Posted by Thomas Crimmins on Monday, July 22nd, 2013 10:24am.
Winter and Sandy took a toll on your Staten Island home’s exterior this year. You’ve been noticing the cracking paint for months, but you don’t want to shell out the big bucks to hire a professional. Don’t fret! With the weather warming and the nice summer weekends, it’s the perfect time to tackle that project of painting your home.
While this might seem like an insurmountable project, especially if you have a multi-story home, it’s not. It just takes the right tools and a bit of hard work. Below are step-by-step instructions to having the outside of your house looking shiny and new.
Homes built before 1978 could have used lead paint, so be careful if you have an older home. They make kits that test for lead paint. If your home tests positive, then ensure you take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your neighbors safe.
You need to wash the exterior of your home before painting. Mildew thrives under new paint, so kill it with a solution of water and phosphate-free cleaner.
Take a scraper to your home’s exterior to remove any pealing paint. Spraying water under the paint as you scrape helps speed up the process. Then sand down any rough spots, so that you have a smooth canvas.
Paint on the primer immediately after you’ve prepped the wood. This will provide an even base for your topcoat of paint.
You’ll need to caulk all the joints to prevent water penetration and air leakage.
Choose a water-based latex paint. It’s easier than applying oil-based paints. However, if your home already has an oil-based paint, you’ll have to stay with it. Then either grab a brush or rent a sprayer to start painting your home.
Be sure to check your home annually for any potential problems. Replace cracked caulk, remove mildew and patch any peeling paint before it spreads.
Utilize the beautiful summer weekends to get started on painting your home, which typically takes two weeks. By not hiring a professional, you’ll save money and have bragging rights when you receive compliments on the condition of your home.