoms and paint over them. If the underlying cause is not found and fixed it will only continue to get worse,” warns Segrete. Paint problem detectors are offered on both websites listed above.
• PROPER PRIMING - Sand any flaking or peeling areas and remember to prime – Kraeutler says this is key. “Primer is the glue that makes the paint stick. It is particularly important if there is any raw wood.” He suggests choosing a manufacturer for your paint and using the same primer since products in the same line are more compatible with each other. Allow for plenty of drying time.
• PICK THE PAINT - Determine what tools you’ll need, the color and amount of paint. “Always buy a bit more paint than you think you’ll need,” suggests Segrete. “Surprisingly, many store are willing to accept returns on unused paint, even if it is a custom color, and having the extra means you’ll avoid color matching problems if you run short and need more.”
• CHECK THE WEATHER – if there’s a possibility of rain, wait, rather than ruin a coat of freshly applied paint. Too hot or tool cool (below 50 degrees) can affect the finish, as well as hot direct sunlight or damp surfaces.

Always paint from the top down to avoid drips on freshly painted surfaces. The exception to this is clapboard. Working top to bottom, side to side helps eliminate brush strokes.

“The thickness of a coat of paint, only about 2/1000ths of an inch, is all that stands between Mother Nature and your most costly investment,” warns Kraeutler. “But with just a little planning, preparation and research, you can give your home a completely new look and your biggest investment an added coat of protection against the elements.

Making Water Work For You
For faster yet effective cleaning before you paint, Segrete and Kraeutler suggest doing a thorough job with a power washer. “You need the punch that a pressure washer packs to really clean the dirt and grime that can build up on your home over time,” explains Kraeutler. Pressure Washers are a good tool for cleaning a variety of items in and around the home such as cars, boats, patio furniture, decks and sidewalks.

Where to begin? Kraeutler suggests remembering the “Three Ps” when looking at pressure washers:

• WATER PRESSURE – how much pressure you needs depends on the type of job you’re going to be doing. The basic light-duty pressure washer (1300 – 2000) is 30 times as powerful as a garden hose but a good choice for cleaning boats, cars and siding. He recommends medium-duty (2000 – 2600 PSAs) for cleaning grease and grime or heavy-duty (2,700 – 4,000 PSI) for stripping surfaces for repainting.
• GALLONS PER MINUTE – The larger the GPM, the more surface area a pressure washer can clean. A higher GPM flow rate can clean a larger area faster.
• PRICE – Pressure washers range in price from a low of $100 to more than $2,000.

Segrete suggests visiting www.pressurewashersdirect.com. Aside from offering additional tips on how to choose the right power-washer for the job and what to look for, the site offers diy-ers the opportunity compare more than 60 brands and models from leading manufacturer’s side-by-side. “Comparing features helps take some of the guesswork out of determining what model is right for you and in your price range,” she says.

Print Version

Search Related Topics: Cleaning, Painting & Staining, Siding...