Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 7, July 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

AROUND THE HOME:

Tips for painting your home's exterior

By MATT MAURY

In the May issue of the Seattle Sun, this column discussed the importance of proper prepping for painting. This month, we will address the other aspects of a successful job.

I have been told that a number of people look at Consumer Reports magazine's ratings for paint quality when making a decision about brands to purchase.

While that is one source of information, it is also important to talk with local paint suppliers when deciding about what will work best for your situation.

Our summers are not as hot, nor our winters as cold, as other areas in the nation where Consumer Reports may have tested the paints. Also, paints that perform well on one surface may not do well on another.

If you are planning to paint-it-yourself, be sure to purchase all your paint at the same time. There can be slight color variations from batch to batch, so measure your paintable surfaces accurately, then use the coverage guide on the paint's label to determine the number of gallons you will need. Plan to buy extra for touch-up.

As with most other products, paint manufacturers have a range of product qualities at differing price points. Since most of the expenditure in a painting project is the investment in time, it doesn't make sense to save a few dollars a gallon on lower quality products. Don't shortchange the life of your project with bargain paint.

If you are planning to have a professional painter do the work, always have that company supply the paint. Every professional works with a paint supplier with whom a relationship has been built. That supplier stands behind the paint's performance just as the painter guarantees the workmanship.

When a homeowner specifies another brand of paint or provides the paint to be used, the professional will usually avoid any responsibility for the paint's performance.

In other words, if there is a problem in a few years, it will be the homeowner who has to deal with the paint supplier, rather than the painter.

When having a painting professional estimate a job, it is wise to find out who will be doing the actual work. Will the person making the estimate be painting? Will that person be supervising the work? Will the painters be year-round employees of the firm or seasonal hires? Do the workers have both technical and safety training?

Be sure that a bid includes the details of all prep work as well as describing the painting. Identify colors for both the structure and the trim, especially when changing colors. Don't overlook the non-painting, yet important, elements of the project. If any repairs are to be made that will change the scope of the project, make them known. If plants need to be pruned away form the building, clarify when it will be done and by whom.

Equally important is a statement of responsibility by the painter to protect plantings and property. Sometimes homes are so close together that a painter must set ladders on a neighbor's property in order to reach a second floor area. Provision for this should be made clear and the neighbor's permission obtained.

Finally, make sure that the guarantees are spelled out. Often there is a difference between the warranty by the painter of his workmanship and the product performance guarantee of the paint manufacturer.

One of the more common problems that people mention as a warranty issue is paint that is blistering. In most cases, it is caused by moisture escaping from within a home, rather than by paint failing to adhere to the surface. Humidity within the house is the problem and the blistering will continue, painting after painting, until the problem is addressed.

It is not unusual for professional painters to make specific warranty exclusions for blistering where it has been evident in the past.

All of this said, it's time to act quickly if exterior painting is to be done this year. There are about 10 more weeks of good painting weather ahead after mid-September it is always questionable.

Good professional painters have their schedules full by now, so they may not be able to fit you in without a cancellation.

If a painter can start work soon, be sure to understand why there is an opening. Also, be sure to find out the basic information about the firm by checking the contractor registration number, which should be on business cards and bids, with the state Department of Labor & Industries.

For more information about exterior painting, from pointers in selecting colors to suggestions in solving specific problems, check the National Paint & Coatings Association Web site at www.paint.org/con_infor/exterior.htm.

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Matt Maury is president of the Home Owners Club of Seattle. His column is intended to help homeowners better understand the complexities of owning and maintaining their residences. Send questions or comments to: news@theseattlesun.com