Q. How often should I paint the outside of my house?
A. There's no easy answer to this question as there are many contributing factors towards how long paint lasts. Darker colors will fade. Poorly prepared surfaces will crack and peel. Older weathered wood won't hold paint like new wood. Southern exposures won't last as long as northern exposures. These as well as the quality of paint used on past jobs are all contributing factors. The best answer is to paint before it's really very bad. The majority of the time spent on exterior painting is in surface preparation, sanding, patching etc. If you paint every 4-6 years, there will be less time spent on the prep work than if you paint every 10-15 years. It's also wise to touch-up the problem areas such as south facing window sills as often as every one to two years. Maintaining your paint job will not only keep your home always looking it's best, it will also reduce the risk of dry-rot, termites and other costly problems that come from neglect.
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Q. I'm getting a few estimates for having my house painted. Can you tell me why the prices vary so much for the same job?
A. This topic could cover several pages, but the simple answer is not all painters do the same type of job. If you were to get your car painted you would find prices ranging from $99.95 to several thousands of dollars. House painting is quite similar. There are many different levels of quality & service available, however, it's very difficult to know exactly what you will be getting. Assuming all your estimates are from reputable licensed and insured contractors, the major difference in prices are often directly related to the amount of surface preparation your painter will perform before the paint is applied. Surface preparation, when done right is very detailed and time consuming work which can take as much as 75% of the time required for the entire job. Since much of the "prep" work gets covered up once the surface is painted, this is the area where many painters can and will cut corners. It is simple math to understand that if painters can cut the amount of time spent on your job, they can offer you a lower price. If you are dealing with a painter which you know nothing about, make sure you get a detailed list in writing of what he is going to do for you rather than making your decision based on a price written on the back of a business card.
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Q. What color should I paint my home's exterior?
A. Color is a matter of taste, however, there are two rules we like to recommend.
1) Pick colors which are best suited for your style of home. If you have a Spanish style home, Southwestern colors will look better than Cape Cod style colors and vice versa.
2) Since dark colors fade faster than light and mid tone colors, We suggest you keep these to a minimum. Dark colors are best as accent tones on shutters, doors, etc.
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Q. I have color coat stucco (color mixed into the stucco) on my house and it's cracked and stained. Can I paint it?
A. Yes - The reason it's cracked and stained is because it's not painted. Color coat is simply raw stucco with a color pigment added. However, it's still raw stucco which is a very porous surface as opposed to a sealed surface. Therefore, it will absorb moisture which will cause it to deteriorate, crack and stain. The staining is usually mildew growing in the "pores" of the texture. Paint is not only color. Mostly it's a protective coating required to seal a surface from damage caused by the elements. Wood, metal, drywall, plaster and stucco will all last much longer when sealed and protected.
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Q. I had my house Tex-Coated. They said I would never have to paint again but it's peeling like crazy. What should I do?
A. Thicker is not better. The theory behind this product is since it's ten times thicker than paint, it will last ten times longer than paint. However, if it doesn't stick to your house, it doesn't matter how thick it is. Part of the the problem with Tex-coat is that it's too thick. If a coating is too thick, it will not penetrate into the the surface of which it's been applied. A certain amount of surface penetration is necessary for good, lasting adhesion. If a coating is too thick, it will only adhere because of its glue-like quality rather than actual surface penetration. Once those glues dry out, the adhesion will fail. It's better to build up coats of paint starting with a thin coat for good penetration rather than a one thick "super" coat. If your Tex-cote is coming off fairly extensively, you'll need to have it sandblasted and re-stuccoed. If the damage is only minor, those areas can be scraped and patched with a textured material to blend in with the existing Tex-coat and then painted.
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Q. Why are my natural wood entry doors so weathered after only two years?
A. Natural wood entry doors with a clear polyurethane type finish are very popular as well as expensive. Unfortunately, a clear finish will provide the least amount of protection to ultra-violet rays and moisture compared to pigmented coatings. If you want this look for your doors, and they have a southern or western exposure, they will need to be re-coated at least every 3-6 months. If the polyurethane is allowed to break down, the wood will become exposed and weathered to an almost black color. When the weathering becomes fairly extensive, the entire surface will need to be stripped and refinished.
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Q. Do you remove wallpaper?
A. Yes. We will remove the wallpaper, patch the cracks and prime the walls with a oil-based primer which is the perfered primer for wallpaper installers to hang new paper.
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Q. Is there something you can put in the paint to help eliminate mildew?
A. Yes and no. There are additives for paint which are supposed to help with this problem. However, it usually requires more than a simple additive if the mildew is a re-occurring problem. Mildew grows in damp and shady areas with poor ventilation. Bathrooms will benefit from an open window and a ceiling fan. Other areas may just need frequent cleaning.
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Q. I have "cottage cheese" type ceilings in my home. Can they be removed or painted?
A. Either. We can paint to give them a fresh look, or remove them for a smooth plaster finish.
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Q. My wood windows have been painted shut for years. Can you unstick them?
A. Yes. We can unstick most any window, however if it is stuck from the opposite side from which we are painting, there may be some additional touch-up required.
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Q. My metal garage door and rain gutters came with a baked-on factory finish. Can they be painted to match my new color selection?
A. Yes. The quality paints we use adhere very well to the finish used by the manufacturer of these products.
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Q. What is the best time of year to paint my home's exterior?
A. Here in Southern Ontario we have good painting weather almost all summer and any other time that the outside temperature is above 65 degrees F. for exterior painting. Naturally, we don't work while it is raining, but we can work around inclement weather with no problems.
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Q. How do I get rid of all my old paint cans?
A. Paint cans which are completely empty and dried out can be placed in your recycle bin. Any cans containing even a little amount of paint are considered hazardous waste and are not allowed in your trash. The best way to dispose of any old paint, which also includes motor oil, pesticides etc., is through the hazardous waste collection program sponsored by the City of Hamilton. Click here for a current schedule of dates and drop off locations.
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