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3 Ways To Know If Your Exterior Needs Repainting
Have you noticed your home is showing “it’s age”? By that I mean, is the existing paint now dull, peeling, cracking and not as fresh looking as it was 8 to 10 years ago? If so, now is the time to consider painting it yourself or having a professional painting contractor do it for you.
Here are the first things we look for when checking out the exterior paint of your home:
- Is the paint “chalking”? This is the first step in paint deterioration. Click on this link to see how to check for chalking.
- Are there areas on your home where your paint is peeling badly or beginning to peel? If so, below is an example of what it may look like. If this is familiar looking to you, then the sooner you begin your repainting project the better.
- Do you see paint blisters on your siding like the ones in the below photo? Yes? Then you need to do thorough preparation on your exterior wood siding prior to painting.
Or, you may have recently moved into your home and you are simply wanting to change the exterior paint colors.
Once you have looked over these steps and the helpful links, do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
If you have now decided that this project may be too difficult for you to complete on your own, we are happy to help.
Until next time, Cheers!
-Nico
What Is Chalking House Paint?
We're asked this question all the time. One of the first things we need to know is the age of your exterior paint. If your most recent paint coating has been painted more than 10 years ago, then there is a fairly good chance that sun exposure has taken a toll on your painted or aluminum siding... especially on the south-facing walls.
In order for us to tell if this has happened, we takes the palm of our hand and rub it across the exterior paint surface. If a chalky powder comes off onto our hand or onto yours, then you know it is time to paint.
But what causes paint chalking?
As paint ages, UV sunlight deteriorates its surface and builds up a chalky powder residue. Chalking is a natural process but one which degrades the chemicals that keep the paints coloring agents attached to the paints components.
Another natural substance which effects the paint surface is oxygen. Oxidation occurs when it reacts with the binding elements of paint.
Both light and oxygen make your paints surface less bright and more porous. Once it begins to chalk, rain and weather can remove the powder, leaving the paint on the outer surface thinner than it was before.
How do you take care of it?
Chalking is much easier to remedy than if your exterior house paint has already begun to blister or peel. Along with a simple preparation process including a base application of a wall conditioner, it is also recommended that a cleansing pressure wash treatment is done. This helps to remove the chalky powder and fully clean your exterior surface prior to repainting.
Note: When choosing to repaint, use a high quality paint product which is less prone to chalking.
If your house exterior is only at the “Chalky” stage, now is the time repaint. Once you wait to visually see blistering or peeling you have then added a longer preparation process and a higher estimate price to repaint your home.
Until next time, Cheers!
-Nico
4 Benefits of Deck Staining
A deck can be a wonderful investment for your home, providing you and your family with a great space for entertaining, relaxing at the end of a long day, or just accenting your home's already beautiful landscape. Whatever the case may be, wooden decks require regular upkeep in order to continue looking their best and to remain in the best shape possible, and regular staining is easily the most important form of upkeep for your deck.
Improved Appearance
Regular staining is a great way to enhance the appearance of your wooden deck and ensure it continues to look as good as the day your first had it built. Deck stains come in a wide variety of different colors and tints, so whether you are looking for something somewhat natural looking in order to highlight the grain of your wood, or you are looking for something to completely transform the look of your wood, there is an option out there to suit your needs.
Easier Than Painting
If you were to compare painting your deck versus having it stained, staining is generally always going to be the easier and faster option. One of the biggest differences between painting and staining is that staining doesn't require priming, letting you have the project completed in almost half the time that it would take to paint. This makes regular staining a much better option than regular painting for the homeowner who is always strapped for time. Additionally, wood stains aren't as susceptible to damage from UV rays and constant foot traffic like paint, which can be worn away quite quickly and requires constant touching up.
Rot & Infestation Prevention
In addition to its visual benefits, regularly staining your deck can help to drastically improve its lifespan by helping to prevent rot and infestation. Wood stain helps to seal your deck against both moisture and intrusion by infesting pests, helping you avoid costly problems like mold, mildew and wood rot that could otherwise cause areas of your deck to sag, crack, and even collapse if the damage is bad enough.
Resist Moisture Absorption
Like we stated above, a proper wood stain is important for helping the wood of your deck keep moisture out, and in the winter, this is especially important as any moisture that seeps into your wood can freeze and cause damage your boards. Winter has no shortage of moisture, and right now is the time to make sure that your home's wooden deck is well protected from it with a strong, solid seal applied by a skilled professional.
Best of all, for all of the reasons that stain is a good choice for your deck, it is also a great alternative to paint for your siding! If your home is constructed with aesthetically pleasing woods like cedar or redwood, it may be wiser to use a stain to enhance the beauty of those woods as opposed to hiding it with paint. If you think your home may benefit from the use of staining, please feel free to call any time to schedule an estimate for us to come take a look!
Until next time, Cheers!
-Nico
Which stain is best?
There are numerous deck staining products on the market, some better than others. The staining system we have adopted with consistently outstanding results is called Storm System by California Paints.
We invite you to visit their page here to read even further into what makes staining a great option for your deck!