What Happens Before the Paint Goes On

Before any paint goes on a San Diego home exterior, three things happen in order: the surfaces are power washed, the stucco and wood are checked for repairs, and everything that is not being painted is masked off. That order is what decides how the finished paint looks and how long it lasts.

Most people picture painting as the last step: the color going on the wall. On a good exterior job, the paint is the end of a longer story. What happens before it is what decides how the finished home looks, and how well it holds up.

Here is the order Ebenezer follows on every exterior, and why each step comes when it does.

First, the power wash

Paint needs something clean and sound to hold onto. A power wash removes dirt and loose material from the surfaces that will be painted, so the new paint has a proper surface to bond to. It is the first thing that happens, before anyone opens a can.

Then, a check of the stucco and the wood

With the surfaces clean, damage is easier to see. Ebenezer checks the stucco and the wood for cracks, holes and anything that needs repair. He tells you what he finds and what it means for the job, and he explains the steps involved.

This is the step people do not expect. Painting over damage rarely holds up, so repairs come before paint, not after it. It is part of the craft, and it is why stucco, drywall and wood repair sits so close to painting in the work we do.

Next, masking the windows and floors

Everything that is not being painted gets protected: windows, floors, and anything else that should stay clean. Careful masking is what makes a clean line and a clean finish, and it is the difference between a job that looks done and one that looks finished.

Only then, the paint

Now the paint goes on, by spray or by brush. Which one depends on the surface and on your preference, and your preference comes first. Ebenezer uses Dunn-Edwards and Sherwin-Williams, chosen for their quality and finish.

A home exterior takes between one and ten days. The whole process is written out on one page if you would like to read it before you decide.

The point of the order

Wash, repair, mask, paint. Each step makes the next one possible, and skipping one is where most disappointment starts. Ebenezer manages every project personally, so the person who explains the steps to you is the person who does them.

If you would like him to look at your home, ask for a free estimate. He will tell you what your exterior needs, in plain words, and what the steps involve. You can also read more about exterior painting first.