How to Prepare Wood Siding for Painting
Preparing wood siding for painting might seem like a daunting task, but it is actually fairly uncomplicated; by following some simple guidelines you can accomplish this task with ease. Keep in mind that no matter what kind of siding you want to prepare for painting, you need to inspect the surface before preparing. You are required to lookout for mold, mildew, dry or wet rot and check whether it is damaged or not. After inspecting the siding, you need to remove mold, wash away dirt, repair damaged areas, get rid of loose paint and spot-prime the affected area, to get it ready for the paint job that will follow.
Things Required:
– Putty knife
– Hose or pressure washer
– Long-handled scraper
– Paintbrush
– Sharp garden hoe
– Electric sander
– Caulk
– Water
– Primer
– Bleach
– Bucket
Instructions
-
1
Remove dirt from the siding
First, you are required to remove the dirt on the wood’s surface and you can achieve this task by simply washing. It is recommended that you use a power washer for this purpose. However, you can also use a garden hose in order to wash the siding. -
2
Clean mold or mildew
Next, you need to get rid of any mold and mildew. For this you need to take a bucket and fill it with one gallon of water. Then mix one cup of bleach in the bucket containing water. Rinse the wood’s surface with this mixture, with the help of a hose. -
3
Get rid of loose paint
If there is any loose paint on the wood siding, you need to remove it. You can get rid of the loose paint by using a long-handled scraper. If loose paint is on a larger area, a sharp garden hoe will come in handy. -
4
Sand the wood siding
Next you need to sand the wood siding. An electric sander can help you accomplish this task. However, you should wear a mask and goggles when you are sanding. -
5
Feather the edges
After sanding the wood siding, you need to feather the edges with a sander. -
6
Remove old caulk and apply new one
In case you spot any old caulks, you need to use a putty knife to remove them. Then, you need to wipe off all the dust and apply new caulk. Once done, apply a primer on the wood siding, to prepare it for the paint job.
