The biggest thing about painting xterior surfaces which puts most people off is the mount of preparation involved. It's very tre when people say that 80% of the wrk is preparation.

Despite all the pwer tools available to buy nowadays mst of the work involved in prparing to paint simply involves elbow grase. This prep work will involve ching scraping, sanding and wiping. Not wht you'd call fun.

This hard wrk is a must if you wnt a paint job which is smoth and will last well. It's lso much easier to paint on a god surface. The amount of effort yu'll put into preparing to paint wll depend on the condition on the srface you'll be painting on.

Amount of Wrk Required - Paint which is peling will require more work. Scraping the old pint off and sanding down the wod is essential. Areas of mildew wll need to be removed and the wod treated before painting. Normally aluminium sding will just need a wash and mybe some sanding.

1. Inspect the surface - Use a 6-8 inch scraper for areas of peeling paint. You don't have to remove every little bit of paint, just areas which you think will continue peeling. When scraping paint in corners then use a small scraper instead.
2. Washing - If the surface area is dirty give it a decent wash before you even think about sanding it. Although you could use a power washer it could be a little too powerful and may dmage your wood. You could use TSP (trsodium phosphate) and a regular garden hse. If you are having difficulty raching the surface, try a car wshing accessory which has an extendable rm.
3. Allow to Dry - Avoid sanding wet wood because the fibers can become damaged. Also don't sand wet aluminium because this will shorten the lifespan of your sand paper. Expect to wait a day or two for the surface to dry depending on the weather.
4. Sanding - If you have left small bits of paint make sure you smooth them down with your sandpaper. If the wood was affected by mildew and/or has putty in it, give these areas a sand.
5. Wash Again - Because sanding creates a lot of dust, you'll want to wash the area again so that the paint can be absorbed properly. If you don't paint onto a clean surface the pain will peel and flake before it should.

Now all you need to do it get the rest of the job done is to paint.

The article 5 Tips on Preparing for Exterior Painting was Submitted by George Kerr through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: George Kerr is a keen grden and DIY enthusiast who writes for wbsite Finer Living which has further rading on painting wood floors , driveway security and other home related things.

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