A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Now that spring is here, you may want to give your home a fresh look with a paint brush or two. You probably know how to properly paint a wall, but there are many other surfaces you're going to encounter around the house that you may not be so sure about how to paint.
Enter Danny Lipford, host of "Today's Homeowner," who dropped by The Early Show with some timely advice.
How do you paint concrete (driveways, patios, sidewalks, garage and basement floors), metal (handrails and doors), aluminum siding or even plastic patio furniture, kids' toys, plant pots, mailboxes and shutters?
For any paint job, you need proper preparation, high quality paint, and correct application.
CONCRETE
There are a lot of situations around the home where there are masonry type surfaces. Maybe, over the years, it has started to look kind of aged. Now with concrete stain available, you can change the look of that concrete around the home very easily.
First step: Clean the concrete with a brush or broom or any kind of detergent.
Then, apply two coats of concrete stain.
Stain can be used for either new concrete or concrete that has not previously been painted. It's different from paint because it seeps into the concrete and permanently changes the color. It doesn't peel or crack the way paint does over the years. It also has more of a transparent feel than paint because it is completely opaque.
H&C Shield Plus Concrete Stain
Price: $23.00 per gallon
Widely Available
For more information, visit: http://www.hc-concrete.com/
When painting a concrete surface such as a basement wall, use masonry sealant to give it a more solid appearance. Also, there is a new product that fights such basement enemies as mildew and staining. It also may be used on stucco walls, exterior bricks and steps.
First, use the masonry sealant to seal the pores of the block or brick. Then, simply use a traditional latex wall paint.
Zinsser's WaterTite Mold & Mildew Proof Water Proofing Paint
Price: $24
Widely Available
For more information visit: www.zinsser.com
Whether you choose to stain or paint your concrete, make sure the surface is free from dirt and grease and is completely dry.
METAL
The biggest problem with any kind of metal is that it rusts. So the first step, when you paint metal, is to try to remove as much rust as you can.
After scrubbing the rust off, simply wipe the metal down with mineral spirits and then paint immediately.
Use oil-based paint, because it's better than latex at combating rust.
First put on a primer create a good foundation to prevent the rust from returning. Then apply a topcoat.
Spray painting is good because it helps you work faster. But you can use a regular paintbrush.
Krylon "Rust Tough" Primer
Price: $6.50 per 12 oz can
Widely Available
Krylon Web Site
Krylon "Rust Tough" Rust Preventative Enamel Paint
Price: $6.50 per 12 oz. can
Widely Available
Krylon Web Site
ALUMINUM
Aluminum siding will have chalky residue over the surface because of the factory finish. The paint that was put on originally just breaks down over the years.
First, wash all of the siding. Clean it thoroughly and allow it to dry.
When you paint this type of surface, the trick is to use 100 percent acrylic latex paint. Aluminum siding will expand and contract, according to the temperature and humidity, and acrylic latex paint provides a more flexible finish than an oil-based finish.
Sherwin Williams "SuperPaint" Exterior Latex Paint - Satin Finish
Price: $30 per gallon
Available at Sherwin Williams stores.
PLASTIC
More and more components around the home are made of plastic, and the sun very often will bleach it out. Or maybe you simply would like to change the color of a plastic chair or plastic pot.
There was a time when there was no paint specifically formulated to paint plastic, but not any more. The name of the product is "Fusion" and it's made by the Krylon company.
Plastic vinyl shutters, for instance, that are nailed on either side of a window are limited in the colors they come in, and they tend to fade after a few years. Also, items such as a child's little plastic chair can be painted and freshened up for the next child.
First, clean the surface with an ammonia product.
Allow it to dry.
Then spray it with two coats of "Fusion" paint.
Spray painting tips:
- Keep the sprayer 10-12 inches away from the surface.
- Constantly shake the can to keep the paint stirred up well.
- When using a can with a spray tip, the tips help create a finer layer of paint when it comes out of the tip. To prevent any drips, spray lightly over the surface. Danny says that it's better to spray four thin coats rather two heavy ones.
- H&C Shield Plus Concrete Stain
$23 per gallon - Zinsser's WaterTite Mold & Mildew Proof Water Proofing Paint
$24 - Krylon "Rust Tough" Primer
$6.50 per 12 oz. can - Krylon "Rust Tough" Rust Preventative Enamel Paint
$6.50 per 12 oz. can - Sherwin Williams "SuperPaint" Exterior Latex Paint - Satin Finish
$30 per gallon - Krylon "Fusion"
$4.50 per 12 oz. can
Krylon Web Site