Categories » Home Improvement And DIY » EXTERIOR WALLS
This section deals with a general overview of exterior decorating and wall finishes, such as render, stucco, pebbledash etc.
With suggestions for various types and manufacturers of paint, be it gloss, emulsion, eggshell or specialist finishes. Although clever d is an exterior directory, we will allow internal paint listings here, just to give a balanced overview of what clever d could offer you. If you look around our directory, you may find further suggestions for alternative products such as exterior and interior textured coatings, masonry paints, emulsion paints, waterproof paint, flexible elastomeric wall coatings, smooth finish coatings, anti graffiti coatings, non slip coatings, high traffic coatings, roller applied wallcoatings, stone cleaning, pebbledash repairs, basically the lot.
Article: Exterior house painting: Some tips for the brave.
Painting is one of the best ways to improve the appearance of a home. A shabby home will look clean and new after being painted. Keeping a home painted also increases the life span of the wood siding. If wood is left unpainted it can deteriorate in the sun, rain and wind. Here is a practical guide to painting the outside of your home.
The first step in painting the outside of your home is preparing the walls. Trim back all bushes and plants that are touching the walls or getting in the way. Remove all window shutters, hardware, and light fixtures. Clean the walls by using a high pressure washer or a hose with a strong spray nozzle. The high pressure will remove most of the peeling paint. Spray under the eaves and down the wall getting rid of all dirt, spider webs and debris.
Go over every wall and repair cracks in the plaster or wood. Scrape off old peeling paint with a putty knife or sander on all wood trim or siding. Look for rotten wood and insect damage and repair with patching material. Scrape off old putty around wood windows and re-caulk them.
Once your house is ready to paint you need to decide what to paint first. A good idea is to always paint on the shaded side of the house. If the sun is too hot on the paint it can bubble up and peel off. It is also best to paint the walls and then the trim, doors and shutters. Lay plastic over any plants or objects that you do not want paint on. Lay tarps on the ground around the area you are painting. Large pieces of card board work really good for ground covering on patios and driveways.
If you have a large house consider using a paint sprayer, it is much quicker and the coverage is better. You can rent paint sprayers from most paint stores or equipment rental shops. Sprayers are not that expensive and you can keep them for 24 hours or more. If it is a windy day skip using a sprayer, you will have a mess if you do. To spray, use an even back and forth motion and do not overspray in any one area as you will have drips. Use a large piece of card board as your spray guard so you don’t get paint on windows or other places. Stand back and assess the area to see if you missed any spots. Please note, it is often better to call in the experts to do a job like this. If you are considering exterior wallcoatings for example, this would be a professional job only.
Once the walls are painted then you can brush and roll the trim.
If you cannot spray the house then you will need to purchase various rollers and brushes. Buy rollers that are made for your type of house. They have deep pile rollers for stucco and low pile for smooth siding. Look for rollers that spin smoothly. You will really regret buying a cheap roller that does not spin freely, your arms will tire out fast. Buy extensions for the high spots and make sure you have a good ladder. Paint the corners first with a brush and then roll each wall. Now go back and paint the trim.
Once again, if you are unsure about any aspect of your exterior walls, it is often better to call in a tradesman or professional, rather than do it yourself!
NEWS ARTICLE: Need a re-roof - Think again ! by John Liles.
Is your home protected?
Many home owners do not realise just how much of their hard earned money is disapearing through the roof. Research shows that up to 40% of heat loss is because the roof or loft space is not insulated properly. New regulations aim to combat this but they only relate to new builds and loft conversions so older homes are still suffering. Typical problems are nail fatigue, slipped and broken slates or tiles, condensation, crumbling back pointing, torn roof felt or even no roof felt at all! When a roof starts to leak is about the time most people decide to address the problem, usualy deciding to re-roof the whole property.
There is an alternate.
Spray Polyurethane Foam is a product that has been around in the UK for over 20 years, yet most home owners are still unaware of the advantages of this system over a re-roof. It is suitable for application to any kind of roof structure, whether flat or pitched. This process restores and extends the life of the roof.
