SURFACE PREPARATION

Surface preparation is the single most important part of any paint project because it is most effective at promoting better adhesion of coatings. Inadequate surface preparation and moisture are the major contributors to paint failures.

All surfaces, interior and exterior, need to be clean before applying paint products. Interior surfaces should be free of dust, dirt and grime for any new paint to provide the best look and protection.

Scrubbing may or may not be necessary while using general household cleaners should be adequate. Repair all gouges, cracks, stains, holes, etc., and sand area's smooth where applicable before applying primers and paints. The conditions will dictate how much effort is required to obtain a consistently smooth surface.

After the surface is thoroughly washed, remove all loose and peeling paint where applicable and sand those areas to provide a smooth surface. All damaged area's need to be repaired. If broken glass needs replacing or window glazing becomes loose and brittle, the windows will need reglazing once the surface is cleaned. A coat of a top quality alkyd primer before and after new glazing is applied will provide maximum adhesion. All rust should be wire brushed and treated with a hardening chemical and a top quality rust inhibited primer to prevent future rusting. Rusty nail heads need to be reset, primed with a top quality rust inhibited primer and caulked. If rust is not properly treated it will re-emerge through the new paint within days. Finally, caulk cracks where applicable and then apply a top quality primer and a top quality finish coat.

Exterior surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned of dirt, sap, mildew and any other substances that might inhibit adhesion or take away from the overall appearance and durability of the paint. Exterior surfaces can be cleaned by hand with household or commercial cleaners, but this method of cleaning can be time consuming.

A more conventional way to clean exterior surfaces would be to use a pressure washer (power washer.) It delivers better results and is much less time consuming than doing it by hand. Different surfaces require different types of pressure washing and the amount of pressure that is used may very from surface to surface. If used improperly, pressure washers can cause damage to surfaces. Whoever is pressure washing should be sure they understand what they are cleaning and how far they can go on a particular surface before it becomes damaged.

A common finish paint failure on masonry construction is peeling and scaling, often caused by painting over heavy chalk deposits. Although using a water hose with a nozzle will remove much of the chalk a more thorough and efficient way to remove this substance is with high pressure spray equipment (not for interior). Multiple coats of paint that are in an advanced state of deterioration or prior applications of cement based coatings must be removed to a sound substrate. Sand blasting or using a mechanical grinder are effective means of preparation. Surfaces should then be primed with a chalk binding primer.