A new exterior paint can change your home drastically, helping to increase the curb appeal and protecting you against the elements, as well as protecting your investment. Nevertheless, it is not merely what colour one selects that will give one the perfect long-lasting finish, it is about the hard work that is done, before the first drop of paint ever reaches the siding.

Any successful painting project is based on proper prep. It helps the new paint to stick in the right places, prevents peeling and appears as its very best to years to come. Failure to follow these steps may cost you a lot and end in a poor outcome, no matter how good your paint option is. This tutorial will take you through the necessary measures to make your home exterior ready starting by fixing the broken wood to make your roof a match to the completed appearance.

View of the front of a home looking upwards.

The significance of professional cleaning of roofs.

Most of the house owners prefer to engage hired cleaning workers prior to the arrival of the painters. This is attributed to the fact that any new paint color that is bright will highlight any defects on the adjacent surfaces. In the Carolinas coastal region, then it would be prudent to use the services of Wilmington local roof cleaners since you want your roof to match your new siding.

Professional roof washing (sometimes referred to as soft washing) involves the use of special solutions to kill the root of the algae and lichen without the high-pressure spray that may harm the shingles. By doing that, by eliminating those dark streaks prior to the painting process you make sure that the roof does not serve as a distraction to the new color, but as a beautiful frame.

Phase 1: The Deep Check and Moisture Check.

The pre-paint preparation of the house starts with the first and probably the most important step which is to fix the state of the siding and trim. You should first give attention to the substrate before you consider color palettes.

  1. Damage Inspection and Moisture Inspection.

Begin with a comprehensive “walk-around. You are looking after some signs of wear and tear, and above all, damage by moisture. The enemy of paint and wood is water. Look for:

  • Peeling or bubbling paint: This can be an indication that moisture has infiltrated under the existing layer of paint.
  • Rotten/soft wood: Rub a finger or screwdriver on a hypothetical area of suspicion. When it is soft or spongy, then the wood is rotten. Be particularly careful in places close to the floor, under tiled roofs, and at the intersection of the trim boards.
  • Water staining: dark discoloured areas may point to repeat overflow of gutters or drainage problems.
  1. Repairing Trim and Siding

Painting over rotted or seriously damaged wood, should never be done. The fresh paint will merely mask the situation and the rot will keep on growing under it.

  • Replacing Wood: In case of an advanced rot, it is important to cut out the affected area followed by the installation of a new cedar or pine or a moisture resistant composite material.
  • Applying wood filler: Small cracks, gouges and insect holes can also be fixed using a high-grade exterior wood filler or two-part epoxy. After the cure, sand to the point of the siding.

Phase 2: Cleaning and Phase Preparation.

And now that the repairs have been made, it is time to clean the surface. The adhesion of paint requires a clean working surface. The new coating will not bond with dirt, pollen, mold and chalking (the white powder that is left behind on old, aging paint).

  1. Power Washing and Soft Washing.

The best method of cleaning the exterior of your home is power washing, though it needs delicacy.

  • Technique Matters: Do not press too hard on wood siding: It will gouge the grain.
  • Kill the Spores: You have seen mold or mildew, apply an agent that is targeted to kill the fungi. Rinsing it off will not keep it off growing through your new paint.
  • Provide time to Dry: This is the most omitted step. Once it is washed, the whole building should be dry. This normally occupies 24 hours to 48 hours. Another sure method of premature peeling is to paint on moist surfaces.
  1. Scraping and Sanding

Washing will help you clear the loose debris but still you will have to scrape flaking paint with your fingers. A sound surface is reached with a strong paint scraper. Following the scraping, sand the edges of the remaining old paint in order to feather them. This brings a smoother transition to not have ugly ridges under the new coating.

Phase 3: Sealing the Envelope

  1. Caulking and Sealing Joints

Caulking provides the protection of your home against water. Old caulk is shrinking and cracking. Check and repair caulks around:

  • Window and door frames.
  • Corner boards and fascia.
  • Where the meeting of different material is (e.g. siding meeting the brick).

Apply a good quality paintable exterior silicone or acrylic caulk. Caution: It is essential not to caulk the weep holes or bottom laps of siding, your house must have a way to breath to avoid the development of moisture internally.

  1. Applying Primer

Priming is not a voluntary procedure. A good primer puts a stop to the bleeding of stains and also gives the topcoat a grip. It is especially essential on bare wood or places that you have done your repairs.

Phase 4: Why Your Roof Will Be the Last Detail.

Though you are naturally drawn to the walls, your roof is a huge visual element to your home outside. The perfect paint detailing might be done in the neighborhood but when it is juxtaposed by a dirty, stained or moss-covered roof, the whole aesthetic will be ruined.

The outstanding roof problems, which render a house old and left alone, include black streaks (resulting of Gloeocapsa magma algae), green moss and black staining. All these roof stains are made still more apparent when you paint the siding with crisp, clean paint.

Conclusion

The quiet formidable of a great paint job is preparation. The scraping, sanding and repairing time means that your investment will be lasting of ten years and not a few seasons. You see, by drawing the focus out to the grandeur of your integrity, the cleanliness of your roof, etc. you are sure that your house does not simply appear to be painted, but actually refreshed.