Best Way To Prep Wood Siding For Paint

Before weathered wood can be painted it will require extensive prep work to ensure that the paint stays on for more than just a couple of years.

Best way to prep wood siding for paint.

Before sanding scrape loose and flaking paint from the siding. Wood that is gray or weathered will not hold paint. Using slow steady strokes is the best way to apply paint with both a sprayer as well as a brush. Houses painted before 1978 may have paint that contains lead according to the centers for disease control cdc lead paint should be removed by contractors who are certified by the epa.

Clean the entire surface with soap and water or a pressure washer to remove any dirt and grime that s built up over time. Proper prep before painting will make the job last longer. Work a paint scraper from every direction keeping the blade flat against the wood so you don t create gouge marks. Properly preparing your wood siding before painting will ensure that the resulting finish will last for several years without peeling or being damaged.

Unfinished siding exposed to several weeks of sunlight before painting needs to be sanded. You save time and money. Prepare the surface with old buildings such as my 130 year old barn water blasting the loose paint is not a recommended practice. Rough wood surfaces hold paint and stain better than flat wood surfaces.

Preparing exterior wood for painting isn t difficult but it does require some prep work to ensure that your new paint has a smooth stable surface to adhere to. Sunlight degrades the unfinished wood surface thus it will never hold paint as well as fresh wood. Install the siding with the rough side out if the siding has both a smooth and rough side. Sand down to fresh wood.

It saves you time and money in the long run. In the long run good paint preparation techniques add years to an exterior paint job including cleaning scraping filling caulking and priming.