Polyurethane foam is a superior insulator than traditional methods.
"U" FACTOR represents the measurement of the amount of heat which passes through a composite of materials (U heat loss). Typical foam thickness used in the encapsulation of domestic roofing materials achieves the following U values: 20mm ..... ..... ..... U Value = .98 40mm ..... ..... ..... U Value = .52 70mm ..... ..... ..... U Value = .29 The lower the U-value the greater the heat retention. At a spray foam thickness of 40mm, there would be a need to incorporate the listed materials by the given percentage increase to achieve a comparable U-value and therefore the same degree of insulation. Polystyrene ..... 64mm ..... ( 60%) Mineral Fibre ..... 72mm ..... ( 80%) Cork ..... ..... 80mm ..... (100%) Cellular Glass 88mm ..... (120%)
Initially applied in a liquid form it expands to 20 times its original size and seals any unwanted air ingress. This locks the independent tiles into one solid structure, cutting heat loss by up to 80% and only adding 2Kg/m2 in weight to the roof. It ensures that the roof is more resistant to storms and gales preventing the ingress of wind driven dust, rain and snow. Spray Foam Insulation has the same breath-ability and combustibility as wood. It meets BS476 Part 1 Surface Spread of Flame. It does not present a fire risk and is also BBA approved. This Eco-friendly product is used and endorsed by local Councils, Health Authorities, commerce, industry and the domestic user throughout the UK.
So, before you decide on an expensive and disruptive re-roof take a look at Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation, you will be surprised just how cost effective and affordable it realy is.
About the Author
John Liles is a damp proofing consultant based in the UK and founder of JML Associates. John gives advice to thousands of home owners on insulation, roof insulation, wall coatings, block paving sealants and damp proofing.
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ARTICLE: An Introduction to Waterproofing Systems by Peter Emerson.
Many homeowners find it necessary to invest in a waterproofing system for their home, especially if their home has a basement or cellar. In modern home developments, it is often required by state or local regulations to have a waterproofing system installed before the completion of the home. Without the proper installation of a waterproofing system, your home is at risk for water damage. In some areas, black mold is a frightful health concern. A good waterproofing system can help minimize water damage and the growth of black mold in prone areas. Other factors to consider when implementing a waterproofing system are the climate, landscape, weather and terrain of the area.
Why do basements leak? Basements can leak for a multitude of reasons. Water can build up because of cracks in walls or the floor, improperly installed or no footer tiles, pressure build up from the floor or walls, leaks from sweating basement pipes and leaks from basement windows, and for many other reasons as well. Mold is a dead giveaway that your basement has leakage or condensation problems. In cases of mold, it is imperative that you seek a professional installer for your waterproofing system.
Roof leakage is another common reason to turn to waterproofing. Spray polyurethane waterproofing is a popular method for waterproofing roofs and has been a top choice in roof maintenance for more than 35 years. Waterproofing/leak prevention and insulation value, better compressive strength, lightweight, durable and long lasting effects are why many homeowners choose the spray polyurethane waterproofing method.
Polyurethane foam is sprayed in the cracks and crevices of your roof. Once applied, the foam expands to more than 30 times its normal size and dries into a very hard compound. The foam dries in a short time and provides a long-lasting, weather resistant coating. Because it is a very lightweight material, many homeowners and contractors recommend it for both large and small jobs.
Before applying a spray polyurethane-waterproofing compound, it is important to prepare your roof for the application. Your roof needs to be clean, dry and free from any environmental contaminants in order for the foam to be properly applied. Most modern polyurethane waterproofing foams are long lasting. You can expect a properly applied coating to last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. In some cases, it has been reported that this foam has lasted for up to 50 years.
About the Author
Waterproofing Info provides detailed information on waterproofing systems, including injection waterproofing, foundation waterproofing, concrete waterproofing, deck waterproofing, basement waterproofing, and waterproofing basement walls, as well as waterproofing contractors and consultants. Waterproofing Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.