Found this article on an Indy News Website

[Mike]

House Painting 101: Don't Give Your Paint Job the Brush Off
var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Jul25,2005,6:09 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);July 25, 2005, 06:09 PM EST

By Dave Barras
24 Hour News 8

Sooner or later your house will need painting, and it has to be done right. You can't just give your paint job the brush off.

Every five to seven years, the exterior of your home should be painted. It's not just a matter of looking good.

Charles Crowe of Preferred Painting says it's a matter of protecting the wood. “You can have rotten wood, wood replacement which can be another expense. As far as replacing the wood, it's a lot more cost-effective to have it painted on a regular basis than to let it go and have to replace all the wood,” he said.

Before you actually start painting keep in mind, the paint itself is just a small part of the entire process. What really makes the difference is the prep work. That includes scraping, sanding, spot priming bare wood and caulking.

Crowe says not to power wash because it forces water into places it doesn't belong. “Then when you come along and caulk everything, you are caulking that water in behind the wood which in turn is going to make the paint peel.”

Preferred Painting crews wash mildew off the siding by hand, using a product with bleach. That will kill the mildew and help keep it from bleeding through the new paint.

You can do it yourself when it comes to painting, but Angie Hicks of Angie's List says make an informed decision before you start. “I think a lot of it depends on how much effort you want to put into it and whether you feel comfortable tackling the room,” said Angie. Safety is another reason to be careful if you do it yourself. Crowe points out that ladders pose potential problems if you don't know how to handle them.

If you do hire a professional, Angie says make sure they are insured and experienced. ‘You want to make sure you have someone who knows what they are doing so you're going to have a nice finished product. Make sure you're looking at some jobs they've done, maybe one they are working on right now so you know what it looks like to have them on your property.”

Cost varies widely depending on the job. Charles Crowe says painting the exterior of a large home averages about $4,000 to $5,000 and around $2,000 to $3,000 for a smaller home. That includes all materials.

If it's done right, Crowe says expect the paint job to last about 5 to 7 years before you have to do it all over again.

Painting Tips

from, www.wishtv.com