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Show A Home & Garden, April, 1995 Painting house is smart improvement c One of the most tive remodeling jobs you can do yourself to improve your home is to paint it. "New paint brightens and freshens the look and feel of almost any home, says Kent cost-effe- Lester in his book, "The Complete Guide to Being Your Own Contractor" Remodeling Books). (Betterway But a proper paint job does more than improve appearance. "Exterior paint finishes (also) provide protection from weathering, moisture and in- sects," Lester adds. How often you should paint TTi your house depends on the quality of the paint you last used, says Tom Segreto, chief paint buyer for Sears, Roebuck & Co. at the retail giantshead-quarter- s in Hoffman Estates, Fectt ComteoH J'Js INTERIOR yAUtr iHfii EXTERIOR Call Phil u i 1 748-200- 4 iyu . - 111. "With today's new polymers, a good exterior pain can last 15 to 20 years, said Segreto. "If you use a lesser quality paint, you will have to paint more often." WHAT TO USE What makes a paint of good quality? WEED CONTROL "They have more ingredients in them that make them easier to apply, last longer, PEST CONTROL FERTILIZATION See Us Now And Get A Jump On Summer with more polymers and pigments and (fewer) solvents than cheaper paints," Segreto said. exterior Many paints also contain ingredients to provide mildew resistance, stain resistance and "they also give more choice on sheen levels and colors." high-qualit- Wice ' c. I pf'cel : ", Weatherbeater :v r?T" ;Pg; Manufactured, affordable housing that you design from the carpet, to the walls, to the floor plan! Highway 6 Helper 472-877- 4 y 472-877- 7 is Sears best exterior paint, he said. As for choosing vs. oil-bas- latex paint, it often depends on your needs and where you life. "Oil paint bonds strongly to wood and metals and also bonds better on substandard finishes, such as chalky, dirty or oily surfaces," says Lester. He ways they're still the most durable, good for exterior finished. But they must be applied to a dry surface, and clean-u- p requires "the use of smelly solvents such as mineral spirits." Latex has become more popular in recent years because it is durable, safe and easy to clean up with water. But latex paints are more po- WHEN TO PAINT Climate also affects when you should paint your home. "The best time to paint is when the temperatures are moderate - it's not good to paint when the weather is too hot or the paint will dry too quickly; it's not good when it's too cold because then the paint doesn't adhere well," said Segreto. He recommends that painting when the weather is no colder than 45 F and not warmer than 85 F. You should also "follow the sun" when you actually paint, Segreto added. It's bad technique to paint in bright sun or where the sun will come and make it really warm before the paint is set. rous than oil paints, so that if PREPARATION IS KEY latex is used on new wood withPreparation of the surface out a good oil primer, or if it's is especially important when applied toothinlyonnew wood, painting a house's exterior. "rain or even heavy dew can "Make sure you prepare the and the coating penetrate painting surface properly so reach the wood," Lester said. the new paint will adhere propSuch 'breath ability," howerly," warns Lester. ever, can be necessary. Segreto agrees that the "Because latex is a water-base- d most important step in extepaint, it has a tendency rior painting is preparation. "A lot of folks are in a hurry to be more flexible, which is really important in climates to get the job done, but they where severe winters and hot need to spend as much time summers shrink and stretch preparing the surface as actusiding - latex paints are generally painting," he said. 'The most important step ally more flexible with those is to wash the surface." changes than Then you should plug any paints," said Segreto. "And because latex paints nail holes and, in fact, make have a tendency to breathe, sure that all nails are recessed letting vapors escape through from the surface, the indentathe paint surface, that's im- tions from which are then filled portant in some markets with exterior Spackling comoil-base- d where people humidify their homes a lot - vapor needs to pass through the paint so it won't blister," he added. pound. "Nails left up are more likely to rust, which will stain the (Continued on page 15) |