It is common knowledge that a dirty surface should not be painted. Sometimes, an apparently clean surface is actually dirty. There are two sources of dirt. As paint ages, it oxidizes, and water soluble chemicals sit on the surface in the form of chalks and salts. Airborne pollutants such as sulphur also settle on your house’s painted surfaces. Unfortunately the falling rain does not wash your house evenly, and these chemicals remain on covered areas such as porch ceilings and soffits. If they are painted over, the film of dirt, while very thin, will not allow the fresh paint to adhere firmly to the surface, and eventual peeling is certain.

To avoid this eventuality, we will thoroughly wash all covered areas of your home. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) or an environmentally friendly alternative is necessary to break down the chalks and salts. All covered areas of your home will be scrubbed, by hand, with TSP and hosed until clean. This will guarantee a clean surface, and proper paint adhesion.

If the last time your home was painted, it was not washed properly prior to coating application, you will experience “inter-coat peeling.” Beneath the peeling paint is the previous coat of paint and not bare wood. The peeling between coats is not caused by moisture, but by a lack of adhesion resulting from paint application to a dirty surface. Should the peeling coat not be removed before repainting, the next coat would peel as surely as the existing one.