Take time to make an assessment of your project. Note the condition of the all the surfaces to be painted. In general you will find areas that have pealing or weathered paint, discolored or faded areas, dirty and mildewed surfaces. To check to see if the surfaces is chalky, wipe a colored rag across the surface to see if it picks up the color.

Windows can be a job themselves. Older style windows may have loose or missing glazing compound (putty) to deal with before they can be painted.

As you go through the prep process it is possible you may find areas that need minor if not major repair. Common problem areas are where window casings meet the window sill, the bottom of door casings and where wood is low to the ground. These are areas where moisture has a high potential collect and cause wood to decay. If you should encounter any rot problems, it is important that repaired as soon as possible to prevent further spreading.

Having tools and materials on hand ahead of time will save you a few interruptive trips to the hardware store while you seemed to be making some real progress. Although we all need a break from this kind of labor from time to time.

Make a list of common items such as ;

Tools :Extension ladders, step ladder, scrappers, putty knife, paint brushes, caulk gun, dust brush, buckets, pot hooks, drop cloths, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, wash brush, sponge, stir sticks, water hose & nozzle, pieces of boards to shim under ladders, rope, “wet paint” signs.

Materials: Sandpaper, caulk, scrapper blades, wood filler, rags, masking tape, primer, finish paint, paint thinner, window glazing, window points, nails.

Personal Items: Dust mask, hat, work gloves, rubber, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, first-aid kit in case of cuts, scratches, ect.

Quality: We believe it is important to do a good & thorough job, however to be very fussy on an exterior is probably not practical is most cases, as this could add days, weeks or even months of prep work labor if one is an extreme perfectionist

——————————————————————————–

Beginning the work

Rotating your work: As you work you will probably want to work on a shady side of the house. This way you may end up with two or more sides scraped before you do any priming. You may choose to complete all of the scraping first , but if a side is scraped and the surface is dry it may be a good idea to prime the side before the next rain. This way you may end up with some sides primed before other sides are scraped. Any way that is best for you is ok, but try not to work in direct sunlight and get the priming done while the surface is dry.

——————————————————————————–

Setting up: Any Shutters & paint-able storm windows can be removed and done on a work bench. You may chose to remove the window screens before you began to prevent them from being spattered. It is very difficult to remove paint from screens. You will probably have some steps, decks, sidewalks or other items to cover before you begin to spread any paint

Washing: Washing exterior surfaces prior to painting is highly recommended by many paint companies today, however; depending on the condition often surfaces can be successfully painted without washing. You will at least have to use a dust brush in some areas. It may be best if you at least wash some of the building before it is painted. If it is very dirty chalky or mildewed it should be probably washed.

——————————————————————————–

Scrapping is one of the hardest jobs included in a repaint project. We recommend using1 & 2 inch scrappers although other sizes are available. Most paint scrappers have changeable blades because it does not take to get them dull, although we have learned to sharpen our scrappers with a file to cut down on buying replacement blades. However we still recommend buying new blades each time between major painting projects.

Very seldom is all or a high percentage of the old paint removed from the exterior of a building before it is painted. To do so would take a great deal of work or cost thousands of dollars.

The objective here is to scrape off any loose paint. All pealing areas will have loose paint around the edges. You should try to remove all of this loose paint until the remaining paint feels tightly bonded. If the remaining paint is difficult to remove, and you see no loose edges then you have probably scraped the area enough. A chisel-edge putty knife will often help to remove loose paint.

Start scrapping at the top of the building cover all areas that may possibly need some scrapping. Carry a piece of 60 or 80 grit sandpaper with you, and use it to take down some of the hard edges of the paint and any frayed wood. It will usually be to difficult and time consuming to featheredge all paint edges so do not get carried away with the sanding. Any heavily rusted nail heads can be quickly sanded over at the same time to remove loose rust.

Small holes can be filled with filled with the appropriate patching material such as wood doe, exterior spackling or putty

——————————————————————————–

Priming: The next step is to get all of the bare wood primed .The wood should dry, this is most important if oil base primer is to be used. Usually spot priming is sufficient. If you will be repainting using a colored finish paint, similar to the existing color, it may benefit you to have some primer tinted to an approximate color that you will be using, (especially on darker colors). Paint stores should be able to do this for little or no extra charge. Prime patch material and rusted nail heads also.

——————————————————————————–

Caulking: You may chose to caulk side joints such as where clapboards meet corner boards and window & door casings. Do not caulk the joints under clapboards or joints under or between shingled siding. The objective here is to prevent rain water from running into the joints, but allow moisture to escape from under the overlap joints. We prefer to use a white latex caulk in most cases. This type of caulk can be used directly to most surfaces but will bond better to a primed surface than bare wood or metal. Caulk itself does not usually require primer before painting.

