Tag Archives: Painting

Avoid Problems Painting Aluminum and Vinyl Siding

Avoid Problems Painting Aluminum and Vinyl Siding

Anyone with older aluminum siding is well aware of the paint chalking problem. Just rub your hand along the old siding and the chalky old paint will be all over your palm. Trying to get paint to stick to this could be a real problem. This is due to oxidation of the paint. Siding manufacturers originally referred to this problem as a “benefit”. They called it, “self cleaning”, as the paint literally washed off the house.
Older vinyl siding is also a problem. UV light fades vinyl siding over time and the siding becomes very unsightly.
Many unfortunate homeowners and contractors have experienced the dismay, when they repainted their homes, only to find the new paint peeling off a few months later. Both problems with older aluminum and vinyl siding can be overcome with proper cleaning, surface preparation and re-painting.
Cleaning
You will need to rent a powerful pressure washer with at least 3000 psi. You will want a pressure washer powerful enough to remove most of the old chalky paint off the aluminum siding or, to remove any dirt buildup on the old vinyl siding.
Start at the top course of siding and work your way down. You will need to keep the pressure wand fairly close to the siding surface to effectively remove the old paint. In some areas, you may find that the paint comes off to the bare metal. Be careful near windows, corners, soffits and doorways. The water under pressure, can be forced behind these areas causing damage. You can add TSP or other cleaning solutions to the reservoir for mildew, algae or other grime built up. If you do use a cleaning solution, be sure to completely rinse it off with your pressure washer. You should allow your home to dry for several days in dry, sunny weather before proceeding to the painting process.
If you are repainting vinyl siding or vinyl coated aluminum siding, you may need a surface de-glosser. This is a solvent type product used to remove any shine on the surface and to help your first coat to adhere better. You will have no trouble finding a good de-glosser at your local paint supply store.
Application
I like a commercial type airless sprayer. It will draw the paint directly out of your 5 gallon paint pails, through the hose and into your spray gun. These are available to rent at many tool rental locations and even some paint supply stores that supply contractors. If your paint is real high quality latex, it will be thicker than regular latex paint and will require a more powerful airless sprayer.
Priming
This step is equally as critical as the step above. Actually, the cleaning and surface preparation phases will make or break the results of your project.
I like a latex paint additive called emulsa-bond for the first coat. Emulsa-bond is a bonding agent you will add to the first coat of paint or primer, to help it to bond to the old siding.
I buy the best grade exterior latex paint, rather than oil or other solvent based paint. Latex paint seems to keep up with the expansion and contraction of the siding very well. The high quality latex paint I buy needs no primer. I add the bonding agent directly into the first color coat. Check with your paint supplier whether or not to use a primer. The rule of thumb is, when in doubt, use a primer. If you use a primer, add the bonding agent into it before applying. There are also bonding agents available for oil or other solvent based paints. One type is called penetrol. These are usually available at a painting contractor supply store.
Many contractors will spot prime areas, especially where bare metal is exposed. I don’t like spot priming because it can lead to an uneven looking top coat. When I put a primer coat on, I prime the entire home. This gives a uniform surface finish later on.
Finish Coat
Your top coat will be color only. You should check with your paint manufacturer to see if you need one or two top coats after the base coat. Like I mentioned above, buy the highest quality exterior paint.
In Conclusion
Proper cleaning and surface preparation are the two main ingredients to a successful painting job. A bonding agent in the first coat is also very critical to avoid paint peeling off later on. Using these techniques, I’ve re-painted homes that have lasted far longer than the original factory applied finish.
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Finish Your Painting Projects Without Sacrificing Your Free Time

