The job of painting contractors in Danville is more than just what you see on the surface (pardon the pun). Not only do they paint, but they also deal with problem surfaces before painting. Whether the problems are on the interior or exterior surfaces, professional painters are always ready to tackle them.
Surfaces cannot be painted when they have problems. Every painter, professional or DIY-er, knows that they cannot achieve the best paint finish if they don’t address these typical surface issues first. Among the most common surface problems include:
- Dust and dirt.
- Peeling or chipping paint.
- Holes or cracks.
- Mold and mildew.
- Stains caused by several factors (such as rust, moisture, or smoke).
Paint cannot stick properly to such problem surfaces.
Paint cannot adhere well to a surface when it’s not prepared (or improperly prepared). When the drywall is torn (old drywalls have a much thicker paper than newer drywalls) or when there’s an old wallpaper sticking to the surface, the paint will also have problems adhering to it.
Some surfaces, such as tiles and countertops, are not normally painted. However, a coat of paint can do the trick in certain rare situations (or just plain ugly colors).
There are times that you want to radically change the color, such as painting a new lighter shade over the current dark one. Or you may want to change paint types (from oil to latex or vice versa) or paint finishes (from high gloss to semi-gloss or flat). These can present adhesion challenges, as well.
Preparation is the key to a good paint finish.
All these abovementioned problems require one thing – proper surface preparation. The approach may be different depending on the type and/or condition of the surface, but the rules in surface preparation remain pretty much the same.
- Make sure that the surface is clean, dry, and free of dust, mold, or mildew.
- If the surface currently has high-gloss paint and you want to paint it with a low-gloss or flat (matte) one, you may have to sand it off or de-gloss it using special chemicals.
- Make sure that the surface is solid and not softened or loosened by any paint. Repair all visible damage with appropriate fillers, caulks, or compounds.
- Prime all surfaces, especially the “problem” areas.
The importance of priming a surface before painting:
- It helps the topcoat to adhere more effectively to the surface.
- It seals pores of unpainted surfaces, preventing them from absorbing too much paint.
- It protects new drywall.
- It repairs torn paper on damaged drywall, eliminating bubbles.
- It seals and covers old wallpaper adhesive.
- It covers imperfections, such as stains or parts of the wall that have been patched, sanded, or repaired.
- It brings the surface back to a “neutral” color, which is especially helpful when you are making some major color changes (e.g., applying new a light-colored paint over the current dark one) or paint finishes (from high-gloss to flat).
- It brings the surface to an optimal condition so only new paint will be needed.
It’s best to prime the entire surface, not only the problem areas. It will give the subsequent topcoat a nice, smooth, and uniform finish.
Older homes and buildings typically tend to have more surface problems when you repaint them. If you want to get rid of these troublesome surfaces, the best painting contractors in Danville know how to restore them to their former appearance. They do more than paint problem surfaces – they also clean, repair, and prime them before painting – making them look brand-new once again.