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Handyman in St. Louis on Understanding Wood Finish

When you’re painting or staining wood that has been exposed to sunlight and rain, nothing is more important than good preparation. Cutting corners here will lead to short-lived results no matter how well you do everything else. For paint or stain to bond well, the surface should be clean and all loose paint should be removed. The easiest methods for eliminating dirt, dust and debris are pressure washing and scrubbing with a stiff broom and hose. Loose paint can be removed by pressure washing, scraping or sanding. Although pressure washing is easiest, it’s less effective at removing paint that still partially adheres to the surface. Areas that have turned gray are evidence that the wood’s surface fibers have deteriorated. Pressure washing or scraping can partially remove these fibers, but for optimal results you should sand the area (by hand or with a power sander) to expose the fresh wood underneath. Sanding also feathers the edges of any remaining paint that’s stuck to the wood, making your paint job look better. It’s a lot of work, and most people don’t do it. But the extra effort is worthwhile for achieving long-lasting results. If you’re simply reapplying stain (on a deck for example), cleaning is usually all that’s necessary, even if the wood has turned gray. Let the wood dry after cleaning; then apply a fresh coat of stain. Painted surfaces need more preparation. After cleaning and removing all the loose paint, apply primer followed by one or more coats of paint. Oil-based primer is best for gray areas because it penetrates the deterioration better than latex (water-based) and bonds better to the fresh wood underneath. You can apply acrylic latex paint over the primer. If all this sounds like too much work for you to handle, just call the best handyman in St. Louis (Andy’s Home and Business Repair) for a free estimate. And remember, “FOR QUALITY SERVICE BEYOND COMPARE CALL ANDY’S HOME AND BUSINESS REPAIR, AND DON’T FORGET TO LOOK FOR THE PANDA BEAR!”