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Exterior House Painter in Bethesda, MD

Exterior House Painter in Bethesda, MD

Just like any other material, wood shows the effects of time, especially when it is outside all year. With the changes in temperature, it expands and contracts, creating splits and twists in the wood. Humidity and precipitation cause the wood to absorb water, promoting dry rot and other deterioration. What can you do when this happens? What do you do with damaged wood when you are painting the exterior of your home?

Damaged wood needs to be remediated before it can be painted. If this step is not taken, the finished paint job will not look as nice, but even more importantly, the wood will continue to deteriorate, and the new paint will fail prematurely.

How Do You Fix Damaged Wood before Painting?

If you just have some hairline cracks, a quality exterior paint will cover the flaws. Exterior paint is designed to remain flexible, so that during seasonal expansion and contraction, the paint should not split.

In the case of bigger cracks or gaps, the space must be filled before the exterior paint is applied. This can be done with wood filler or caulk, then you should prime the area before painting.

Sometimes a board becomes significantly twisted, warped, or cupped over time. This doesn’t just look bad, but it also creates gaps where moisture and insects can get in. Often, the board can be refastened using exterior wood screws. Sometimes, though, the board simply needs to be replaced.

Minor dry rot can be fixed by scraping away the soft, loose wood, and then applying a wood hardener and/or filler to the cavity. Again, prime the area before painting it.

In the event of severe dry rot, you need to replace the board, or at least the affected section of it. Before putting a new board in place, be sure to prime every surface, even the surfaces that will not be exposed to the weather.

An Ounce of Prevention…

One of the best pieces of advice for a homeowner is that proactive prevention is the best way to avoid major repairs. In the case of exterior wood, keeping the paint in good shape will significantly reduce cases of damaged wood (and the associated costly repairs).

Exterior paint typically lasts from 5 to 8 years in the Washington, D.C. area. If you clean the home exterior once a year, you are likelier to need new paint less often. Also, you can extend the life of the whole paint job by doing touch-up painting on problem areas before they become severe.

Professional House Painter in the Washington, D.C. Area

When you hire a professional house painter, you benefit in numerous ways. First, you save a lot of time compared to doing yourself. More importantly, however, you have peace of mind knowing your home is being taken care of correctly. A quality painting company like Williams Professional Painting has the skills and the product knowledge to complete the job with excellence. Your home will be beautiful and protected for years to come!

Williams Professional Painting serves northern Virginia, Baltimore, and the greater Washington, D.C. region. We offer exterior painting, interior painting, drywall services, carpentry, deck maintenance, cabinet refinishing, and more. Contact us for a free estimate for repairing your damaged wood and painting your home exterior!

Any Size/Type Project

Flexible Scheduling

Expert Project Management

Safety Trained & Fully Insured

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