Finish

If you will be painting window sash, you may choose to paint the sash before the rest of the side. This way you may avoid putting the ladder back up on freshly painted surfaces, otherwise you may wait until the siding is finished.

——————————————————————————–

Overhangs: Generally start with painting the overhang .At the eaves paint the over-hang from one end to the other. At the gable end; paint the overhang (or facer board) from one end, up to the peak, down to the other end. Keep a wet edge while painting. try to complete your work in sections. If the siding is to be painted with the same paint as the overhangs, you can continue on with siding after the overhang is finished. If the siding is to be painted with different paint, then you will probably want to continue to paint overhangs or other trim for a while .

——————————————————————————–

Siding :

Horizontal siding such as clapboards. Eaves side: Start at the top of the building, work from one end of the wall to the other. Take down only several clapboards at a time depending on the width of the boards. Narrow 4 inch boards you can take 4-7 boards at a time. 10 inch or 12 inch wide siding you may not want to take more than 1 or 2 boards at a time. This will give you painted section across of about 14 to 24 inches wide. When you have reached the other end, then you may stop for a break or just lower your extension ladder and paint another section heading back the other way. This method will help prevent lap marks. When you get down to the tops of the windows or doors then you may paint sections down between the windows an doors. Gable end: Start at the peak. Paint down as many clapboards as you can comfortably reach the entire length of the board. Then move your ladder to begin working from side to side taking a limited number of boards as described above.

Vertical Siding & T111 (up & down) Eaves side: Start at the top and end of the side. (Suggestion) If you are right handed start at the corner of the building to your right. If Left handed start at the left corner. Set your ladder about 2 feet from the starting corner. Paint a set of the boards down to create a strip about 20 inches wide. You may also paint the corner board at this time if it is to be painted with the same paint. Paint from the top of the wall to the bottom or you may stop at a window ,door casing or in some cases an over lap joint. You can work to one side of your ladder as you go down. (you will have to lower or change you ladder as you go down through). When a section of boards is finished you may take a break. Then move your ladder over about 2 feet and go back up to the top. Paint another strip adjoining to the first strip of boards again from top to bottom . Continue painting strips from top to bottom until you reach the other corner. To paint the last strip you will have to work above the top of you ladder keep lowering your extension ladder or change ladders until you get all the way down.

Tip You can stop for a break any time you finish a section

Shingle Siding: With all of the over laps and joints between shingles, you can paint your section as they come the easiest for you. Just complete all shingles in a section , that is do leave any shingles half painted and move you can make up a section almost any way you choose. But start at the top.

——————————————————————————–

Trim Boards: If Corner boards and casings are to be painted with the same paint as the siding, you can save your self some climbing by painting them as you paint the siding.

If the trim boards are to be painted with different paint than the siding then of coarse you will paint them before or after the siding is painted. If you will be painting the edge of the trim boards with the trim color, then it may be easier to paint them before the siding is painted. If you will be painting the edge of the trim boards with the siding color and just the face of the trim boards with the trim color, then you will want to paint the trim boards after the siding is painted

In either case paint the overhangs before the siding.

Call John Clark an experienced and trusted painter of high quality standards for the most professional finish.

022 646 2771  // 09 940 4886

Unfortunately, because of the nature of house painting industry, almost anyone can call himself a professional home painter. In fact, that is the main reason why New Jersey house painters have such a bad reputation among homeowners, and no wonder.

After all, what good can be expected from a guy who has no trade training or experience, no proper tools or equipment, no knowledge of products and materials, no capital to complete the project right and on time, and pretty often, no integrity?

they produce a sub-par work and waste your time and money. Some may not even finish the work at all and just disappear with your down payment. And since most of them are uninsured, things can turn pretty ugly if your property gets damaged or one of the workers falls from a ladder and gets injured.

there are only 2 reasons why homeowners get hurt by bad contractors:

1. when a homeowner doesn’t know what to look for in a NJ painting contractor (that can be easily fixed - see the articles below)

2. when a homeowner doesn’t care about anything but price (this one is usually hopeless)

The primary purpose of paint is to beautify the house and even raise its value, but the truth is, it can do its job only in the hands of a professional New Jersey painter, and quite the opposite happens when it gets in the hands of an amateur.

We shudder to think of all the disasters we had to correct as a result of a homeowner who underestimated the difficulty of the job

Here are just a few that come to mind:

• water based paint applied over oil based paint
  (which always results in peeling and blistering)
• painting over bare wood
  (such a job lasts only a couple of months at best)
• painting over stains and water leaks
  (they reappear within days)
• not using special primer when applying dark colors
  (even after 7 coats the paint job still looks blotchy and messy)

  

• using the wrong type
  (not all caulks can be painted over)
• not removing old failing paint properly
  (the new paint falls off with the old one)
• … and many, many more!

