How to paint exterior masonry or concrete walls of your house?

Painting jobs on exterior concrete walls freshen up a house exterior, but painting concrete or masonry walls requires much more efforts. This is because masonry walls are more porous and also expands and contracts transferring moisture in and out. However, these walls are quite tricky to paint, but it certainly doesn’t make them ‘unpaintable’.

Although,exterior Painting in Chicago, especially on masonry surfaces is quite tricky due to humid climatic conditions of the area.  But it certainly doesn’t make it impossible to paint masonry in Chicago. Before beginning the painting on external walls try to trim or cover plants (if any) near the walls, to avoid sticking of unwanted materials on walls while painting.

Painters in Chicago know it very well that quality of surface increases life span of paint on concrete for a long durations. So, it is essential to completely clean concrete with power washing to remove debris, algae, mildew, etc. from the walls. If any section of the wall is cracked, then hire better masonry contractors available in Chicago to repair the cracks with perfection that the repair area doesn’t seem odd. 

After washing, let the surfaces dry on its own, however in our city the drying will take longer due to excessive moisture in the environment. To apply primer and paint on concrete thick brush and longer nap roller are required. Expert in house painting services in Chicago often use concrete primer instead of sealer because it evenly fills in all the pours within the walls and also provide a smooth finish at the end.

Professionals use specially formulated exterior paint for application on masonry surfaces. It is thicker as compared to the paints used in interior surfaces and also has better expansion and contraction quality to meet specifications of porous masonry surfaces. Furthermore, thin coats of paint are applied instead of think coats to avoid uneven and messy look at the wall.

Hopefully, these tips will help you hire a better professional and also in some DIY painting jobs to achieve better results.

 

Lead-based paint removal; a task best left for experts to execute

What stands between your wall and a fresh coat of paint? It is the layer of old paint, which if not scrapped of properly, can become a problem in longevity of the new coat. Removing the old paint is really essential before you provide a fresh coat of paint in your room, office or home.

Removal of paint is a task that can be done in a number of ways. The technique used depends on the amount of paint that is required to be scrapped off the surface. Since, removing the old paint ensures better finish and longer life of the new paint, it is essential to scrap the old paint thoroughly. 

Irrespective of the method used for removing paint, you need to wash and scrub the area completely. There are chance you won’t have proper washing and scrubbing tools at home – this is where painting services in Chicago come into the picture. 

You may think that scrapping of the old paint from the walls isn’t a touch task and you wouldn’t require masonry contractors in Chicago for the same. Thinking that it’ll help you save time. But be informed that, in your effort to be economical, you are going to end up wasting a lot of time, and still not reach the ultimate goal of cleaning (particularly if you are not a DIYer). 

Masonry in Chicago are trained professionals, who in addition to scrapping, sanding and cleaning the surface with solvent solutions, help you in removing lead-based paint. 

Lead-based paint can be harmful to both people scrapping it and the people around. Lead paint dust or small chips of lead paint are good enough to create fatal health risks and contaminate the environment. Unskilled people can unknowingly create hazards, therefore the task of pealing the surface off lead-based paint is best left for exterior painting experts in Chicago.

 

Precautions experts take in removing lead-based paint

• They wear protective gear and ensure people and pets are not in the area of work. And that windows and doors are shut
• If removing paint indoors, they will remove furniture, curtains etc. and wash the surface well after the job is done
• They do not burn paint debris containing lead, instead warp the debris in heavy-duty plastic bagsto dispose securely