Exterior Painting

Exterior painting and staining are two of the jobs that we really enjoy the most. Yes, we love all of the work that we do, but there are a few reasons that we really look forward to doing the work of exterior painting and staining.

One reason is that our crews really excel at both. It takes a special artistic eye and an attention to detail to really be a true craftsman at these projects, and our trained professionals have that special talent and years of experience.

Another factor that gives us such pleasure when we do exterior painting and staining is the joy of looking at a job completed and done well. We know that you take great pride in your home, and we know that you have entrusted us with your most valuable possession. When we can make it look better than you could have imagined, it gives us a great deal of satisfaction.

What is involved with exterior painting and staining?

Perhaps more than you would expect. For many people, this is not work that you would want to do yourself. Since exterior painting and staining are two different types of projects, we’ll cover each of these separately.

Repainting the outside of your home can be a daunting project. Since we have done this so many times, it is practically second nature. One of the first things to consider is that paint not only makes your wood a nice color, it also coats the wood and protects it. But before you can protect the wood with paint, the surface must be prepared. If a painter plans to apply the first coat of paint without getting the wood ready for it, you should consider hiring a different painter – otherwise you might have problems with bubbles, cracking and other issues because the paint did not adhere properly. We always make sure to get rid of all dirt and any layers of old, “chalky” paint through pressure washing, scraping and sanding.

When actually applying the paint, one coat is almost never sufficient. We almost always use a primer coat first. Yes, it’s more work, but it makes sense because it makes the finish coat adhere much better (among other reasons). When we are doing any exterior painting and staining, we don’t believe in taking any shortcuts.

A staining project has some similarities and some differences.
Preparation of the surface is much the same, and just as important.

We always:

• Repair any damaged wood, or replace if necessary
  
• Apply a new layer of caulking around all windows and exterior doors
  
• If exterior wood has any holes, these are patched with wood filler
  
• Trim back any trees or large bushes if necessary
  
• Clean the exterior surface with a soapy water solution
  
• Remove any mildew (we use commercial mildewcides for this)
  
• Finally, rinse the house down and allow time for it to dry completely

We also estimate how much stain will be required (a gallon of stain covers about 200 square feet). Stain brushes are different than regular paint brushes, and we are fully equipped with all that is needed.

When comparing exterior painting and staining, it’s convenient to know that stain absorbs into the wood more quickly, so it dries more quickly. However, we do need some cooperation from Mother Nature in order to achieve the best results. If the forecast calls for about 70 degrees and sunny with low humidity, that’s a great day for us to do some staining! Normally the stain will be completely dried within a couple of days.

In some cases, two coats of stain may be required. This is usually the case if the wood has been stained before, and the earlier stain was a lighter shade than the new stain. We can evaluate that for you ahead of time.

You can trust us with all of your exterior painting and staining needs, and you can be sure that the job will be done professionally. We guarantee it!

We offer exterior painting in Columbia, Maryland, Eldersburg, MD and throughout Howard County.