17 Sep 3 Essential Painting Preparations for Exteriors

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that we always stress one thing above all else: Preparation.

So, if you’re planning on giving your house a lovely once-over in the coming months, please consider these 3 very important prep steps before you even pick up a paintbrush.

Essential Prep 1 – Cleaning

With its constant exposure to the elements, the exterior of your home is a repository for all kinds of dust, dirt, mould and moss, none of which holds paint well. By failing to clean the exterior before you paint, you’re simply wasting your time.

A quick and pain-free way to clean is to get hold of a high-pressure cleaner. If you don’t have one, feel free to get in touch with us at Pelham Painters. If you would rather go it alone, then a sponge, warm soapy water and some elbow grease will be required to get your walls ready. Use bleach on especially dirty, and mouldy, areas.

Essential Prep 2 – Sanding & Filling

The surfaces of your walls won’t be evenly textured. Some sections may be smooth, others lumpy, meaning that certain spots will collect more paint than others. Giving your walls a bit of a sanding balances the texture, allowing the brush to apply coats smoothly. Even if you feel your walls are smooth enough, a bit of sandpapering will go a long way to ensuring the perfect finish.

Another essential step is to fill in holes and cracks, again to ensure a consistent finish. You’ll be able to get your hands on filler or caulk at any hardware store.

Essential Prep 3 – Priming

Many people think that priming should only be done if you’re adding a new colour. In fact, priming is highly recommended for all paint jobs as it provides a layer of adhesion which helps the paint to be spread evenly. It also negates the risk of your expensive paint job looking patchy. And if you are painting a new colour, you might see the old shade bleeding through if you don’t prime first.

Priming is absolutely essential on certain surfaces, such as timber. You’ll be able to find the right primer for your needs based on the surface you’re painting, with speciality primers available for concrete, metal, plaster and more.

Planning and Pelham

These 3 essential preparation steps are the cornerstone of planning your paint job. Granted, they do require some hard work and a significant amount of time. So, if you’re willing to let the pros step in, just get in contact with us at Pelham Painters.