At MHB Painting we use only high quality paint
applied to properly prepared surfaces. Most people wonder, is there
really a difference
between paints? Spray vs. hand brushed- which is better?
Is all that prep work really necessary?
Interior
Prep
A quality job starts with a properly prepared surface. Interior walls are all
patched and woodwork caulked where necessary. Nail holes from paintings will
be filled unless we are told not to fill them so that pictures may be put
back up exactly as they were. As much furniture as is reasonable should be
removed from the room. Larger furniture will be placed in the center of the
room and covered with clean plastic. The floors will then be covered with
drop cloths. Walls and wood trim that are excessively dirty will be washed
and glossy surfaces sanded and dusted. Drastic color changes usually require
a coat of primer tinted to 50% of the finish color. Keep in mind deep bold
colors may require several coats to cover completely. Wood work is sanded
and wiped clean with a damp rag to lift dust off the surface. Lived in homes
are almost never sprayed. Our interior drop cloths are never used outside
and vice-versa.
Contractors
New work is a totally different. Most contractors have a set order in which
they prefer to have their contractors proceed. In almost all cases it is
easiest for us to come in and spray the walls with primer and apply a finish
coat on the ceilings once the walls are ready to be painted. Traditional
sheet rock with the joints taped and mudded are ready for paint once they
are sanded. Skim coat plaster walls require more time to allow them to cure
properly to get rid of “hot spots”. This usually can take 7-10
days depending on conditions such as humidity and temperature. One foolproof
way to determine if plaster is ready for painting is to test its PH. If the
PH is 10 or below, it is ready to be primed. Beyond this each contractor
has a preferred order in which the work is to be done and we can work with
whichever method you prefer.
Paint Quality
When considering paint for the interior, there is a difference between grades
of paint. The cheapest grades of paint will save you money on the materials
but you will more than pay for it in labor cost as it will require multiple
coats to achieve the same results. Medium grade paints may appear to have the
same coverage as their more expensive counterparts. The main difference here
is durability. They may look great immediately after the job is done but what
about in 3 years? 5 years? 7 years? You will also not be able to wash these
walls as easily. Stains will be harder to remove or if they do wash off will
leave burnish marks where the walls were rubbed.
Sheen
Flat
Flat wall paint is easily touched up, will hide many imperfections in walls
and is generally easier to apply. A perfect choice when painting original
horse hair plaster walls in an older home. It is most commonly used in bedrooms.
Not as washable and therefore not commonly used in high traffic areas.
Matte
Basically a flat paint that is more washable than traditional flat paint.
Eggshell
Eggshell is the most common finish for walls for its wash ability and appearance.
It does not hide surface imperfections well and is harder to touch up.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss is used mainly on wood trim. Its finish is highly washable. It is
not used often on walls since it magnifies surface imperfections and is very
difficult to touch up although it is sometimes used in bathrooms and kitchens.
Exterior
Prep
All exterior surfaces are washed to remove surface contaminants such as mold,
mildew, pollen, etc… We will need access to water and require all windows
to be closed on the day we wash the house. We will provide our own hoses.
During the process of washing a house some loose paint will come off. We
do not use the pressure washer as a replacement for scraping. We will not
begin the painting process until the house is dry which normally takes 3-7
days depending on weather conditions. We will use pump jacks for houses that
require intense scraping. This allows us to be more meticulous since we can
scrape as if at ground level anywhere on the house. Wood that is scraped
is then sanded smooth before it is primed. Houses with more than 50% of the
surface exposed after scraping will receive a full prime. Usually oil primer
is used although latex problem solving primer is sometimes used on houses
with known moisture issues. Caulking is done where necessary. Many people
think if they see a gap, “caulk it up to keep the water out” Unfortunately,
caulk can do a better job of sealing the water in than keeping it out. Wood
that stays wet rots very quickly. In general, vertical surfaces get caulked,
horizontal surfaces do not. Wood that is rotting is replaced. Light carpentry
such as corner boards and sill caps can be done by us. More extensive carpentry
work will require a carpenter. You are welcome to use your own carpenter
or if you like I can recommend one.
Paint Quality
Most people consider paint to be purely cosmetic not functional. Exterior paint
is the outermost layer protecting your home from the elements. Apart from
your roof it is the most vital means of preserving the quality of the structure
of your home. The quality of exterior paint is more crucial than for interior.
An inferior exterior paint will break down much faster leaving your house
exposed to the elements in a short period of time. We use primarily the California
2010 paint line for exterior paints. For stain we use Storm Stain or if you
have a preference Cabot stains can also be used. New wood, even if pre primed
will be given a coat of oil primer to prevent the tannins in the wood from
bleeding through the paint surface.
Spray vs. Hand Brushed
Many people often ask if hand brushing is better than spraying. The answer
is not really. The quality of the finished product is the same, if not better,
when sprayed as long as it is prepared properly and back brushed. Back brushing ensures a clean
even finish. This is especially important on rough or textured surfaces.
Anyone who has ever had their house sprayed only to have it peel within a
year or two will be reluctant to have their house sprayed again. We will
use either method depending on your preference.
