Before you get started painting the exterior of your home you need to do a little prep work. One of the very first things you will want to do is clean the outside of your home of any loose debris and or old flaking paint in order for the new paint to adhere properly to the surface. Loose debris includes dirt, spider webs, wasp nests, old flaking paint, etc.
Before you pressure wash go around the house and make sure all the windows and vents are closed leading to the outside. Also make sure any electrical outlets and or cords are closed, shut off or removed from the area you plan on pressure washing. DO NOT spray water directly on outlets, lights, power boxes, or any other area where there is a possibility of being electrocuted.
Pressure washers can be rented at a local rental center, hardware stores and some paint stores. You should only need it for a few hours so plan on renting it for a half day. Make sure to read the instructions or have someone go over the operational aspect of the pressure washer.
When pressure washing you will want to start a good distance away from the siding 3-4 feet is a good starting distance. This will allow you to gauge how far you need to be to get the loose debris and loose paint off the house without removing too much of the old paint. The idea is to remove debris and old flaking paint off the siding without removing the paint that is still stuck to the surface. It can be real easy to get carried away and start removing a large amount of paint that is sticking just fine to the surface. Pressure washers put out a large amount of pressure and can start taking pitting or taking off the wood siding. Therefore, it is important not to get the nozzle of the pressure washer too close to the house. Start at the top, usually the gutters and or over hangs, and move down the siding towards the bottom. Make sure to allow the loose debris to wash off the surface and onto the ground. Don’t forget to continually move the nozzle, if you don’t you can possibly remove too much material in an area. When you are done with an area, recheck it for residual loose debris. Move this way around the whole house double checking as you go along. Let the house dry completely before moving on to the next step of the painting process. Don’t forget to use a quality primer to seal any raw wood areas.
I hope this tip was useful and helps you produce a beautiful and professional finish on your home. Remember, a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of your home adds a great deal to the curb appeal and value of your home.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergSource by Mike Miller