 Exterior Paintwork
by John Nevin
Now that spring is upon us and the weather is good it is time to get outside and check the exterior of your home for damage done by the ravages of winter and in particular I would like to focus on the exterior paintwork of your property. Ultra violet light, and the wind and rain can cause particular problems to any painted surface especially those exposed to the prevailing winds.
If you feel that your exterior walls can do with a freshen up or even a change of colour – there are plenty of good quality products on the market and any good reputable paint company will guarantee its products for exterior work for up to 15 years for masonry and up to 5 years for woodwork. The choice of colours now covers every spectrum but remember that your choice should fit in with your neighbours and your environment.
I would recommend that a reputable painting company is used (such as a member of the Scottish Decorators Federation) to complete the task as it can be very strenuous work depending on how rough the surface of the masonry render is and with wood work it will depend on how much preparation work is required. If you have a property on more than one level if can be difficult to access the higher areas by oneself. If you do feel a 100 per cent fit and want to tackle the job yourself then make sure that you have the proper tools to hand and a good secure ladder (do you have a head for heights?) or if possible erect scaffolding. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and dispose of any left over paint in a responsible manner – some local authorities now have special facilities for disposal of waste coatings. Special precautions should be taken during surface preparation of pre – 1960s paint surfaces of wood and metals as they may contain harmful lead – always use a mask for dry sanding and treat any mould or lichen with a sterilisation wash – all old paint and varnish should be completely removed from wood and metal - masonry surfaces should be cleaned and any flaking surfaces removed.
Now that decking in the garden is increasing in popularity you will find that after a long wet winter the surfaces can be slippy and green with algae. The problem can be alleviated by the careful application of a reputable weed killer by brush or a fungicidal wash and then treat with one of the many decking protectors such as cuprinol. The application of this can be made easier by use of a spray often supplied by the manufacturer. Make sure that this is done when the weather is dry and there is no sign of frost.
But take the advice of a professional – the safe way to do the work properly is to hire the services of a fully insured painting company and save yourself the risk of injury or accident.
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