The hacks on a painted home, what to do, and buy

Home repair tips with Mr. Fix-It Handyman Service

Professional advice hacks on a painted home. We offer helpful tips on what to do, and buy. The exterior paint on your home is the first line of defense to help protect your homes structure. It is just as important to keep it maintained as well.

The light colored residue on painted exterior surfaces is chalking paint. So what causes chalking paint? The main cause of chalking paint is exposure to sunlight. The ultra violet light breaks the binders in the paint and releases the pigments. Another cause is the reaction between the binders and oxygen which is called paint oxidation. Both processes have the same effect on all finish types. Another cause is the paint quality; some paints tend to chalk sooner than others such as Alkyd paints (oil based paint) this type of paint oxidizes faster. So you may be thinking of quality of paint what type of paint should you get for your home? There are many options such as latex, acrylic, latex/acrylic blend and so on. As a good rule of thumb is "the more expensive the paint the better and more the resins it has" The resins are the binders that holds the pigment. The best option on the market today for exterior paint is 100% acrylic. Cheaper paints tend to degrade faster such as latex and acrylic/latex.

The proper cleaning of the chalky surfaces on a painted home is to remove the residue using a pressure washer along using a mild, environmentally friendly, soap. Allow the soap to sit and activate on the surface for 10-15 minutes and rinse the soap completely off using pressure cleaning techniques of 1500-2000 psi pressure on the machine. If you plan on repainting the home, it is best to use an acrylic primer with mildewcide before paint finish coat is applied.

Mold and mildew attacks the painted surfaces. Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide are common pigments in top coats that inhibit the growth of mildew. Paints that contain linseed oil will develop severe mildew in warm, damp climates such as Florida. It is just as important to make sure your home is free of mold and mildew and kill it off before painting. Since if the mold or mildew will grow thru new paint. A mild household detergent without ammonia with sodium hypochlorite (fresh-new household bleach) and warm water is a good cleaner for killing mold and mildew. Take the necessary precautions and protect yourself, grass, and shrubbery. Wear protected clothing, eye wear, and skin protecting gloves while using the product cleaning method. Use a bristle brush while cleaning the effected areas of mold and mildew. Make sure you rinse off the solution well before painting.

Use our professional home painting services. Call Mr. Fix-It Handyman Service today for a free written estimate. We are your source for house painting, home improvement, and home repairs.