The job of painting a house starts long before the first stroke is taken.
First to consider is the reason for wanting to paint.
- New
house
- Remodel
- Color change
- Improper preparation
- Previous paint failure
- Sun damage
- Water damage
Second to consider are the items in need of attention.
Does it make sense to only repair the immediately damaged areas or should
the whole structure be prepared and painted.
- Look for signs that indicate early stages of failure in areas other
than the obvious.
- Location of damage on the structure in relation to type of damage.
(sun, water, etc…)
- If paint has failed on the east side from sun damage then the south
side is sure to follow.
- If water has checked the finish of a wall, follow the damage to
the source and consider it all failed. If it doesn't show now it will
in the near future.
Third to consider is the age of the current paint application.
If the paint is five to seven years old then it might be cost effective
to paint the whole structure, rather then have the contractor back in
a year. Setup and preparation make up a large portion of the time involved
with any paint project.
Fourth Item to consider is choice of material. Ask questions
and explain your particular situation to everyone involved as best as
you can. This sounds obvious, but even the smallest of detail to an
experienced professional may hold information that can add life to your
project. Use the promise of a free estimate to ask as many professionals
as you can for answers. Also, many paint stores will send a representative
to your site as a free service to answer questions and give advice.
If the intention is to make a paint job last as long as possible, then
consider every minute you spend researching an investment in the life
of your paint project.
