Most Fun Thing to Paint

PW Asks: What is the most fun thing you’ve painted on a house exterior? 

Painter says: An ornate railing system on a Painted Lady that had different colors on the sections of the spindles.

PW: Ok, the Painter never painted the original seven painted ladies in San Francisco, but the PW saw them in person from a trolley bus. The PW LOVES San Francisco! (And talking about herself in the third person).

House Painting Hazards

PW Asks: What is the top hazard you’ve encountered when painting house exteriors? 

Painter says: Nice shrubs and trees up against the home. You don’t want to damage them and must be very careful when you paint around them.

Number One Reason to Not Paint-It-Yourself

PW Asks: What is the top reason to hire a professional painting contractor and refrain from a do-it-yourself exterior paint job on your home? 

Painter says: So the prep gets done accordingly which ensures that the warranty on the paint is honored. A professional paint job lasts.

Will annual power-washing wear the paint off your home?

PW Asks: Should you power wash your home or will that wear down the paint? 

Painter says: Use the power washer to remove dust, dirt, cob webs and critter debris, not to remove the paint. Once a year a spring cleanup is enough.

PW replies: So this is okay (see photo):

And this is too much pressure for a spring "clean-up" effect:

PW continues: And I'm just gonna say it - for you amateur "power washers" - you can become ill from bird debris when it gets wet, re-activated and airborne by the power washing. Another thing I'm concerned about is if your home has pre-1978 coatings that could contain lead. This is a very dangerous situation in terms of exposure, especially for children. Then you need to have a professional painting contractor evaluate the situation. Bottom line: consider hiring a professional. 

How to Extend the Paint on Your Home's Exterior

PW Asks: Is there anything you can do to extend the life of the paint job on a house? 

Painter says: Not really.

PW comments: I know - it was a gotcha title! (ooh, that sounded Palin-esque)
But the Painter is just being an honest guy.

Cedar Siding Can Be Thirsty

PW Asks: How often should a cedar sided house be coated? 

Painter says: 5 yrs. or with a top quality acrylic product, 6-8 yrs., but be watchful, every house will be different.

The Best House Siding

PW Asks: Which siding type holds its finishes the longest? 

Painter says: James Hardie siding. With other types of siding, light colors don’t absorb the sun and fade like darker colors.

My Suburban My Self

I have a '92 Suburban that we got in 1997. It doesn't see much road time anymore but it always makes the trek up to the lake cabin once a year, towing the boat. A few summers ago it started blowing tranny fluid out the rear end and all over the boat when it was towing, but we finally got that fixed. There is nothing like that Suburban. Besides a bit of Minnesota rust, it is the most comfortable vehicle to ride in. It has a "bench" front seat. That alone, makes it a collector's item. I can sit cheek to cheek with the Painter - that just doesn't happen in today's models.
I think I might make the Suburban my retirement home. I could put a mattress in the back, and a mini-frig and microwave in the middle, and I could take visitors in the front.
Did I just say "take visitors"? Oh my gosh, that sounds like an old lady.
I may be closer to retirement than I realize.

Not My Suburban - But Funny

What color schema do you recommend for exterior window trim?

The Painter says: For most houses, a color that is found in the roof or brick. If the structure of a house has its own aesthetic appeal then you don’t want to make it too busy by accenting the window trim.

The Painter's Wife Asks: The Painter Answers: Exterior Home Colors

The Painter’s Wife Asks: What are your suggestions for color on the exterior of a home? 

Painter says: The front door is a focal point so use an accent color. I suggest blending the garage doors with the body color; otherwise they become the focal point (unless you have wood stained garage doors).