How to Paint a Galvanized Metal Roof?

A consultation with a roofing contractor is highly advised before undertaking the painting of a galvanized metal roof. Galvanized metal sheets are sheets of metal that have a coating of hot zinc on the outside to protect them from the elements of nature. They are resistant to damage from water and high impact. Like any other painting job it must be ensured that the surface to be painted is absolutely clean.

Take as look at the steps to be followed when painting a galvanized metal sheet.

1. Preparation to paint

Always choose a sunny day to start a roof painting project, with temperature not very high. By placing a ladder next to the wall climb on to the roof safely. Scrape off as much paint as you can, using a putty knife or a paint scraper. After the scrapping is complete, clean the roof with a pressure washer to remove all debris. Remember to remove rust using sandpaper.

2. Remove algae and mildew

The integrity of a galvanized roof gets compromised when algae and mildew are allowed to grow on it. If the problem is allowed to persist, it can lead to a major upheaval expense later on. Whenever you opt for House Washing, make sure that roof cleaning is treated as part of it.

Follow the next steps to get rid of them effectively-

·     A bucket needs to be filled with 2 gallons of water. Half a cup of trisodium phosphate needs to be added and mixed well.

·         A long garden hose is attached to a pressure washer and carried up to the roof. Use of backpack washers is highly recommended for this step, as it enables the hands to remain free.

·         Now by holding the nozzle almost 12 inches away from the roof, pressure cleaning is undertaken. All stains and patches of mildews are targeted.

·  It is critical that the roof is allowed to dry completely before the next step. It might take a few hours or it is best to leave it overnight.

3. Applying primer

After the roof is thoroughly dry it is time to treat it with roof primer. A rust resistant and exterior grade primer is poured into a paint tray. It needs to be now applied to each and every roof panel, using a long paint roller. It must be ensured that each and every inch of the metal is covered. A paint brush should be kept handy to reach the seams and areas around the screws. The primer musts be allowed to dry completely, the drying times on the primer need to be adhered to.

4. Painting the roof

Select the top coat paints for the roof carefully, keeping the local climate in mind. Roof painter in Auckland can be consulted to make a selection of the right paint, keeping the condition of the roof in mind. An acrylic latex paint is a safe bet for most galvanized sheets. Paint is applied the same way as the primer, using a long handled paint roller, covering the primer completely. The curing time can be up to two weeks depending on the size of the roof. Two coats of paint are a must to have an even coverage. 

How to Save Money on Paint Without Compromising On Quality

Are you the one thinking about painting your home with splash of quality colors? Repainting refreshes the home environment, but painting a single bedroom can cost nearly $100.

While professional house painting services might let you save more, beware of amateur interiors and exterior house painting services.  

So, here’s telling you a few tips that can help save money on a painting service without compromising on the quality:

Try Out Samples First

Invest some time to try out paint samples before the final purchase of paint. Many companies today offer free samples or with few bucks. It will help in saving time and avoiding costly mistakes made during color selection. But beware! Many samples are of much higher quality, but the product you get in the gallons is of lower quality. So, conduct a detailed study about color quality and its look, before applying the fresh paint on your walls and windows.

2. Consider Painting Trays

Use of paint trays can save your time as well as material quantity during the painting process. The stable design of tray avoids the wastage of paint from brushes. There is a separate brush holder with in the tray, which comes handy during high walls or roof painting. You can also pop up foil over the painting tray during lunch hours.

3. Use Good Quality Brushes or Roller Sleeves

Purchase some high quality painting brushes of different sizes as per demand. They promise giving nice, crisp and deep angle lines. Apart from this, use of wall rollers can save time and money without compromising on quality front.

4. Buy Less

Simply consider purchasing few gallons of paint for renovating, if one is really tight on the budget. Otherwise invest money in buying bulk for it becomes cheaper as quantity multiplies. Some companies offer free gallons on specified amount of purchase.

5. Search for a Recycling Center

Look out for a Hazardous wastes center in your locality. Some business owners throw out unused, leaked or old paint packing from their stores. Since paint has a long shelf-life, one can get still manage to get good quality paint at much lower market price.

6. Get Ready in Advance

Take some time to remove stains from the wall’s surface. This part will make your painting task go on faster and cleaner. Think carefully to remove appliances installed on walls or ceilings rather than painting over them. Planning in advance helps make informed decisions which are imperative for happy painting.

7. Use Primer

It is always better to apply a coat of primer on rough surfaces, wooden structure or ceilings before paint. Primer helps to get painting material settle smoothly and lower its consumption on surface. You will only need a single fresh coat of paint after using primer; otherwise it may require more than 3 coats of paint to give a refresh look to your home. 

Giving Your Fireplaces that Modern Look

Giving a fireplace a whole new look by renovating it can be costlier than it sounds. Where finding the right contractor today is a tough job, everything from wood and stone to brick is also getting costlier day by day.

Fortunately, you can now choose to repaint your fireplace in order to give it a whole new and modern look. Here, choosing paint wisely can be highly helpful in saving money!

Here are some painting tips that you can use to give your fireplace a modern look without having to spend too much on paint:

Knowing the Design and Choosing Paint

Before you begin with repainting, try to find out what type of material your fireplace is made up of. Brick and wood are easier to paint compared to harder materials such as granite and shiny marble. This is the reason it remains important to analyze the amount of time and effort involved in the job. 

Make sure you have clear color preference before actually buying paint. Take time to check multiple paint color options at different paint stores, for shades that are in your mind may not look that fine in reality and you may find difference in prices as well. Today, most paint stores provide free samples allowing you to check what looks best. 

Protecting the Fireplace Material

Protecting the fireplace by placing a drop cloth around it is quite important. If you are using a ladder, using a cloth trap will be a better option as it is not as slippery as plastic. Consider using painter’s tape to protect walls around the fireplace, for when peeled away, it doesn’t leave any muggy marks. 

You will need to wrap a sandpaper sheet around a block in order to be able to conveniently sand the entire fireplace. Use a tack cloth or vacuum cleaner to remove sanding dust. 

Priming the Fireplace

Granite and marble are slick materials and can be easily repainted using a primer and paint in one. On the other hand, however, both brick and wood are porous. This is the reason it is not a good idea to use primer on them.

Before applying primer on the fireplace, spend some time roughing up its surface using sandpaper (180-grit) so that the primer can stick well to it. But don’t forget to clean the dust away using a tack cloth before applying the primer. Make sure the primer has dried up completely before you start to paint.

Painting the Fireplace

The best way is to start from the top and move your way down. Make ‘V’ or ‘W’ patterns in order to avoid any visible vertical stripes on the areas where brush strokes overlap. When doing the corners, a sponge brush is always the best option. Let the first coat of paint dry completely in case you think applying a second one is necessary.