Paint Preparation Questions

Paint Preparation Questions

Questions about preparing an exterior surface for primer and paint for a lasting paint job.

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Questions with Answers

• Using filler on lap siding. - The exterior paint on my 1920's Craftsman is quite uneven, probably due to a past owner scraping without sanding, and painting over it. A painter that we hired began work by scraping away chipped paint, applying a white plaster-like substance, le...
• Acrylic over fiberglass filler. - Hi, we've just painted our daughter's house this last week - NZ summer - We have some blisters and think your article on this is the answer. We have a wooden wall to finish. Ivy had dug it's roots in so it needed lots of Fiberglass filler. Is ther...
• Prepare and Paint Galvanized Garbage Cans - How would you prepare and paint an exterior galvanized garbage can to avoid peeling, as it is exposed to freezing and harsh winters?
• House prep for soft redwood. - My house is 50+ yrs old; through the years various owners have painted over old peeling/cracked paint. It looks horrid. The siding is soft redwood. I have had up to 10 painters/contractors/questioned paint stores about what to do/use to prep/paint...
• Blowtorch Paint Removal - I am an experienced contractor who has never used a blowtorch for paint removal. We are removing paint from 150+ yr old columns and are wondering if chemical stripping (considering "peel away 1") or the blowtorch will be more effective? Both from ...
• My First Step to Paint the Exterior - I am going to paint my new house. First I want to paint the exterior. Before painting shall I wash the exterior portion? After that, what is my first step to paint the exterior? Please tell me.
• Nail pops in exterior siding. - In the prep process how do you repair nail pops in exterior masonite siding?
• Siding nail pops - What is the best way to take care of "nail pops" in masonite siding prior to painting the exterior of my house?
• Striated Siding Question - I have an older house and a pre-sixties budget, so I am trying to save our current siding that has about 10 to 15 coats of paint. The siding is the larger striated siding panels (sawdrawn?), and most are in good shape physically, but we are having...
• Exterior Prep - I have a board that seeps sap is there any way to stop it?
• Clean house with bleach? - How do I wash the house with bleach? How do I clean 2 story house using bleach method. What does that even mean?
• How well do I need to clean dark areas on a new, but aged 4 months, T-111 siding on an exterior shed before painting? - I have a new shed that I built about 4 months ago and I used exterior T-111 for the siding. I did not paint the T-111 right away like I should have. I now have the time to prime and paint it as needed but I noticed the sides are darker from the gr...
• Painting asbestos siding/shakes. - I would like to paint asbestos siding/shakes and would like to know if I should pressure wash prior to painting? Also would you prime before painting with exterior latex? The siding is fragile and has chipped off on some of the corners. Would the ...
• Steps To Take In Preparing a House For Exterior Painting - Aloha, I need to know the steps to take in preparing a house for exterior painting. (This is a very old house) This is what I did, step by step: 1)Sprayed house with Clorox and water to remove mildew. Rinsed and let dry. 2)Patched holes and...
• What type of caulking should I use on the exterior for siding? - What type of caulking should I use on the exterior for siding. I have a few gaps where the siding ends.
• What is the best product to use for mildew removal? - I am giving an estimate on painting a chain link fence and the whole thing is covered in mildew. The previous paint is a flat oil-based industrial coating and is in pretty good condition. Of course, I'm going to pressure wash it but I was wonderin...
• How can I repair siding (dog chewed) before painting? - My lab puppy chewed on my siding. It isn't a huge area only about 3 inches wide. Can this be repaired before painting? Thanks.
• Do I caulk any existing cracks on the exterior before painting? - I don't have major cracks (some are due to settling I guess). Some people say yes to caulking any cracks but I have also heard that caulking doesn't allow the house to move/shift due to weather and will cause bigger problems down the road. Thanks.
• How To Prep and Paint Exterior Old Wood - Our home is 60 years old and has had several coats of paint on the exterior wood planks. Current condition includes chips, exposing wood and different degrees of paint layers on each board. I want to know the best way to prep the wood (scraping or...
• Repaint Cedar Shingles - We have begun the project of repainting our home. Purchased two years ago, a bank repo. It has cedar shingle siding that has been painted at least twice before. We have the house about 1/2 done with a pressure washer. The old paint remains on t...
• Washing My House Prior To Priming - What should I wash my house with prior to priming it for the finish paint job? I only want to do this once, and I want to do it right. I've scraped, and I've sanded. Is there another step that I can take before somebody hits me with 'Oh! You shoul...

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