Preparation Is Everything

If there's one lesson you learn after enough facade repaints, it's this: the result comes down 70% to preparation and only 30% to the paint itself. An expensive paint on a poorly prepped surface will peelPeeling paintWhen paint loses its grip and lifts off in flakes or sheets. It is almost always a sign of a problem underneath, usually damp or poor preparation. within two years; an affordable paint on a properly prepped surface can last a decade.

The first step is always a high-pressure washPressure washingCleaning a surface with a strong jet of water from a machine. Before waterproofing, insulation or painting, it removes dust, dirt, lichen and loose material so the new layer bonds well., which removes dust, moldMouldFungi that grow on damp surfaces, leaving black or greenish spots and a musty smell. It is a symptom of damp, not a problem with the paint., moss and any loose or flaking paint. Skip this step and the new paint just sits on an unstable base and will peel away along with it. After washing, the surface needs plenty of drying time — usually 48 hours in good weather — before moving on to the next step.

Next comes crackCrackA split or gap in render, concrete, a wall, a coating or wood. Fine cracks are usually only on the surface; ones that grow, keep reopening or run diagonally need attention. repair, and material choice matters a lot here. We use flexible fillerFillerA fine paste or powder that fills holes, fine cracks and dents so a wall, ceiling or piece of wood is smooth before it is painted. compounds specifically designed to move with the building's expansion and contraction, instead of rigid materials that will crack again at the same spot within a few months. On surfaces that have chalked heavily or are particularly porous, we apply a penetrating primerPrimerThe thin first coat that goes on before the main material. It binds dust, seals the pores and helps paint or waterproofing stick firmly. (fixative) before the finish coat, to bind the loose dust and ensure even adhesion.

Finally, on older buildings it's worth checking for active moisture before any painting starts. If there's a sign of rising dampRising dampMoisture from the ground that climbs up inside walls through the pores of the materials. It shows as stains, blown render and salts at the foot of walls. or a leak, painting needs to wait until the underlying problem is fixed — otherwise the new paint will bubble at that exact spot within a few months, no matter how good its quality.