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| Can you help me my property is detached and has a lot of exterior dashed and sand/cement plastered walls around it. All of these exterior surfaces require regular painting as some are north facing. To maintain all of this exterior paint work I find very hard work also time consuming. |
The simple answer to you question is yes. What I would
recommend for this type of situation is spray painting. WHY SPRAY
PAINT? Well, two good reasons spring to mind: it is the least costly
of the three primary methods brush, roller and spray and it is the
fastest application method.
In this issue, Kevin Farrelly the DIY Doctor will look at the job of
spray painting, and if completed correctly will add valve to your
home. I have tried to simplify the format into a step by step guide.
The instruction contained I hope will make it easy for all DIYers to
get started on some great home improvement project. This type of
format offers you and your particular project flexibility as you may
not be required to go step by step through each separate heading
depending on the condition of your exterior walls to be painted.
Common Sense
Spray painting is easy to do as outline the golden rule to all DIY its
all about common sense.
Safety
To avoid mishaps or injury, always wear protective clothing also
gloves, safety goggles as well. Never ever point the sprayer head at
your face or body. The powerful jet of paint from a sprayer can force
paint through your skin. If that happens, get immediate medical
attention. I would always recommend the use of a respirator mask when
using any spray gun. This will prevent you from inhaling any paint.
The Debate
When this subject is raised a lot of debate will follow, on the best
method to use when applying paint to an exterior surface. Others may
argue about whether sprayed surfaces are as durable as brushed
surfaces; my own personal opinion is that if the sprayer is used
properly, the finish will last just as long as one created by a brush
or roller. The most common paint sprayers on the market today are
known as airless sprayers.
Benefits
The more irregular the wall shape you are required to paint, the
greater the advantage of spray over other methods. Spray painting
offers maximum transfer of paint in the shortest amount of time and in
a consistently uniform manner. You save money on materials because you
are getting the maximum spread rate out of your paint, you are also
able to control the thickness of the coating applied whether required
thick or thin.
Airless Sprayer
Using an airless Sprayer will save you considerable time, particularly
on rough exterior surfaces such as dashing. An airless sprayer
consists of the pumping unit, hose and a gun. No compressor is needed
because the paint is pumped through the high pressure hose and forced
through a small nozzle which breaks up the paint into various size
spray pattern. The biggest advantage to airless spraying is that since
no air is used to force the paint out, there can be minimum overspray
is used correctly.
Preparation
Begin by cleaning down the exterior wall I find using a power washer
to remove dirt, mildew and old paint coatings to be excellent for this
type of job. Only when the surface in dry and totally clean can you
start to spray paint.
How best to proceed:
Never ever use a sprayer on windy or even breezy days. Cover all
surfaces some surfaces may require to be carefully masked off for
added protection. My advice with this type of project always put down
plenty of dust sheets. As in all painting jobs start first with the
difficult areas, where you would "cut in" and leave the large mass
areas until the end. On all exterior walls you want to start at the
door and window openings spraying away from the opening and out
towards the large area of the wall. My advise would be to cut pieces
of cardboard about 12" wide by about 3ft long and use them as a shield
holding them up against the areas you want to protect. Cut several and
when one becomes covered in paint lay them aside to dry and you can
reuse them later. It's a very good idea to keep a bucket of clean
water and a sponge handy too, you are going to slip up and overspray
onto something you don't want painted and this way you can clean it
easily.
Technique!!!
Test the sprayer on a large piece of cardboard, adjusting the unit to
get a uniform spray pattern with a minimum amount of pressure. To
achieve a smooth, even coat, keep the gun about 10 inches from the
surface and then spray a succession of overlapping strips. Move the
sprayer in a smooth motion and at a consistent pace about 3 inches per
second. Release the trigger at the end of each stroke, and then pull
it again as you begin to reverse direction. Spray straight at the
surface, and avoid swinging your arm back and forth. Once you have
begun to work, never leave the sprayer idle for more than 20 minutes
or the paint will begin to harden.
When you have finished painting for the day or are taking a tea or
lunch break of significant length, be sure to clean the paint from the
unit, carefully following the manufacturer's instructions including
the filter.
Cleaning
Before you clean a power sprayer, turn off and unplug the unit. Then
pull the spray-gun trigger to release the remaining pressure in the
hose. Clean off the exterior of the gun with a clean cloth or wire
brush if required, remember to remove the tip clean it well before
replacing it.
Doctors Advise
I think you will agree that an airless sprayer is not only a great
time saver but also a very efficient way of applying paint to exterior
walls. The result will be a very uniform evenly distributed paint
film.
Happy painting!
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