So I told you how much trouble I had picking out the new color for ‘Our House’, I did finally nail down a color I’m super happy with, but when I’m painting the exterior of the house, the new siding color is actually the very last of several steps…
Here’s a quick run-down of the proper steps to ensure the paint job will last several more years:
1. The first step is to scrape off all the loose or blistering paint. I had a lot of loose paint at just the bottom of the laps. I’ve found for this job, since I didn’t have a situation of old alligatored paint, that this putty knife worked best for removing the loose paint.
2. After all the loose paint is off, it’s time to prime. This is a new primer I’m trying. It was recommended to me by Hirshfield’s, (the paint franchise local to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area I’ve worked with for 20 some years). They said it was better than typical primer.
It’s super thick, reminds me of wallpaper glue.
In these pictures, you can really appreciate the amount of loose paint I scraped off. I prime everything that has exposed wood, overlapping generously onto the part that still held the paint.
I’m hoping that this new primer will be able to cling better. This is the South side of the house, and the sun really beats on the siding here…
3. After primer is dry, (the primer goes on white and dries clear) the next step is caulking. Be sure to use exterior, paintable caulk!
I have found that the best smoothing tool is my finger…
4. After the caulk is totally dry, it’s finally time to start painting… not the siding color yet. First I do the trim, over-extending the color onto the siding to give me some ‘painting grace’.
For the edges of the trim, I use a brush.
For the flat face of the trim, I use this mini roller.
5. Finally, some color! I cut in the edges of the lap siding with a brush, only working a small area at a time, so that when I follow with the roller, I’m painting wet onto wet.
So the last step is rolling on the main part of the lap siding, again using the mini roller.
Ta-da! One corner done… so I guess that brings me to: step 6. Enjoy the new color!
Finally, but there’s still lots more house to do.
I work on one section at a time, just so that this old body doesn’t start to feel overwhelmed. It’s encouraging for me to be able to look back and see how nice the finished product looks and inspires me to keep working.
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