How to Treat and Stain Wood Siding

Learn how to keep wood siding looking like new.

Step 1: Treat With a Bleach Solution

Since white pine, the wood selected for the exterior logs, has a tendency to grow mold, the exterior logs were prepped with a bleach solution before staining. For best results, the stain should be applied within 48 hours of the bleach treatment.

Step 2: Apply the Stain

Wearing a respirator to help protect against fumes, apply the stain with an airless paint sprayer (Image 1). Have at least one person follow behind, back-brushing, or smoothing out the stain application by hand with brushes (Image 2). The brushing step helps to ensure an even coat with no bubbles or drips. Since spraying is a faster process than brushing, the challenge is for the "brushers" to complete their work before the stain has a chance to dry. Like stain or paint used on conventional houses, log stain needs to be reapplied every three to five years. The life of the stain can be extended somewhat with a good washing once or twice yearly.

To let a professional local contractor take the reigns, call Bart Rafferty of Confident Coatings by Rafferty Construction @ 719-492-3176

Painting Concrete

Concrete painting is trickier than painting most surfaces: it breathes, transports moisture, and sucks up paint.

Consequently, concrete painting requires skill and meticulous preparation. And while you can paint drywall in a day or two, you’ll need a week or more to finish painting concrete. Here’s how to paint your concrete foundation and walls, and ramp up your curb appeal.

Clean the concrete
Cleaning concrete is a vital first step because the porous surface tends to trap dirt, grease, and oil.

• Remove dirt and grease with trisodium phosphate ($6.30 per quart concentrate), or chose a more Earth-friendly cleaner like Krud Kutter’s pre-paint cleaner ($10 for 32 ounces)

• Yank off vines and moss growing on the foundation. Use a pressure washer to finish off remaining roots and dirt.

• Remove efflorescence, a white powder that forms on moist concrete. Try Krud Kutter Concrete Clean & Etch ($8.50 for 32 ounces); if you need more cleaning muscle, try phosphoric acid masonry cleaner ($27 per gallon).

Strip old paint
Strip peeling or blistering paint indoors with a wire brush ($3 to $5), a paint scraper ($10 to $20), and lots of elbow grease.

Outdoors, get rid of old paint with a power washer (rents for $40 to $75 per day).
Seal interior concrete before painting
Water moves easily through porous concrete, so sealing interior walls is necessary to prevent moisture from seeping in, promoting mold growth and that cold, damp basement feel. Use a masonry sealer, such as ThoroSeal, that also patches cracks ($35 for a 50-pound bag).

Carefully follow directions for mixing, applying, and curing the sealer. ThoroSeal, for example, requires two coats; the manufacturer recommends curing for five to seven days before applying the second coat.
Priming
Concrete primer, called block primer, fills pores and evens out the surface. For exterior foundations and walls, use exterior-grade block filler, such as Behr’s Concrete and Masonry Bonding Primer, which also is good for interior concrete ($17.98 per gallon). Primer dries in two hours; wait at least eight hours, but no more than 30 days, to paint.
Painting
Masonry paint (also called elastomeric paint or elastomeric wall coating) is a good choice for concrete painting because it contains binders that contract and expand with the concrete. Exterior house paint can crack and peel on concrete.

Masonry paint ($20 per gallon) can be tinted and is much thicker than exterior paint. Apply it with a masonry brush ($5 to $8), a high-capacity (3/4-inch or higher) roller, or a texture roller ($5.50).

Some masonry paint is thicker than exterior paint and contains fine particles that can clog air sprayers. If you want to spray-paint cement, ask your local paint store for a product that will work well in a sprayer ($300).

No matter how you apply paint, let it dry for a day between coats. You’ll probably need two to three coats, so check the long-range weather forecast before you begin.

To let a professional handle it, and for a free quote from a professional Colorado Springs painter,
call Bart Rafferty @ 719-492-3176

Painting Concrete to Look Like Brick

You can add character to plain concrete walls, floors, patios and sidewalks by giving them a faux brick finish. The brick pattern effectively hides cracks and flaws in the concrete and transforms a drab area into an inviting space. You can complete even a large project in a weekend by using inexpensive stencils or sponges and quick-drying latex and acrylic paints. Surface preparation is minimal and cleanup requires only soap and water.

1. Remove dirt, stains and residues from the concrete with a dilute solution of chlorinated trisodium phosphate (TSP) and a stiff brush. Rinse the area with water and allow it to dry thoroughly.

