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Outdoor paints are more hardy and weatherproof than indoor paints. A fresh coat of paint can make your house look 100% better. If you take the time to paint your house, it's value will increase.
House Paint
Latex and oil-based house paints are formulated to withstand wear and exposure to severe weather conditions. Many manufacturers offer specific formulations for regional climates.
Surface preparation is critically important for good adhesion. Proper preparation includes scraping as much old paint as possible from the surface, sanding to feather edges of scraped areas, washing the surface with a good detergent solution, repairing chips, cracks, splinters, etc., cleaning and sealing nail heads.
Major problems encountered with house paints are generally due to:
- Failure to completely clean surface of dirt, grease, old paint, etc.
- Excessive moisture
- Painting damp surfaces
- Painting under adverse weather conditions
- Failure to use proper primer coat
- Failure to follow manufacturer's directions
Any of these conditions can cause blistering, peeling, early fading or other similar problems.
Trim Paints
Trim paints are bright colors, chosen to contrast with the house color. They dry quickly to a hard finish; they are primarily for use on window frames, shutters, railings, etc. and are not recommended for large surfaces.
Masonry Paints
Masonry surfaces include stucco, concrete, cement, asbestos shingles, etc. Most masonry paints are latex based; some are acrylic based. Oil-based paint is not recommended for masonry because of the residual alkalinity in the masonry.
Latex-based masonry paints require a special pretreatment or bonding primer to "tie down" old chalk and dust before application. They dry to a flat finish.
Rough surfaces should first receive a coat of block filler. Acrylic elastomeric coatings bridge cracks and pinholes to provide the best waterproofing.
Powdered cement paints, which have a shorter exterior life than latex coatings, must be mixed with water. They can be applied only over a porous masonry surface such as brick, stucco or concrete, or over surfaces that have been previously coated with this same kind of paint. For proper adhesion, the old surface must be wetted down thoroughly and the paint applied to the damp surface.
Masonry paint can be waterproof as well as decorative. For best color retention, coat with a good acrylic-Latex paint 30 days after application of a waterproof masonry paint.
Paint For Gutters
Both latex- and oil-based paints adhere well to galvanized steel and aluminum gutters. Oil based works better on tin gutters.
Galvanized gutters require priming both inside and out and should be cleaned with coarse cloth dampened with paint thinner before they are painted, or should be left unpainted for three to six months so the weather can etch the surface for better paint adhesion.
Oil-based paints should never be applied directly to unpainted galvanized metal. They will eventually peel off. A galvanized metal primer must be applied first. Acrylic-Latex paint can be applied directly to unpainted galvanized as long as it has been cleaned thoroughly.
Shingle Paints
Many shingle paints (really stains) are low in pigment content, leave light color on the surface, and are used primarily to provide surface protection for wood shingles.
In some instances, shingle paints may be applied without a primer. Where the surface is badly weathered, recommendations may call for a companion primer, undercoater or two finish coats.
Most shingle paints have oil or alkyd-resin base, which thins with turpentine or similar solvent.
Floor Paints
Floor paints, also called deck enamels, are for "walk-on "surfaces. Ordinary high-gloss enamel is not suitable. Floor enamels are formulated to withstand weather and wear on wood and concrete. Available in both oil based and latex, the latter dries to a flat finish while most oil-based products dry with a medium- or high-gloss finish.
Oil-based paints are not recommended for many concrete surfaces, especially those in contact with round moisture, such as basements and patios, because they will not adhere to damp surfaces. The alkali in concrete may combine with the oil to form a soap, resulting in poor adhesion, peeling and paint lifting from the surface.
Concrete floors which have been penetrated by oils, gasoline, etc., are virtually impossible to paint because it is extremely difficult to clean these surfaces well enough to make paint adhere.
A final advantage of latex floor paints: The homeowner can lay resilient floor tile without removing the old paint. This is not possible with other floor paints.
Conventional floor paints work poorly on garage floors. Car tires get hot as the car is driven, and when the hot tires come in contact with the floor paint, the paints sticks to the tires and is lifted off.
Many gloss floor paints are slippery when wet and a nonskid additive should be considered.
Lead Warning
About two thirds of the homes built before 1940 and one-half of the homes built from 1940 to 1960 contain heavily leaded paint. Some homes built after 1960 also contain heavily leaded paint. The sale of lead-based paint for residential use was banned in 1978. Lead can be on the walls, the woodwork and on the outside of houses.
Lead paint in good condition is not usually a problem except in places where painted surfaces rub against one another and create dust. For example, when you open a window, the painted surfaces rub against one another. In older buildings where the paint is not in good condition, lead paint can chip off or wear off. Lead dust and chips can also be created during preparation of surfaces for painting and during renovating or remodeling. The dust and chips are especially hazardous to small children.
Lead can be harmful even at Iow levels. Even children who appear healthy may have high levels of lead in their blood. You can't tell if a child has lead poisoning unless you have him or her tested. In many cases, the harm lead causes cannot be reversed.
Being exposed to lead can affect a child's mental growth. Lead interferes with nervous system development, which can cause learning disabilities and impaired hearing. Children with lead poisoning may complain of headaches or stomach aches or become very grouchy, but they often show no symptoms of lead poisoning.
Adults can get lead poisoning through occupational exposure as well as through home renovation and remodeling activities. In adults, lead's health effects include high blood pressure. In extreme cases, lead poisoning can cause comas, kidney or brain damage, or death.
If you are remodeling, test for lead paint first. Some local health departments offer a lead testing service. If this service is not available, you should hire a qualified inspector.
If high levels of lead are detected, you should not attempt to remove the lead paint yourself. Instead, you should hire a person who is specially trained to correct lead paint problems, who knows how to do the work safely and has the proper equipment to clean up thoroughly. Improper removal of heavily leaded paint can endanger the health and lives of the entire family.
Contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-LEAD-FYI for information. The purpose of this federally funded service is to provide information to the public on lead.
Environmental Effects
Paint can be highly toxic to the environment. It harms fish and wildlife, and contaminates the food chain if poured down a storm drain. It can also pollute groundwater if dumped on the ground. Pouring excess paint down the drain disrupts microbes and causes sewage treatment to be less effective and more costly. If thrown into the trash it can contaminate other recyclable materials, thus wasting valuable resources.
Waste Disposal
In California it is illegal to dispose of paint in the trash or down storm drains or sewer drains.
The first two rinses of applicators must be collected and treated as hazardous waste. Follow all hazardous waste guidelines for labeling and storing. According to the California Department of Toxic Substance Control, it's illegal to air dry or mix small amounts of latex paint with any substance for the purpose of solidifying it and disposing of it. This practice is considered "treatment of a hazardous waste." However, if latex paint has naturally dried out, it may be disposed of in the trash. Empty containers may be thrown in the trash. A container is considered "empty" if no paint pours out when it is held upside down, or any paint remaining in the container can't be removed by chipping or scraping.
If you are outside of California, you may contact your local municipality for disposal information. Related Products: Paint and Supplies > Paint |
National Retail Hardware Association