Previously Painted Exterior Walls

If your exterior walls have been painted then they will need to be maintained. This is a big job that requires a lot of planning and thought before you start to ensure that you have all the necessary tools and equipment before you start. A high level of surface preparation is essential if the job is going to look good and last a long time.

Essential tools and preparation advice

• If the surface is very bad then it may be necessary to wash some of it down first with a detergent solution to remove dirt, grease etc. Obviously this is not an easy thing to do on the outside of a house, but it will help give the best results. Rinse off with clean water and allow too dry.
• Carefully scrape back to a firm edge all areas of poorly adhering or defective coatings and rub down thoroughly to "key and feather" broken edges of existing coatings. Don't use a wire brush as bits of the wire may break off embedding themselves in the surface, which may rust when the water-based paint is applied. Treat any areas affected by mould, lichens, algae and moss with Fungicidal Wash. Make good minor defects with an appropriate filler.
• New or sound bare surfaces should be sealed with a Dulux Primer first (smooth or textured) to ensure good adhesion of the finishing coat(s). Surfaces that remain powdery, friable or chalky after thorough preparation should also be sealed with a coat of Dulux Primer.

Painting advice

If your walls have never been painted then you need to think very carefully about what you are doing if you decide to paint them. Once painted they must be maintained and it is very expensive and difficult to go back if you change your mind. Professional blast cleaning is the only way to do it. Also, a lot of bricks can't be painted such as Fletton or Common Bricks. Always seek professional advice if in doubt.

• Stripping Wood: There is no need to strip existing paint coatings unless they are in a very bad state. It is always better to continue painting and build up the surface than to start again from bare wood
• If you do have to strip down to bare wood, using a paint stripper will help make the job easier.