Page 582 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 461

Chapter 17, Painting and Finishing

Nothing improves the looks of an old house like a new coat of paint. But before deciding to repaint,
consider washing the surface or spot painting. Excessive paint build-up increases the chance of
chipping and peeling from incompatible paint layers. Paint film that’s too thick is likely to crack. The
only remedy for cross-grain cracking or intercoat peeling may be to strip the surface down to bare wood.
Areas sheltered from the sun, such as eaves and porch ceilings, don’t need to be painted as often as
exposed areas. Instead of repainting the entire surface, spot paint only in areas showing the most wear.
Matching colors is easy with modern optical paint-matching equipment. Most paint suppliers can match
nearly any sample you bring in.

Guidelines for Recoating
Nearly all surfaces in a home can be recoated successfully with the right surface preparation. The
challenge is to identify what’s on the surface so you know what treatment to use, and then to select the
appropriate coating.

•Kalsomine (also called calcimine) is a whitewash made from zinc oxide and glue. Kalsomine turns to
powder as it ages, which makes it an unsuitable surface for any type of coating. Either remove the
existing surface by sandblasting or cover the surface, such as with new siding.
•Grease falls in the same category as kalsomine. No paint will adhere to walls or ceilings coated with
grease. This is a common problem in kitchens. Remove all grease before recoating. If paint has been
applied over grease, remove all coatings down to the bare surface.
•Non-compatible paints can result in intercoat peeling. Adding another coat on top of peeling paint will
only compound the problem. You’ll generally need to remove the existing paint. If the surface you’re to
paint is incompatible with the paint you’re going to use, apply a coat of primer between the
non-compatible paints. That will usually solve the problem.