What is Spot priming?

 Spot priming is exactly what it sounds like. It's the action of only priming spots that need to be. In the case with painting a home it would be all the bare wood areas after the scraping has been done. When a home is being prepared to be painted scraping has to be done. Scraping will reveal the worst peeling and chipping areas. This makes the spot priming easier and tells you where it's needed. A situation when spot priming would be used would be when you're painting the same color on the home and just need to touch a few spots up because you're only doing one coat. Another case would be spot priming an area that has a stain rather than the entire surface area. A good primer to use for these situations would be a high bonding primer. Preferrable something thicker than paint meant for spot priming.

Priming and spot priming are very important steps that cannot be skipped because it's essentially your first layer of protection. Bare areas are more vulnerable to the elements and to get the best result as possible a primer should be applied before paint. This not only promotes adhesion and bonding to the wood but is the foundation of the paint being applied. Without primer, areas peel and chip faster, collect moisture and overall don't last or look as good. This can lead to rotted wood or even worse internal damage to the home. Before priming make sure you're using the right product for the job. Anyone at the paint store should be able to briefly educate you on what to use. Some links are listed below on good primers for this kind of work. Remember if you want the hard work to last, prime bare areas with the right product and don't forget to give it 2 coats of paint after that!

Zinsser Peel Stop 1 gal. White Triple Thick Interior/Exterior High Build Binding Primer 260924 - The Home Depot

PrimeRx® Peel Bonding Primer - Sherwin-Williams

1 coat versus 2

 Some people will say one thick coat is good enough while others swear two is the only way to go. Although there is truth in both statements there really are times one is a better choice than the other. An obvious example of when two coats is needed is on a newly built home or a residential home that is completely changing color. An example of when one coat is a good idea is when you're doing a color match or slightly changing color. As long as the proper prep work has been done you will be in good shape and still have a lasting product. If you do one coat spot priming is an absolute must. A tip for spot priming is using a product that is the same or similar color to what you will be painting.

Another example of when one thick coat would be applied may be because of the customer's budget. As long as YOU the customer don't mind then this can be ok. Everything still must be prepped right though for things to last. If you go this route depending on the painter, you hire there are some risks. The color may cover 85% rather than 100%. Some areas may be missed or need to be redone. Again, as long as the prep work is done right and you're painting a similar color, or the same color one coat is all you really need. In cases where your using stain, one coat may be all you need or can do depending on the product you're using. Oil based stains typically just need one coat to achieve the desired result. New surfaces need 2 coats of paint every time and probably even a primer coat if you want it to last as long as possible. If a home is in really rough shape and you're doing the same or similar color, then this may be a case where two coats of paint is required as well.

If you're using a solid, water-based stain then you can also do two coats for a lasting finish. New drywall areas definitely need two coats along with 1 for sure maybe even 2 coats of PVA primer. It's not that hard to determine if you're going to need 1 coat or two. Following these simple steps will make it a lot easier to determine what you need. Simple rule of thumb would be if you're going with the same or very similar color only one is really needed as long as the surface underneath's paint is still in good shape and not peeling. If you're painting something for the first time or completely changing colors then you most likely should have two coats done.

Why Preparing a home correctly before a paint job is essential.

 Properly preparing the exterior of a home to be painted is something that may take even longer than the painting itself. The house will look a little rougher after this process, but it is crucial for a lasting paint job. Proper prep work includes but not limited to the following things, scraping, caulking, sanding, pulling nails out, applying wood filler, filling gaps with backer rod, putting in nails or screws, priming, masking, small carpentry work, taping things off, moving furniture around, pressure washing and any other services your painter may provide in order to begin painting the home. These are the main things that will be performed in order to prepare the house and they all play a big role in the final product. If these steps are not done well or some skipped, then you're not going to have a quality lasting product and probably will start to see defects after only a year or 2. The quality of products also plays a role but, in this case, we will just discuss proper home preparation etiquette.

The reason prep work on the home before paint is applied is so important is because it will be the foundation of the entire project. The home is the canvas and a properly set up canvas will make for a better final product. Scraping and caulking are some of the main things that need to be performed and might also take the longest amount of time in the prep process. Removing loose and peeling paint along with filling all cracked joints and seams as needed on the house with the proper caulk cannot be skipped. If paint isn't scraped, then you will get wood rot in those areas as well as paint peeling not long after the project is completed. Caulking will fill seams and joints, so water and moisture won't get into the home. Pressure washing will remove excess dirt, dust and debris from the house, so it is clean, dull and ready to be worked on. The surfaces to be painted or stained needs to be clean because if its dirty it will not allow for proper adhesion.

Masking when using a sprayer is a necessity. This will prevent overspray and reduce chances of paint getting on things it's not supposed to. No one wants to clean paint spray off of windows or even worse your car! Masking off decks, patios, fences, doors, windows and the ground are just a few examples. Using the proper tape for the job is also something that needs to be taken into consideration. Is it tape meant for interiors and exteriors? Is it meant to stay on for 3 days or a long time without leaving residue after its pulled? Does the tape work for rough surfaces or delicate surfaces? Many people overlook these details or they simply dont know, but its just another reason to hire a professional.

Overall, for a professional who knows what he is doing these steps are pretty straight forward. They will know about how much time they need for prep and what products to use. If there is anything that needs to be brought to your attention or addressed right away on the home, a pro should let you know. They should offer suggestions and options on how you'd like certain things done. The preparation work is absolutely essential and can be the difference between a mediocre job and one that will last 6-10 years, as intended.