Primers
-
We
use absolutely
the best primer
on the market
today.
-
Muralo’s
Ultimate X-200
Exterior Oil-Based
Primer-2200.
This primer is
specially formulated
for extra long
term durability.
It is highly
recommended for
multi-story structures
where surface
conditions and
preparations
may vary which
applies to most
historical homes
in Elgin. This
primer is also
super on old
wood and trim
as part of a
tannin blocking
system. It has
a high percentage
of linseed oil
which allows
for a longer
drying time than
your average
primer, this
gives the primer
more time to
soak into the
fibers of the
wood grain.
This in turn
gives both the
primer and the
paint applied
to the primer
better bonding
properties which
will provide
longer lasting
durability. This
is one of the
many reasons
why our paint
jobs last so
much longer than
our competitors.
The moisture
protection of
linseed oil is
well known in
the world of
woodworking,
and the 2200
has the highest
amount of linseed
oil of any primer
on the market
today.
Why
don't other painter's
use this primer as
a matter of course?
Lot' s of reasons.
It
is expensive, it
is difficult to apply,
it has to cure for
several days, not
dry in a few hours
and none of the paint
stores around here
carry it.
We always have it in stock.
Paints
Muralo
Paints can be purchased
at the following
location: Pathmann
Family Paints on
facebook
The
premium line from
any manufacturer
will almost certainly
cover better and
last longer than
its less-expensive
versions. Because
the expense of painting
is mostly in the
labor, it makes sense
to buy premium paint.
- Proper
pigments. Quality
pigments allow
a good paint
to cover fully
and provide a
depth of color
that the lesser
pigments just
cannot compare
with. The best
pigment is titanium
dioxide.
- High
percentage of
solids. The solids
are what's left
on the wall after
the paint has
dried. Anything
over 45 percent
is considered
good; the higher
the level of
solids the better,
because you'll
wind up with
a denser, more
durable coating.
However, be aware
that some companies
add cheap fillers
to beef up
the percentage
of solids. That
makes it wise
to stay away
from inexpensive
paints with a
high level of
solids.
The
paints we use in order
of highest percentages
discussed above to lowest:
1. Muralo
2. Pittsburg
Manor Hall We
do not recommend Pittsburgh's
Timeless for exterior
work. It seems to get
brittle, even when you are very careful not
to paint in the heat, or when the sun is out.
3. Benjamin
Moore Premium
Watch
out that your contractor
does not switch in poor
quality/cheap paint,
or has thinned the good
paint with water towards
the end of the job to
make it go further. Easy
tip: did your contractor
show up with un-opened
new cans/buckets from
the store with a receipt
available? Do the colors
match throughout the
entire house?
How
We Paint
- We
never use a sprayer
on any of our houses,
and we never use rollers
either. Generally if
you are painting exterior
wood, a good, old-fashioned
brush is best. Using
a brush allows you
to work the paint into
the wood grain rather
than just lay the paint
on top of the grain.
With a brush you can
force the paint into
every crack and crevice,
not missing any. If
you are rolling, you
are leaving a lot of
tiny little pinpricks
of unpainted wood.
You absolutely, must
back brush immediately
in order to cover all
those pinpricks. Very
rarely, does the inexpensive
painter take the time
to back
brush, and if he does,
he most certainly does
not get every inch
of the rolled surface,
and still leaves whole
areas of unpainted
pinpricks where moisture
can get in and ruin
your paint job in a
few years.
- We
are very careful never
to paint in the full
sun. The sun bakes
the paint before it
has a chance to dry
in its own time, which
in turn ruins the elasticity
the manufacturer builds
into the product. This
elasticity is what
allows for the expansion
of the wood during
our four seasons, which
in turn allows for
a longer paint job.
- We
are also careful to
avoid “flashing”.
This is what happens
when you paint half
a board, let it partially
dry, then go back and
paint the rest. When
it completely dries
and you are looking
at it from the street,
a passerby can see
exactly where you overlapped
the dry paint and wet
paint on that board,
even if that board
is only one board out
of fifty on a wall.
It looks absolutely
terrible and we see
it all over Elgin.
We will re-paint an
entire wall of a house
before we will try
to get away with any “flashing” period.
- We
also don’t
work if there is rain
in the forecast or
if it has rained in
the last 24 hours.
Wet wood does not tolerate
scraping or sanding
well, TSP needs to
sit on the wood for
a bit to do its job.
If it is washed off
by the rain too soon
it is useless, and
if the paint you just
put on the house is
not completely dry
before the rain hits
it….well
guess who is screwed.
You can bet the painting
contractor isn’t
going to repaint if
he can get away with
it.
- What
about the cold? We
always allow the paint
no less than 4 hours
to dry before the temperatures
drops to 35 degrees,
and we allow the air
temp to warm for 1
hour after the satellites
say the air temp has
already hit 35 degrees.
This
is a great weather
site that has downloads
for your phone if you
so choose.
Remember
a low bid does not
include deliberately
painting, priming or
caulking in unacceptable
weather. At the very
least, read and follow
the manufacture's instructions.
http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Elgin+IL+60120?lswe=60120
Frequently
Asked Questions About
Traditional Paint
http://www.realpaints.com/faq.htm
Painting Historic Interiors
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/13016.shtml
Painting Historic Interiors
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief28.htm
Traditional Paints
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/paint/paint.htm
Exterior Woodwork, proper painting and surface
preparation
http://www.barncoalition.com/TechNotes/technotes1/exterior%20wood.htm
Living with Time, Naturally
http://www.milkpaint.co.za/default.asp
Lloyd's
Paint 'N Paper -
Starting November
1: Store Relocation
Sale. At the end
of the year, we will
be closing the Woodstock
store and relocating
all business to our
Crystal Lake location.
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