A painting blog, 
where you will not only find the colourful side of the trade.

Exterior painting

Interior painting is what I do most of the time but sometimes people realise that the exterior also needs to be spruced up as well.  We live indoor and want a healthy environment for us and for our family, forgetting about the exterior which is affected by the weather and sometimes the renovation of your home.

Wood preservation

After many years you may find that the wood on your fence is fading, the paint or the stain is peeling or some parts of the wood are rotting. If  you want to make  it beautiful again, you need to spend time on the preparation work. You will need to buy the tools, both electric and manual ones, sandpaper, one or two-component filler, sandpaper in different grits, and finally the stain or the paint.

If we want to determine the difference between the stain and the paint the easiest way is this : The paint will cover the wood completely, but the stain will show the wood grain. It is a matter of personal preference.

If you do it by the book, both will give you long-lasting protection.However, if you try to cut corners, you will be wasting both your money and your time. In addition there are two types of group which are water-based paints or stains and solvent-based stains or paints. In the past solvent-based paints were very popular and used everywhere but nowadays the water-based paints are used.You don’t have to spend money on the solvent, find the right  consistency, and inhale the harmful fumes.

Water-based products require little water to dilute. However, some are ready to use.( They used to be much thicker in the past- good old days…)

Sanding is the key, whether you use your hands or an orbital sander or a variable-speed of angle grinder it has to be done. This is followed by either the wood patch or the 2k polyfiller. If it is rotten, the damaged area should be cut out and replaced if possible. Fill the deep damage with 2k and use wood patch on top. Do not paint over the 2k with stain because as it will show through. Water-based stains contain a fungicide and algaecide inhibitor additive that  you do not need to buy. You will need 2 or 3 coats of stain and it dries very quickly, so don’t leave your brush out in the sun. In order to achieve the best results it is adviseable to lightly sand the surface of the wood between each coat of stain.

Painting Xterior

If the weather has not been kind to your exterior, then do not rush to the nearest paint store for a bucket of paint and a brush. Instead, listen up.

  • Easy-peasy job:

First, fill up the cracks in the walls and repair them with cement-based plaster or tile adhesive. Once it is dry and sanded then you will need to apply the paint primer ( buy everything you need from the chosen brand- think in a system) You don’t have to buy the most expensive and claimed to be the best exterior paint but forget about the cheapest ones.

Remove the cobwebs, the hornets’ nests and masking around the doors and windows. The best if you use plastic sheeting for windows or doors as paint will drip. After the primer has dried apply two or three coats of exterior paint ( each coat will be dry in 2-3 hours or less depending on the weather) You mustn’t leave the masking tape on the outside of the plastic doors and windows for a long time unless you buy a special one.

 

Thermal insulation:

It is much more complicated system than you think. I know how to do it, but I do not do it because it needs an experienced team, scaffolding, professional power tools etc.

Polysterene, graphite and rockwool are the most commonly used types of insulation. They vary in quality and prices so do your own research before you buy. 

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