FAQ:



Does pressure washing damage my wood or let water in? Pressure washers have enough pressure to do serious damage. Experience, training and knowledge of pressure and tip sizes is a must. One of the biggest mistakes with a washer is using too much pressure on a deck that is to be sealed. Mostly chemicals and low pressure rinsing do the deck cleaning.  Getting close with high pressure will clean a deck, but close the grain and not allow sealers to penetrate. Top

Should I use stain or paint my house? First, you have to decide if you are painting for aesthetic value or durability. The quintessential Cape Cod look is achieved by more maintenance or by letting the exterior go. Either way costs more than a high quality acrylic paint job.

I will certainly get into trouble with this one with some architects. They have specified Cabot’s bleaching oil all over the coast. It is FAILING all over the coast. Stains are thin viscous products. They need to penetrate. Bleaching oils and stain were the correct choice several years ago. You have a much better chance with stains and oils when they are in shaded locations.

 Government standards have changed on paints and stains. They were worse for a while, but now we can thank them for producing the most durable finishes yet. These are premium products – not “contractor grade”. The architects are slow to change these specifications.

Oils and stains are good for blocking stains on new wood. They are good for penetrating new wood. They are not topical.

So the problem on the coast here is people are thinking that stain held up good the first time, so… But it fails because it has poor bonding characteristics. So if you can wash all or most of the stain away,(a really tired finish) then you can stain again. If not, your stain will not hold very long. Stain on the coast is for aesthetics. Not durability. It is too thin and soft to hold up against the elements. Hurricane Ophelia came through in 2005 and blistered stained houses. We are proud to say that not one of our homes moved that were primed and painted.

 If it is the weathered look on the shingles that you want and durability is second, then stain is great. If you want extra years over stain, then 100% acrylic latex is the best. Top

How do I know it is time to paint my house?  When the film begins to fade or get brittle or slight cracking and peeling has started. The most expensive thing to do is to let it go ahead and peel. It costs more in dozens of ways if the house is let go:  It lets moisture in. It causes “cupping” of shingles and warping and splitting of siding. It allows moisture to stay on wood and rot. It costs more labor in surface preparation. Worst of all, the house looks “repainted” if it has been let go too far. We deal with this often and have systems and products to make the best out of the situation. Top

How long will the process take? Pressure washing usually takes 2 days. Then, a  week or so to dry out. Followed by 5-7 business days for paint. Wind and rain are always a factor. Top

How long will my new paint job last? 5-7 years on acrylic paint jobs - even longer with some shade. Dark colors fail faster in sunlight. Stains are anybody’s guess. They typically need to be done on the South and East sides every 2-3 years. Top

Will you over spray my bushes or my roof? No. The average level of experience is 8 years. Two of us have over 20 years of experience. We have ongoing training and we only keep the employees who care. We do not have part timers, college kids, or sub-contractors. Just full time year around painters. Top

Should I use flat paint or shiny paint on my exterior? Architects won’t like this one either. The more gloss the more resin. The more resins, the more durable the paint. Resins make paint harder. Ever notice the rails and so forth at amusement parks? Shiny.

“The book” (for aesthetics) for residential construction on the coast says flat paint on the body and satin or semi-gloss on the trim. It costs more to buy and apply glossier paints. But the truth is, they will last longer. Consider a satin on the body and semi-gloss on the trim if durability is more important than looks. If you desire the “stained” look, then flat on the body works well – just not as well as satin. Top

I have mold on my home. Will it come back? Probably. In very few cases this is related to the paint. It is usually related to location. That’s why mold is usually selective. Under eves, dark areas, inside corner areas, around heavy greenery…etc. In some cases, paint or stain was applied over moisture and the mold just came through.  Or you could have moisture trapped behind the siding. If you experience mold in direct sunlight it may be coming from within.

All of the paint that we use has algaecide and insecticide in it. This will retard growth in these areas, but not stop it. In most cases mold is a characteristic, not a problem. Simple annual or bi-annual maintenance is needed. We can help you with this. Top