Five Key Takeaways From LakewoodAlive’s “Knowing Your Home: Exterior Prep & Paint” Workshop

Sherwin-Williams Lakewood was the site of LakewoodAlive's "Knowing Your Home: Exterior Prep & Paint" workshop.

A fresh exterior paint job can extend your home’s life while improving its curb appeal. It’s no wonder that more than 30 area homeowners participated in LakewoodAlive's “Knowing Your Home: Exterior Prep & Paint” workshop during June.

Hosted by our friends at Sherwin-Williams Lakewood, this free workshop featured an expert presentation regarding the proper techniques and processes necessary to paint the exterior of your home. Our knowledgeable presenters covered everything from safety practices to tool and product recommendations to cleanup tips.  

Now in its fifth year, LakewoodAlive’s “Knowing Your Home” workshop series draws hundreds of attendees annually to learn home maintenance best practices. Our workshop series is generously supported by: Citizens Bank, City of Lakewood, Cleveland Lumber Company, First Federal Lakewood, Remax Beyond 2000 and Third Federal Savings & Loan.

If you happened to miss this particular workshop, we’ve got you covered. Here are five key takeaways from “Knowing Your Home: Exterior Prep & Paint.”

1. Preparation is key
When preparing to paint a wooden surface on your home, start by scraping off peeling paint while making sure to collect loose paint chips. Once you’re done scraping, give your home a good wash and make sure the wood is completely dry before proceeding. If you encounter bare spots, it’s recommended to make use of an oil-based primer in order to prevent the paint from soaking into the surface.

2. It’s ok to be bold
It’s worth noting that dark and bold paint colors are more susceptible to fading over time. Still, you don’t need to shy away from your desire to utilize these vibrant colors. Paint technologies have evolved to the point where fade-resistant paint and other products are available to help your paint job last longer than previously possible.

3. Know your paint application options
There are several options at your disposal for applying paint to the exterior of your home.  Spraying represents one option, though it often takes a while to get a solid handle on this method.  Conversely, using a brush or roller can be a slower process but affords you more control. No matter which option you choose, it’s important to remember that you cannot apply a stain over a paint.

4. Find a way to beat the heat
This summer is proving to be a doozy, and it’s important that you avoid working on your paint job in the direct sun if possible. If your siding or painting surface is too hot to touch, then it’s too hot to paint.

5. Vinyl can be hip
When prepping vinyl siding, wash with a synthetic bristle brush to remove dirt if your siding has been painted previously. It’s recommended to do your homework and ensure you’re painting your siding with a vinyl-safe color, as certain colorants in paint have the potential to warp your siding.  The same recommendation applies to shutters and other plastic items incorporated into your exterior paint job.

Matt Bixenstine

I am the Marketing & Development Manager for LakewoodAlive. I enjoy all things Lakewood, especially walking my basset hound through Madison Park.

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Volume 14, Issue 14, Posted 5:57 PM, 07.17.2018