But when homeowners then try to correct the problem, it gets even worse, because with each additional coat of paint the damage accumulates and eventually gets to the point where surfaces cannot be repaired and must be replaced.

It’s impossible to do a long lasting, quality NJ painting job without specialized tools and equipment, right materials and proper skills that come from years of experience. And most of the time, homeowners have none of those.

So instead of saving some money by doing their New Jersey painting projects themselves, homeowners unknowingly damage their property and contribute to its aging and decreased value. And what’s ironic is that they still end up hiring a professional NJ painting contractor, only this time they have to pay several times as much just to correct the condition they caused themselves.

Many people say they believe in the philosophy: “Do what you do best and leave the rest to professionals”. We just wonder why, then, they act as if house painting is an exception to the rule…?

Call John Clark an experienced and trusted painter of high quality standards for the most professional finish.

022 646 2771  // 09 940 4886

Ok, now you have come to the conclusion to hire a painting contractor or at least get a couple of quotes for your painting project. Get the most out of your paint job by choosing your painter correctly.

You have a few choices to help you locate a quality minded painting contractor. In order to help you find that perfect painter I have put together some ideas. Starting with your personal sources and ending with the internet sources. These on-line referral services offer free price quotes on a variety of construction services.

Trusted Sources

The best place to start is with your friends, family and co-workers. This is how we, Crowder Painting, acquire most of our customers. Word of mouth advertising always starts with satisfied customers.

Therefore, start asking questions;

Are you happy with the quality provided by the painting contractor?

Everybody has their own ideas of quality, so you should take a look at their house and judge for yourself. Pay attention to cut-in areas around doors, windows and trim. Are the lines straight and was caulking applied. Interior or exterior doesn’t matter; proper surface preparation always leads to better, more pleasing results.

Did the painting contractor protect non painted surfaces or areas?

For exteriors this includes concrete, roofing and plantings. For interiors moving and protecting furniture is a major concern but don’t forget about the flooring.

Were they courteous and pleasant?

This is a very important consideration. The entire experience, from beginning to end, needs to be as stress free as possible. Plus if the house painter enjoys their job, the quality and attention to details will be better. The customers attitude can and will affect the entire paint job.

Did the painting company start and finish in a timely fashion?

Arriving at a reasonable time every morning reinforces a schedule. Remember, with an exterior the weather always dictates the schedule.

Is a warranty included?

Local Paint Store

First and foremost is your local paint store, not the home improvement center. Most professional painters purchase their products from a local supplier, a paint store.

Here they have built a reputation, either good or bad, based on the quality of products purchased over time and timely payment if a store credit account is used.

• Purchasing products of the highest quality indicates a true concern for the well being of your home.
• If a painting contractor primarily purchases from a single source, for years, a reputation has been built with this supplier.
• On time payment is always a good indicator of paint jobs finished and customers that have paid for the service.

Talk to the person behind the countertop and ask some questions. Describe your project and ask for any recommendations. Chances are they will know someone that is trustworthy.

Better Business Bureau

Crowder Painting is a member of the BBB. This is a popular way to generate leads. Look for good house painters that have no bad comments or judgments. Call your local office or visit on-line.

The Better Business Bureau keeps records for 3 years on many local contractors, including non-members. These records are the results of customer response, always leave a comment with the BBB after you have any work done on your home. Your comments will help others in the future.

On Line

Internet sourcing is becoming more popular every year. These lead generating businesses can help you find painting contractors in your area. The referral company will have checked out each contractor but cannot guarantee the quality or honesty of the paint job.

This is similar to the Better Business Bureau, but each referred lead will cost the painter money (Whether they get the job or not). Only members of the referral network will receive your job description and contact information. Plus, it is unlikely you will actually choose the painters that respond. It is still best to use local sources and recommendations from people you trust.

Additional Considerations

The key to finding a good, reputable painting contractor is to ask a lot of questions. Try to narrow down your choices to 3, no need to call 10 painters.

• Ask for references of jobs that were similar to yours.
• Note if the painting contractor was businesslike, courteous, and punctual with the appointment.
• Ask for a comprehensive proposal that includes what will be done and what products used. This includes the type and amount of surface preparation, priming and the type of primer, caulking (type and where used), and the brand of paint used with a reference to the manufactures product line. How many coats of paint will be applied must also be included in the proposal.

Hopefully you have a list of qualified painting contractors. Before calling you need to take some notes. Describe, in detail, what you want done. What colors you like, etc. This information will assist the house painter in putting together a complete painting estimate.

Call John Clark an experienced and trusted painter of high quality standards for the most professional finish.

022 646 2771  // 09 940 4886

If you made it this far, you might be thinking “Do I want to do this?” Although there is a lot to think about and do, be assured that anyone can correctly accomplish their exterior painting project. A lot of the effort is in understanding the steps and using common sense.

