It’s Impossible to Tell If A Paint Job Will Last Once It Is Completed
If you are looking for an exterior painting company in Chevy Chase, please read this page first.
When you hire a painting contractor or a local handyman to paint your house, you WILL NOT be able to tell how long it will last. Only time will tell. And it doesn’t necessarily matter what type of paint is applied either.
There are 5 major contributing factors to how long an exterior painting job will last, and they are as follows:
- Proper Cleaning
- Having the moisture of the wood at an acceptable level
- Choosing the proper primer.
- Correct whether conditions
- Applying two coats of premium paint.
Klappenberger & Son Exterior Painting Contractor Of Chevy Chase
Whether you have a arts and crafts home or a mansion on the hill, consider Klappenberger & Son as your exterior painting contractor in Chevy Chase.
Since 1989 we have painted over 30,000 homes in the Chevy Chase area and beyond.
In addition to being a painting contractor, we also can do other carpentry and handyman and projects around your home.
This makes us an ideal one-stop-shop, to get your most prized position looking awesome!
Exterior Painting in Chevy Chase: What We Do Differently
Proper Power Washing Techniques
When power washing or pressure washing the exterior of your we let the chemicals do the work, not high pressure. We leave the high-pressure to Time Share salespeople.
We use the least amount of chemicals that kill mildew and get rid of dirt and pollen collected on the home.
Our cleaning products will not harm your plants or flowers!
FYI – We insist that the chemical stay on for 15 minutes. That’s the a
mount of time necessary to kill the mold spores.
If not, the mildew will grow back much faster.
The Moisture Meter
It doesn’t matter how much prep work is done or the type of primer and paint you apply if the wood is damp.
Moisture is the number one reason paint peels.
The moisture content needs to be under 16% to be considered safe for painting.
Choosing The Right Primer
There is no “one size fits all” for exterior primers. Whether you are painting Georgia Pine or pine from Canada, it’s not all the same primer.
What happens if you chose the wrong primer? The paint will peel.
Why?
Because the wood, primer, and top coat of paint are not expanding and contracting at the same rate.
With the sharp changing seasons of Chevy Chase, it is important to have all 3 surfaces expanding and contracting at the same rate.
When choosing Klappenberger & Son we can advise you on which primer will work best with your surface.
Exterior Painting in Chevy Chase: One Coat Or Two?
Besides applying two coats satisfies the warranty, it also extends the paint job’s life for years.
For example, the picture on the right clearly shows where someone brushed the edges and seams and then painted the exterior wall with a roller.
The areas that received two coats have significantly more paint left.
Applying a second coat of paint usually adds about 30-35% to the total cost of the job. Considering it can extend the paint job’s life by 5 years, it is a wise investment.
Proper Weather Conditions
Everyone knows you can not paint in the rain, right? How about the temperature? Most manufactures like the temperature to be lower than 90 degrees and above the mid-’30s for at least 24 hours. If paint freezes before it fully dries, then it can lose its ability to cure fully.
Also, if it rains shortly after the substrate is painted, water can penetrate through the paint, causing bubbles.
Therefore it is best not to paint when the chance of rain is above 40% for the next 24 hours.
Klappenberger & Son is your Exterior Painting in Chevy Chase Contractor
Not only know the ins and outs of painting, but we also have some terrific carpenters.
Whether you have rotten wood trim boards, a loose handrail, or other exterior maintenance projects we have you covered.
