Painting: It's all in the prep
Painting the outside of home was always an afterthought. But one thing led to another. First, we had to paint much of the back of the home, where most of the new building activity was taking place. Second, after we decided to replace our windows and storms with Andersen windows, we knew we had to touch the trim on each window. Finally, the additional cost for painting the body compared to the trim was relatively low.
So after the dominoes fell and we settled on a color scheme, I figured we would be waiting a while until the work started. However, much to my surprise, Jim Clark (Clark Painting) and his painters decended upon the house almost immediately. But it was a while until the first coat of primer was applied.
For several weeks they cleaned and smoothed out the surface on the outside of the home. In particular, they paid a lot of attention on the first level. Using scrapers and infrared devices that look like hair-dryers, they melted and removed layer upon layer of paint on the trim. Inch by inch the detail of the window, porch and pediment trim emerged in greater relief. And they kept going until they got to the original wood in many places.
There have been some benefits to getting to the bottom of things. As they were removing the paint from the base of one of the columns, a swarm of carpenter ants emerged. This alerted us not only to a pest issue, but a moisture problem as well. Also, some of the molding and blocks (or dentils) that line the pediment began to come off once the paint was removed. They will be repaired and fastened.
Then, going from the top to the bottom of the house, the painters began to apply primer, followed by several layers of paint. They used small roller brushes to apply the first coats in order to apply a consistent layer and get under and around the shingles. They followed with brushwork to apply texture.
They are still working their way down, but I can see all the fine details of the window trim on the first floor after the primer coat was applied. I never fully appreciated the effort it takes to prepare a home for painting until I saw the painstaking effort to get this right. If this is the level of detail on the outside, I can't wait for the inside!
Posted by Paul Friedberg | Categories: Newton 2007 | Permalink
(22) Comments
What will you be doing to deal with the ants? We had a similar issue this summer when we got new trim. Our trim guy told us to call an exterminator and we called two. However both of them, over the phone, told us it wasn't a problem since there were no ants inside. It still doesn't sit well with me.
Hi Paul and Maddy-after watching TOH, I prefer your other house more than this one. Sorry, but good luck.
Mary Ann, what a strange comment. I love this house.
Mary Ann, how can you judge a book by its cover? I only saw the outside of the family's former home on the first program that aired. Great backyard, but we never saw the interior. Maybe your tastes lean towards colonials, not victorians. I think the general consensus would sway towards big old victorians with plenty of room, personality and quality craftsmaship. Center hall colonials are a dime a dozen. Its like comparing a Chevy with a Cadillac. If you've never owned one, you'll never understand.
All I want to say after watching the first 2 episodes of the show is, what a beutiful home. I love the woodwork and the fireplaces. i just wish I could afford a home with this type of detail.
I like the exterior color of your house. Can you tell me what color (codes, body and trim) you used and where I can get it? Thanks.
Michelle,
The exterminator came and treated the columns. He said to try to prevent moisture conditions as well. We'll just have to make sure paint is in good shape over time, and look under porch.
Paul
Peter-
Here are our colors from BEHR:
Body: Bridle Path ECC-43-2
Trim: Custom mix of "Gobi Desert + 25% white". Computer formula is: Brown Oxide: 1,Raw Umber: 19, Medium Yellow: 7
Accent (brackets and dentil moldings only): Toasted Walnut 720D-6
Doors (3-front, side veranda, basement entrance):
(Altered) Wild Raisin + 10 units black per quart. Computer formula is: Thalo Green 21, Red Oxide 16, White 4,Magenta 44, Black 10, in Deep Base
Ceiling of Veranda:
(Altered) Silver Sands with 1 unit of blue added per quart:, Thalo Blue 0-2-1, Raw Umber 0-6-1, Magenta 0-0-1
Peter-
Here are our colors from BEHR:
Body: Bridle Path ECC-43-2
Trim: Custom mix of "Gobi Desert + 25% white". Computer formula is: Brown Oxide: 1,Raw Umber: 19, Medium Yellow: 7
Accent (brackets and dentil moldings only): Toasted Walnut 720D-6
Doors (3-front, side veranda, basement entrance):
(Altered) Wild Raisin + 10 units black per quart. Computer formula is: Thalo Green 21, Red Oxide 16, White 4,Magenta 44, Black 10, in Deep Base
Ceiling of Veranda:
(Altered) Silver Sands with 1 unit of blue added per quart:, Thalo Blue 0-2-1, Raw Umber 0-6-1, Magenta 0-0-1
I live in a similar, though smaller house built in 1900 in Brooklyn, NY. I am interested in isulating the house without taking down interior walls. What advise is there about retrofitting this kind of house with insulation?
good work!
what kind of shades best fit my small house?
remodeling a home is the best!
any recommendations on professional home staging in phoenix?
remodeling our homes is a great project we can do to do maintenance
a good painting contractor will surely do good!
Thinking about doing flooring renovation, any tips on how to do this? Thanks!
i have had problems with the house painting project want to do in the past but to solve it at once i sought help from professionals. everything turned out fine, thanks to my contractor.
House painting is a very serious project to do. To be able to make sure I will be applying good paint shades to my house, I asked professional help. Turned out pretty nice.
any suggestions on what construction company to hire in ca?
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exterior house painting really needs careful planning...
hope you'll get good results!