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Show Do You Know When to Paint? It is possible, the editors of HOME MODERNIZING magazine maga-zine contend, to keep a house well-dressed, paint-wise, through the years with little strain financially finan-cially or in effort. Top in importance impor-tance is knowing when painting is needed. An old rule often used is repainting re-painting every three years. But today's house paints have a life expectancy of five to seven years. Waiting until the paint film is shabby is also wasteful. When the film has failed, the surface may require preparatory treatment treat-ment more costly than the painting paint-ing itself. With modern paints you gain the greatest economy and best results by repainting when the present film is worn thin but in good enough condition to serve as the base for the new coating. Modern paints are actually designed de-signed to wear out at a controlled con-trolled rate. Products of years of research, these films grow -thin as the outer surface chalks (or powders) off. Thus the surface sur-face stays bright and clean as the loosening powders carry with them unsightly dirt. There is nothing mysterious in what the expert looks for to determine de-termine need for repainting. You can do it yourself in an inspection inspec-tion tour around the house. Inspect the sunny side of the . house, where weathering is worst. If the previous coating shows through in spots, or if you can rub through the present film, repaint. re-paint. Another good method is inspection inspec-tion through a magnifying glass. Tiny, zigzagging cracks in the film also mean it's painting time. If none of the signs are present, you can safely defer repainting. But make another such inspection within a year. |