How do you prep before spraying paint?

Preparing an Exterior Surface for Painting

It's ideal to have a clean surface before you start painting whether interior or exterior. As opposed to an interior painting job, when it comes to clean an exterior surface, you should be able to use a pressure washer run with an air compressor with the proper amount of detergent as the most efficient means of thoroughly cleaning exterior stucco surfaces. Not removing dirt from a wall greatly increases the likelihood that any coating you apply will fail sooner than it should.

Select the proper nozzle with caution as a concentrated stream can damage wood, seep under lapped siding, break or crack walls and break Windows. Use a regular garden hose and scrub brush on surfaces that don't have excessive peeling or flaking. The pressure washer removes dust, spider webs, chalk, mildew, and old paint using highly pressurized water.

You may use household bleach on a mixture of one quart of bleach in three quarts of water. Rinse the surface after cleaning is completed.

Use a wire brush to scrape away loose paint in hard to reach areas. Don't keep scraping until you reach the bare wood if the old paint is intact.

You just need to sand-off the old surface, dust it off so no lose particles remain before you start painting. It's very important that you repair any surface flaws with a surface repair compound rated for exterior use. Sand the surface when dry.

You can patch large and small holes in wood, drywall and metal as long as you have the right type of patching and repair products on hand. For exterior walls is best to use a ready patch spackling and patching compound. In order to remove old caulk, first clean the surface using alcohol, then kill any mold or mildew using a mixture of 1/3 cup household bleach to 1 gallon of water as you remove the old caulk using a sponge. Let the surfaces dry up completely then re-caulk around door trims, Windowsills and other areas that need to be sealed with a paintable exterior caulk.

Repair and re-putty Windows to cover any uneven surfaces on the sills, let it dry up, then sand off to make all surfaces smooth. Remove old putty and apply new glazing. Make sure it's dry before painting.

Use thin cloths to protect flowerbeds and lawns. Gently tie up and cover shrubs so plants don't get damaged. Prime bare wood and any area where repairs have been made. Now it's time to apply your first, second, and/or third coat of paint if necessary.