Painting a house
Oil-based paints are those paints that are solvent based, sometimes called alkyds. Most of the liquids in oil-based paints are petroleum distillates and other solvents made from organic sources. Oil-based paints are more durable than latex acrylic paints, and they adhere better to surfaces that become chalky. They don't retain their color as well as latex paint, though. They are more difficult to apply and work with, but because of the thicker coat capability, a one-coat treatment of oil will often cover where latex may take several coats. Oil-based paints are very versatile and can be used on most exterior surfaces except for galvanized metal. When using oil-based paints over masonry an additional sealer must be applied first to create a barrier between the paint and the masonry. If a house has been painted several times using oil-based paints, it is the only paint to use with new paint applications.
Instructions
1. Lay a drop cloth under the area to be painted. Prepare the exterior surface by scraping away any brittle or flaking paint. Use a smaller stiff brush to brush flakes off the wall. These should land on the drop cloth to prevent old paint from collecting in the garden or anywhere an animal or small child might eat them. (Some old paint chips actually taste good, and older paint may contain lead.)
2. Sand the exterior surface to even out any areas where the old paint and the surface are uneven. Use the coarse grit first and go down to the finer grits to produce a smooth finish. Brush off any remaining sawdust (use a tack cloth as necessary).
3. Wear protective clothing and eye protection and spray any moldy or mildew-affected areas with a 1:4 part mixture of chlorine to water. Use a nylon scrub brush or rags to clean these areas. Place used rags in a disposal bag separate from other garbage bags to prevent chemical mixing.
4. Tape off the area to be painted using tape and plastic sheeting.
5. Mix the primer well. Apply an oil-based primer to the surface based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Priming raw surfaces, in particular, is an important step in create a good bond between the paint and the surface. Some primers take between eight and 24 hours to dry.
6. Mix the paint well. Apply an oil-based paint to the primed surface. Oil-based paints go on thicker than latex paints, and they are very smelly. Sometimes a single coat is sufficient. If more than one coat is needed, wait for the first coat to dry completely before applying the next coat. Some paints dry between eight and 24 hours. The paint manufacturer will indicate coat times on the product.
7. Clean brushes and sprayers with solvent. Dispose of the solvent and any solvent rags as recommended by the local refuse guidelines. You cannot throw solvent rags (volatiles) in with regular garbage. Do not mix the solvent and chlorine rags in one bag.
