Now that spring is in full swing, many people are starting to think about updating the exterior of their homes.
There’s not a lot of things that are more frustrating during an exterior quote as seeing that the original paint was applied right on top of red Georgia clay. Folks, this is a big problem that comes down to pressure washing. When the surface isn’t pressure-washed before painting, it’s an open invitation for dirt, mud and mildew to build up, causing the paint to peel right off.
Here’s a photo from a recent exterior quote we completed a few weeks back.Unfortunately, this is a situation that we see all too frequently in homes around metro Atlanta.
Why Is This a Problem?
When this house (and others like it) was under construction, the original company that painted it didn’t pressure wash before applying the paint. The paint was applied right on top of the dirt and mud, causing mildew and buildup over time. The mildew and buildup eventually leads to paint flaking off.
This flaking is usually seen down towards the foundation of a home, where the Georgia red clay is, but it’s not unheard of it see it higher up on the siding as well. And years later, when a homeowner starts to see peeling, there’s usually dirt underneath.
Proper Prepping with Pressure Washing
What does a proper pressure washing look like before applying exterior paint? First, we pressure wash the surface to ensure that both primer and paint adhere to a clean surface, and to ensure a good bond. Sometimes in addition to pressure washing, we’ll need to scrape the area to remove any additional buildup.
After that, we’ll apply a quality exterior primer followed by a topcoat with a latex acrylic exterior paint.
Exterior Painting Done Right
If you’re concerned about dirt and mildew buildup on the exterior of your home, give our office a call. We’ve been serving the metro Atlanta area for over 30 years, and we’ve helped many families update their homes to add many more years of enjoyment.