Finish Your Painting Projects Without Sacrificing Your Free Time

(ARA) – With a little planning, you can complete your painting projects faster than ever, without sacrificing all of your free time.
The first step is to get organized. Buy all your painting materials before the weekend, so that when it’s time to get started, you won’t waste time tracking down supplies. Your checklist should include paint applicators, a drop cloth, stepladder, screwdriver for removing hooks, switch plates and the like, masking tape for window edges, and of course, enough paint to complete the project.
Shortcut your painting prep by spreading it out over a couple of evenings, or do it the weekend before painting. Carve out manageable bits of time to do the routine tasks such as patching and filling holes, removing grease or crayon marks — even removing cobwebs from corners and ceilings. If your wall surfaces have mildew on them, try removing it using one part bleach in three parts water and then rinsing. Let everything sit for a couple days, so you’re ready to dive in and paint on the big day.
Some projects require more diligent treatment of surfaces. If you need to remove wallpaper, there are several power prep tools that can save time and elbow grease. For example, Wagner Spray Tech offers power wallpaper steamers in a variety of styles and sizes that can provide a fast, clean way to remove the paper without having to use chemicals, solvents or detergents.
When it’s time to start painting, consider using some of the newer products on the market that are designed to give fast, professional-looking results, such as Wagner Spray Tech’s new QuickTouch electric paint rollers. Simply attach a standard gallon-sized paint can, insert the paint hose, turn the unit to “paint” mode, and you’re ready to go. The rollers make it fast and easy, eliminate back-bending trips to the roller tray, and greatly reduce the potential for messy drips and spills by eliminating the need to pour paint.
Choose the QuickTouch version that fits your job: The QuickTouch Power Roller package includes painting project basics, including a 12-foot hose, 14-inch extension and spatter shield for approximately .99. The QuickTouch Power Roller PRO offers even more options to make bigger projects go faster, including a five gallon adapter, variable speed control, a built-in carrying handle, 18-inch extension cord and a trim pad, for approximately 9.99.
If you’ve got an especially large painting territory to cover, consider a battery-operated roller. Wagner Spray Tech makes a portable model, the 929 Variable Speed Power Roller, which can apply 20 gallons of paint (enough to cover five average-sized rooms) on one set of batteries. It’s not only easy to operate, it’s easy on the operator. It has an ergonomically designed handle with fingertip control, quick release for simple assembly and cleanup, and a paint distribution system that enhances the flow of paint for better coverage. At a suggested retail price of .00 to .00, it can provide fast, professional results for a relatively small investment.
After your painting project is complete, clean up can be quicker than ever, too. Try rubbing protective cream onto your hands before you paint — it’ll ensure faster and easier removal of paint from your skin. To remove paint from the electric or battery powered rollers, simply insert the paint hose into a bucket of water, switch the unit to “clean” mode, let water circulate for about 10 minutes, and you’re done.
When your painting is complete and your tools have been tucked away for the next project, there’s just one final task. Pack up your family and head for the beach — it’s the perfect place to relax while you’re waiting for the paint to dry.
For more information on painting equipment, including The QuickTouch Power Roller and QuickTouch Power Roller PRO, or other Wagner Spray Tech products, call (763) 553-7000 or visit www.wagnerspraytech.com.
Wagner Spray Tech Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis, is the leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial power painting equipment as well as faux-finishing products.

Fundamental Guidelines On Painting The Aluminum Home Siding

Standard Standards On Repainting The Light Weight Aluminum Siding

While aluminum house siding have been popular in the market, and also being advertised as a maintenance-free item, the fact hits homeowners when they see their house from the outdoors with the exterior siding currently having actually a discolored finish as well as chalking.

The option is not to take it out and install a new house siding for your residence; even more it is not a remedy to just allow it be, and hoping it would certainly look far better the next time you check out your residence home siding. Have you thought about painting the aluminum home siding of your house?

Repainting the light weight aluminum house siding, or repainting for that issue is the method to go. Not just will this be a less trouble on your component, it will certainly likewise assist you save more cash than having to place brand-new exterior siding in location. In this method, you also reach select from among the large selections of shades, that attract your preference which fits the style of your home.

The tricks to an effective paint job depend on the proper surface prep work, the paint process, as well as the quality of paint made use of for the work.

First as well as leading, similar to any type of paint job, it is suggested to have the surface clean as well as completely dry. Cleansing the aluminum house siding would certainly imply utilizing a detergent option or a top quality soap, whichever you have, as long as you get the deposit out throughout rinsing. The use of a hefty sponge and also scrub brush will likewise be essential along with a hose or a pressure washing machine. Be cautious with making use of the stress washing machine though, and also established it only at the suitable setting to provide you simply enough require fit for your washing needs.

After cleaning, as well as after seeing to it that the aluminum exterior siding of the house is extensively dry, then you can currently use the thinned metal guide, making certain it is tinted to half the stamina of the original color of your surface. Though priming is not typically needed for repainting the light weight aluminum siding with a top quality 100% acrylic latex paint, a good guideline is to prime when unsure. It is additionally an excellent suggestion to mix in a bonding agent for the priming procedure.

Application of the final finish ought to be done within 2 days after the application of the guide, as well as the paint must be a top-notch 100% acrylic latex paint. Using such in repainting the aluminum home siding will certainly give the most effective efficiency required for aluminum siding. This paint is durable and also offers a fade-resistant finish that can last for many years.

The paint might be applied by brush, however a far better alternative would certainly be making use of a spray. Repainting the aluminum exterior siding needs one to know what he is doing, thus you need to find out even more regarding this by reviewing reference materials, or better yet– let an expert do it for you.

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