One of the key ingredients needed for a long-lasting painting or refinishing project is careful, knowledgeable surface protection. High-quality products certainly are important, but laying that groundwork and setting your coating up for success is crucial.
Unfortunately, some painting contractors, intentionally or not, can skip over, or at least minimize, this step. It takes time, and you really need to care about what you’re doing to put in the extra effort.
This is all especially true when it comes to caring for natural wood surfaces. As a great example, join us for a quick tour of this project we recently finished for an HOA in Venice,CA. And don’t miss the before/after photo included above; isn’t the difference drastic? This is why we love doing what we do!
Restoring The Exterior Of Beachside Homes
Living right near the beach certainly has its benefits (a whole lot of them!), but your home might not be quite as excited about it as you are. After all, your property essentially is sunbathing all day long, and after a while that exposure to the elements takes its toll.
Applying a fresh coating of stain is essentially like reapplying sunscreen for your property. Not only does it look fantastic, but it’s protected too. And, not just protected from the sun, but also from wind, rain, mold, mildew, and all the elements that are working hard to break your surfaces down.
Caring For And Maintaining Cedar Siding
Every wood is a little different, calling for specific techniques and products. It’s important to not try to treat them in a one-size-fits-all fashion.
As you can see on the left side of the photo above, the beautiful potential of the cedar was hidden behind decay, heavy mildew, and a weather-beaten, greying finish.
Here’s how we created a little #staininghappiness:
- We first applied a chemical cleaner so that we could scrub away the major buildup of dirt, mildew, and grime.
- Next, we applied a chemical brightener. This helped to erase that dark, weathered, grey look. Cedar is a gorgeous wood and just needs a little TLC in order to shine.
- The prep above not only brought back the cedar’s original beauty, but it also removed all the junk (for lack of a technical term) that would keep the final finish from really soaking into the wood.
- Finally, we laid down the Penofin Ultra Premium Penetrating Oil Finish. The finish could work its way down deep into the fibers of the wood, saturating them with the protective oil. As an added bonus, this finish offers a wet, clean look that allows all the character of the cedar to shine.
What Does Future Property Maintenance Look Like?
The key is to not neglect the surface until such drastic care is needed. Routine maintenance is always the easiest and most cost-effective option.
In this case, all that is needed for a consistently beautiful finish is a periodic wash with a cleaning solution to remove any surface build-up, time for the siding to dry, reapplication of the oil, and wiping away the excess.
Do You Have Questions About Your HOA Painting And Maintenance Needs?
If you would like to learn more about our HOA maintenance philosophy and services, please be sure to visit our Homeowners Association Painting Services page. Or, you can always contact us directly. We would love to talk with you!