The Best Surfaces For Exterior Painting And Why
Posted on: 12 February 2018
When you think about exterior painting and your home, what comes to mind? Scraping and sanding? Skipping the paint job and replacing the siding? When it all comes down to it, does your home really have the kind of surfaces that exterior paint can stick to? Here are the best surfaces for exterior painting, and the reasons why some homeowners are luckier with their paint jobs than others.
Stucco
While it is not common for people to paint stucco, you could. A rough surface like stucco catches the paint sprayed on it and prevents the paint from running and dripping, which is what makes it such a good surface for exterior paint. The paint used should be an eggshell or matte finish so that it looks natural with your home's stucco exterior.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding has the most flexibility of any exterior surface in regards to painting. You could spray paint it, or you could brush paint it. You could even remove each individual slat of siding, lay it between and over sawhorses, paint it in this flat position, and then reinstall the slats when the paint is dry. The smooth surface of vinyl siding is tricky, but because you have acrylic paint sticking to a plastic surface, the paint bonds well with the vinyl slats.
Brick
Brick has tons of pores where the paint collects and just sits. It takes a little longer to dry, but then you do not need quite as much paint to coat the bricks. Spraying is your best option, as brushes and rollers do not take well to brick.
Clean (vs. Dirty)
While there is an old painter's myth that says you cannot paint on a dirty surface, the truth is, as long as the surface does not have chunks of dirt on it, you can paint it. However, painters like to start with a clean surface as dirt can often show through the paint and leave odd streaks or obvious discolorations. With wood siding, (which is the worst exterior surface for painting), clean surfaces are an absolute necessity because the new paint will not stick to old, peeling paint no matter what you do.
Additionally, paint sticks very well to clean surfaces. If you do not mind the streaky appearance, or you like the look of a worn home, then go ahead--be a rebel and paint the dirty exterior without washing it. If you are really rebellious, buy the paint and primer in one that claims to cover dirt. The results are quite surprising.
Contact a company like Braendel Painting for more information and assistance.
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