To most, painting wood is just another regular task. Anyone can get it done in no time. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong. Wood painting is considered one of the most fragile and intricate tasks with regards to painting. This is because it requires a lot of attention to detail, selection of tools and application of primer/paint. Painting wood decks or siding for example, is a very fragile task and could go wrong very quickly if approached with a lackadaisical attitude. This task requires the right amount of attention in making the right kind of decisions, especially when you are not a professional painter and are just doing this as a way of saving cost. If this is you, consider following these steps to painting wood below.
Choose the right kind of paint: Any Jacksonville painter knows the paint is as important as the painter or the piece of wood. If you will be nonchalant about any aspect of painting your wood siding or any piece of wood, let it not be with choosing the kind of paint to apply. It is advisable to paint furniture with satin or semi-gloss finish when using either an oil-based paint or latex. This way, your finish matches your paint and you get brilliant results. There is no gainsaying the importance of this aspect. The choice of paint is as important as the expected results. Never forget this fact.
Cleaning the surface efficiently: The results you are bound to get after painting a wooden surface, furniture or ordinary piece of wood depend much on the way you clean the surface before applying the paint. For example, applying paint on a surface which is already stained or has lacquer or urethane on it could turn out to be very ghastly in terms of the application and visual appeal. It is therefore advisable to wash the surface with TSP or tri-sodium phosphate and/or prime before applying paint. TSP also comes in no-rinse varieties which might be a good fit for giving your painting that good physical and mechanical hold.
Sand the wood surface the right way: By the time the TSP application has dried off, then comes the phase for sanding your wooden surface. Sanding is done for two major reasons; (1) to remove the hard stuck on stains and (2) to smoothen the surface for painting. This means that when the sanding is not effectively done, there is bound to be problems in the final painting. To get your sanding right, first you need to get the right sander and then you need to know how to sand properly. For nonprofessionals, consider watching videos of professionals sanding to learn the rhythm and flow of the process.
Prime the wood: Priming your wood before commencing with painting isn’t just important for the look and feel of the painting job, it is also important in distinguishing the job of an amateur from that of a professional. Especially when painting wood cabinets. Once you have primed – remember to choose the right type of primer for the wood being coated – you can now sand again and commence painting.
With some basic instructions, a little patience and some trial and error; you'll will have your deck, dock or wood siding looking fresh and new. But even more important; you'll have long lasting protection!
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