The house painting process involves a lot of preparation of the siding material, cleaning, and making sure windows and other surfaces are covered. In addition, the temperature at the time and other weather conditions can interfere with the siding material and the paint. Homeowners often try to tackle this project on their own, and sometimes it turns out just fine. But many other times significant issues develop not long after the paint has dried.
As professional house painters, the team at Integrity Painting has spent years painting both interior walls and exterior siding. With 28 years of experience, we understand what it takes to correctly prepare a site and how to effectively paint a house, taking various factors into consideration before starting work. As tempting as it may be, if you’re planning on painting your home’s siding, it’s best to hire a professional house painting company who can ensure that the job is done right.
If your home has wood siding and if you are considering updating the colour, or if it’s in need of a fresh coat due to age and chipping, there are a few things you should be aware of that can significantly interfere with the quality of the job.
The Wood Was Wet
It is essential that homeowners thoroughly clean the siding before applying any paint, which means that the siding will be wet. We understand that you may want to start painting as soon as possible, but it is incredibly important that the siding is given adequate time to thoroughly dry before you start painting. If the weather is sunny and warm and only the surface of the wood is wet, one full day is enough for the siding to dry. If the weather is cooler or if the wood is saturated, give it two to three days to dry before starting.
The Wood is Unfinished
When unfinished wood is exposed to days of sunlight, it can degrade the surface of the wood. After enough time, the degraded wood won’t be able to hold the paint as well. If fresh wood has been sitting in the sun for longer than a week, power wash the surface of the wood before applying any paint. This will remove the degraded layer, revealing wood that will better absorb the paint. Just be careful that the wood is dry.
The Temperature Was Too Cold
Depending on the type of paint that is being used, you’ll want to make sure that the temperature is high enough when you start painting and will remain at a certain temperature for a few days, giving the paint enough time to dry. If you’re using latex or water-based paints, the temperature should hold at around 10°C; for oil-based paints, it should be around 5°C. If you start with a water-repellent preservative to pre-treat the wood, the temperature should be at or above 21°C.
The Temperature Was Too Hot
Believe it or not, there’s a sweet spot when it comes to house painting and temperatures. It’s best to avoid painting when it’s hotter than 32°C, which will prevent the paint from blistering. When you’re painting the entire house, start with the east side of the house in the early morning, the south side in the mid-afternoon, and the west side in the late afternoon. The north side can be painted at any point in the day. You’re simply following the sun around the house to ensure that the siding doesn’t get too hot.
The Humidity Was Too High
In both water- and oil-based paints, it’s important to keep on eye on the humidity levels before you start painting. For a smooth finish, any water in the paint needs to evaporate before chemical solvents do. This is because paint shrinks as water leaves the solution, and as solvents evaporate, the paint turns into its final hard material. When there is too much moisture in the air, the water won’t be able to evaporate quickly enough, allowing the solvents to evaporate first. If this occurs, the only thing that can be done is to start over.
There Was Moisture Behind the Siding
When wood siding is installed directly over foam insulation or foil-faced insulation board, any water that gets in needs to get out through the wood, pushing the paint off the wood and potentially causing other moisture-related issues, like mould. There are several methods to avoid this issue from occurring, including proper caulking, priming the back of the siding, large overhangs, and creating a 12-inch ground clearance.
The Humidity in the House Was Too High
This issue typically occurs on the siding directly outside of the bathroom or kitchen, or in multi-story buildings. When there is moist, warm air inside, the moisture will try to seep outside through the siding, causing issues with the paint. This can also occur where there are leaks or tears in the moisture barrier. To avoid this issue, make sure there is proper ventilation throughout the house.
The Siding Was Dirty
Any dirt or dust will prevent the paint from properly adhering to the siding. The first step of a house painting project is to thoroughly clean the siding and remove any dust, debris, spider webs, or other material that could interfere with the paint. A common method of cleaning the siding is power washing, but you can also use detergent and a stiff brush. In either case, avoid using a steel brush and be sure to thoroughly rinse the siding. Lastly, and it’s worth repeating, make sure the siding is given enough time to dry.
As you can see, there are various things that need to be closely monitored when completing a house painting project. The surface has to be prepared correctly, the temperature needs to be within a certain range, humidity levels can’t be too high, and moisture in or around the siding must be avoided. Otherwise, these issues can negatively affect the quality of the paint job.
When there are so many factors involved, when house painting can be such a time-consuming and labor-intensive job, why go through the hassle when you can leave it up to the professionals? At Integrity Painting, we have 28 years of experience painting houses in the Winnipeg area. Our contractors have a wealth of knowledge, all of the essential tools and equipment, and an understanding of the various elements that can make or break a painting job. We offer both interior and exterior house painting and you can rest assured that we’ll treat your house as if it were our own. It’s in our name — we’ll do everything we can to exceed your expectations.
Whether your home’s siding is wood, vinyl, aluminum, or even stucco, our professional house painters will get it done right. Call Integrity Painting today for a free estimate.
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