If you are considering applying new paint directly on top of old paint but concerned that the old stuff may not be sticking well enough to hold a new coat. Take an ordinary adhesive bandage, stick it to the old paint surface and then rip it off. If the paint stays put, it is still well attached to the surface. If the bandage takes paint with it, then you need to scrape it off. The longevity of your paint job is often determined by the thoroughness of your scraping. The best advice is to make sure your scraper is very sharp. Supply yourself with extra blades, or bring a file up on a ladder with you so that you can sharpen your blade frequently.
When working with weathered wood that has not seen a coat of paint in a while, sand down to bright wood before applying paint. By sanding the gray wood away, you give the remaining wood a better shot at a longer life. After sanding any old weathered wood on your homes exterior, before applying primer, take the time to treat the freshly sanded areas with a solution of equal parts of boiled linseed oil and turpentine. Make sure the wood is dry, and then paint the mixture on with an old brush. Allow the mixture to soak in and then reapply as needed. The next day repeat the process until the area no longer drinks up the liquid. Wait twenty-four hours to apply primer.
Before painting a windowsill, set of steps, porch deck or any other place where snow or rainwater tends to stand, treat the area with a paintable water repellent and then prime. The repellent contains a waxy substance that repels moisture and keeps the wood dry so that it will not lift the paint.
If you have a surface that needs to release moisture, choose an acrylic latex paint system over an oil-based paint. Areas of the house exterior where this might be the case are hollow porch columns, wooden siding near kitchens or bathrooms, and masonry walls. Latex paint is the most permeable to water vapor, which means it will not peel or blister as the moisture rises through it.
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