Surface Preparation

If you plan on doing any part of the painting or prep work, on your own, you must know that the first step in preparing a surface is washing it.  Dirt and grime can adversely affect the surface area and therefore paint’s adhesion to it. Use soap to remove any dirt or stains. Make sure there’s no soap left on the walls when you’re finished; also make sure to remove any gloss with sandpaper and vacuum up the leftover dust.

Inspect the surface area for holes, cracks or other problems and apply acrylic caulk, joint compound to fill them in. Use a putty knife to smooth out the caulk and remove any excess to prevent bumps. For particularly thin or narrow crevices, you may have to use your finger to smooth out the caulk. Caulk contracts and shrinks, so apply a second layer once it’s dried, as needed.

Here are some recommendations for surface preparation by wall type:

Aluminum: Remove any dirt, stains and other grime with cleaner.
Cinder or concrete block: Remove loose mortar and clean off dust, dirt and loose cement.
Brick: Clean off dirt, excess mortar and any foreign grime.
Concrete: Remove grease, loose cement and oil; then, either power wash or clean by hand.
Copper: Clean off grease, dirt and other grime with a hand cloth and solvent cleaner.
Drywall: Spackle nail heads, sand joints and remove any dust.
Hardie Board: Use a solvent cleaner and remove any waxy material.
Plaster: Patch any damaged areas; clean with vinegar and water.
Steel: Remove rust, oil, grease and salt with solvent cleaner.
Stucco: Clean off any loose stucco and allow to dry for 30 days.
Wood: Make sure it’s dry, check for any rotted areas, patch any holes and caulk as needed.
Interior Wood: Sand with the grain, correct any issues and dust.
Vinyl: Scrub with soap water solution and rinse.

If you find yourself having difficulties getting the surface clean, you can always contact one of our experienced power washing staff for a free quote in assisting you!