2. Choose a latex paint for the color of the faux mortar. Use a paint roller with a thick nap to apply the paint. Let it dry as directed by the manufacturer and apply a second coat.

3. Select an acrylic paint for your bricks. Lay your stencil over horizontal surfaces such as floors or sidewalks and paint one area at a time. Allow the paint to set before moving the stencil.
4. Use a rectangular cellulose sponge with closely spaced cells to apply the acrylic on walls where stencils are hard to manage. Apply the paint with light pressure to avoid streaks. Stagger rows of bricks and leave about 3/8-inch between rows.

5.Give the painted bricks ample time to dry. Finally, mix lighter and darker acrylic tints with your base color and dab it onto the bricks with a sponge to create a more realistic look.

Use textured paints to give the bricks and mortar a rougher look.

To get a free estimate from a professional painting contractor call Bart Rafferty 719-492-3176

Interior Paint Removal

When painting, it is easy to accidentally get paint on objects that you did not intend to have painted. Once the paint is dried, interior paint will not generally come off of things without some help. If you are lucky, you've gotten paint on a hard surface such as tile, vinyl flooring or wood, at which point you may simply scrape it off with your fingernail or a dull butter knife. If you have gotten paint on fabric, carpet or upholstery, your removal job will be a bit more involved.

Instructions

1. Remove all of the paint you can by blotting with rags if the paint is still wet. Try not to push the paint deeper into the upholstery or carpet. Use wet rags to aid in the removal of as much paint as possible once the majority of the paint is cleaned up.
2. If your paint is already dry, saturate it with Goof Off and allow it to sit for about five minutes. If your paint is still wet, skip to Step 4.

3

Use clean rags to scrub as much of the paint up as possible. Keep reapplying the Goof Off until all the plastic feeling part of the paint is removed and only the dye remains.

4

Use the Spot Shot on carpeting, or upholstery stain remover on furniture to get the remainder of the paint and paint dye out of your soft surfacing. Use clean white rags for scrubbing

To let a professional painter do it instead, call Bart Rafferty @ 719-492-3176 for a free estimate.

Elastomeric Stucco Paint

Colors are the presenters of life. Each color has its own meaning and fantasy. Applying an elegant color combination on the exterior of your home makes it attractive. At present stucco paints are very common in use. Every home owner has a wish to use this paint for the home exterior. It is due to the prevailing fashion and also the durability of stucco. Considering stucco and paints, you will find that the use of elastomeric stucco paint is less as compared to standard stucco paint.
How is elastomeric stucco paint different than standard paint? How to use this special paint? How long is this paint durable for? How flexible shoul your budget be to apply this paint? Before planning any home improvement these questions must pinch in mind. It is usual and every wise person always thinks about these matters before purchase of any new thing. To get precise guidelines about elastomeric stucco paint keep on reading the following lines.
Elastomeric stucco paint is a special kind of paint which is denser and is perhaps the best exterior finish. This paint forms a long-lasting, hard film that gives a water-resistant covering to approximately any formation. This smear is resistant to sunshine, high temperature, arctic and breeze driven rainfall. You can apply elastomeric stucco paint to any surface such as concrete, brick, cinderblock or other such similar materials. If you are not having any experience to apply any paint then it is better to take the services of a professional but if still you think that you can do it yourself, let’s go and do it. Here are some steps and tips you have to follow while applying elastomeric stucco paint to make your work done efficiently.
Firstly leave your exterior stucco for almost sixty days after building. This will help to dry the stucco and all the moisture will be dry. Then you have to prepare surface for appliance of elastomeric stucco paint. Clean the wall and remove all dust and dirt. Then fill up any existing gaps on the wall surface with sealant and make the surface level with out in dig. After this you have apply the elastomeric stucco paint with brush or roller. Completing the elastomeric stucco paint leave it for about forty eight hours to dry and the new glamorous look of your home is ready.
The question about the durability of elastomeric stucco paint can be answered in just few simple words that it is as hard that can last for about five years. But for the appliance of elastomeric stucco paint you must have good budget to get the quality paint which should last for according to your expectations and give a bright look. Elastomeric aint comes in mant shades and colors. To hepl you find the best color and option for your home, call a local professional Colorado Springs stucco conctractor, Bart Rafferty at (719) 492-3176 for a free estimate.