You do have a few things to think about before jumping in and starting to paint.

• Exterior painting, and all types of painting, is physically challenging. You need to be fit and capable of performing hard work.
• You will need to be on ladders at some point. Even short houses will require the use of step ladders and possibly extension ladders.
• This can be a dirty job. This is especially true if your home is in bad shape.

If you can handle any of this then go ahead and get started, but if any of the above is a problem consider hiring a qualified professional painter. Finding a painter that is right for you can be a challenge.

If you already know a good painter then give him/her a call and have a thorough inspection with options, a comprehensive exterior painting proposal. Ask a lot of questions and gain a new understanding of the condition of your home and what it will take to receive a good exterior painting job.

seems that every year more homeowners are choosing to hire a professional painting contractor than do it themselves. A professional painting contractor can offer a level of quality not easily obtained by the average do-it-yourselfer.

to overstate the importance of experience. There is no such thing as “cookie cutter” paint jobs, where the same procedures can be used over and over with the same good results. Even new construction is a challenge from one job to the next.

Every home is different and will require different amounts and types of preparation as well as different mixes of products to achieve lasting results. The more types of paint jobs that a painter does the more they learn. Only the experience of your house painter can produce lasting results.

Call John Clark an experienced and trusted painter of high quality standards for the most professional finish.

022 646 2771  // 09 940 4886

In order to achieve professional results you need to envision the exterior painting involving many steps or procedures. Each painting step will progress from one to another in a rational manner.

Every exterior paint job begins with an evaluation of the condition of the homes various surfaces and what is needed to produce the best foundation for the finish paint.

Don’t rush, taking your time now and doing things right will add years to the life of the exterior paint job.

After the preparation is done and application methods for your particular project. Unfortunately there isn’t an easy answer to either of these concerns. Each house is different to some degree and requires its own decisions.

The most common stained wood siding and trim is cedar and redwood. In order to receive the maximum durability from any exterior stain, the surface must be porous to allow maximum penetration. Removing the previous stain might be necessary. As with painting, properly preparing a stained house is an absolute necessity.

Applying exterior stain to siding and trim is very similar to painting except the stain is thinner and a bit more difficult to control. The type and color of stain will influence its application. Some experimentation will be necessary.

The most common exterior painting methods are brushing and rolling or spraying. Both work extremely well and are suitable for most surfaces. Your own skill level and the particular situation will dictate which method is right for you.

Another common variety of wood siding is T-111. This type of siding is very difficult to keep painted due to the enormous amount of cracks in the plywood. Painting T-111 siding requires a lot of work and paint. If you have this type of siding and it is stained consider not painting. Restaining T-111 siding is a good alternative to paint.

Masonite is another material that is very common and being used more and more every year. This is an artificial material that can be smooth or embossed, wood grained. Masonite is a very stable type of siding and not prone to warping and splitting like wood. But painting Masonite siding requires back rolling or risk possible damage from water in the near future.

Vinyl and steel siding can be painted if a new color is desired or is the original color has degraded over the years. There are a few things to think about. Overall painting steel siding is the same as painting other types of siding. Painting vinyl siding and trim will require some extra steps plus you have other options instead of painting. Vinyl siding can be revitalized, bringing back the original color.

Painting Exterior Trim

The most satisfying part of exterior painting is putting the finishing touches on the trim. This draws the entire house together.

The parts that I consider trim are fascia boards, gutters, vertical and horizontal pieces of wood forming bands, corner boards and door frames. Soffits can also be included if this is the look you like. Most of the time soffits are painted at the same time and the same color as the body.

Types of materials most often used for exterior trim are wood, Masonite and exterior grade MDF. Even vinyl and steel can be used as a decorative cover over other materials. All are paintable with the proper preparation and primer.

Painting and Staining Exterior Windows and Doors

Wood windows and doors often need some TLC. These items are constantly on the move and usually will require refinishing before the siding. It is very hard to have lasting results with old windows and doors, but it is possible.

Window and door construction can consist of wood, exterior grade MDF, steel or fiberglass. All of these materials can be painted. Wood and fiberglass can also be stained.

New Construction

If you are building a new home, consider spending extra money on the exterior paint job. Often builders and customers try to save a few dollars from all of the trades. This is unfortunate especially with the exterior painting.

You will have only one chance to have the exterior painting done right. If done incorrectly it will cost you much more down the road. From the first day, the paint job is protecting your house. This protection is based on the foundation provided by the primer and caulk. If these items are inferior or missing the paint job will never be right, no matter how much you pay in the future. Each application of paint will be laid on top of this faulty foundation.

This takes its toll on your homes ability to protect and insulate, and tends to lead to higher maintenance costs in the future. If you have to make a choice, at least budget enough money for the exterior painting and have it done right from primer to finish.