Exterior Painting Process

The following steps, procedures and materials are the cornerstone of the AWS Custom Exterior Painting System

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1. Perform Lead Based Paint Screening Survey on structures built prior to 1978.
Armstrong performs a thorough site survey prior to start of work. On all homes constructed prior to 1978, Armstrong performs a lead based screening survey utilizing a multi point XRF lead detection test. This superior pinpoint test provides for increased lead safety on the job.

2. Hydrowash exterior of home or building to remove dirt, chalk, loose material and grease. Mildew wash as needed.
If lead is present some hand scraping and prep work may occur prior to hydrowash. Pressure washing cleans the surface but in most cases is not a substitute for hand preparation.

3. Check for and re-set popped nails and re-nail loose lumber where needed.

4. Wirebrush, scrape or sand wood, stucco and wood walls as necessary to remove loose material and feather remaining edges. While this step can’t make old substrates look new many painters skip it completely.

5. Patch cracks and voids in stucco and wood walls as necessary to make less visible.
Armstrong applies AWS specified wood fillers and stucco patch that provides attractive and long lasting protection. Many painters commonly apply spackle directly to bare wood. Spackle is cheap, covers well and is easy to work with. The problem is spackle cracks, absorbs water and does not last. Poorly done stucco patch cracks at joints, comes loose and over time can fall out.

6. Apply AWS flexible elastomeric caulk around doors and windows to seal openings as necessary.
Armstrong uses elastomerics that stretch 100% of their length or greater and then fully recover. Using the correct material around openings not only provides added protection from moisture intrusion but adds longevity to the adjacent film coating and results in a better looking job overall. Armstrong for larger cracks can also specify polyurethanes for superior adhesion and protection. Attention is also paid to cracks that might best be left open such as the bottom of windows or lap siding. Caulking these joints might actually trap water and cause damage.

7. Remove and replace any loose glazing putty materials in wood windows.
Prime as needed. In wood windows putty can dry out, become loose and fall out. Water can get to the wood frame and damage the window. Putty that’s tight is left in place but where its loose we replace it.

8. Apply wood conditioner to weathered wood as needed. Apply rust converter to exposed rusted ferrous metal as needed.
Special AWS wood conditioners are used in areas where wood surfaces are weather damaged and cracked. These conditioners help the adhesion of top coats and retard the absorption of moisture into the wood. AWS rust converter chemically combines with rust to fight the rust process and actually deters it from progressing.

9. Apply AWS sealer and/or primer as necessary to home or building.
Primers and sealers are designed for many different purposes. These include: Adhesion, Stain Blocking, Hiding, and Protection. Different conditions also call for different primers. With Armstrong’s AWS custom system you can be sure your building will receive the right primer for its substrate.

10. Apply AWS top coat and/or elastomeric coating to walls and AWS paint to trim.
Armstrong’s paints, topcoats and textured coatings are all specified to meet our custom AWS system requirements which include:

• 100% all acrylic binders (resin) for unexcelled color retention, exterior weathering and long term durability.
• UV sunblock pigment with TiO2 (Titanium Dioxide) for long lasting paint film and substrate protection.
• High solid content for enhanced paint film build, superior hide and optimum permeability for moisture vapor control.

Your Armstrong certified superintendent and/or foreman will determine the best combination of application and materials for your home or building. With over 40 years of experience and work performed on over 25,000 buildings, Armstrong and Armstrong’s certified painters have a vast collective data base from field and laboratory testing. This ensures that each and every job we do will not only be beautiful but will be customized to stand the test of time.

11. Armstrong will clean up our work site on a daily basis.

12. Armstrong’s exclusive AWS (Armstrong WeatherGuard System) Warranty.Up to 10 years on wood and up to 15 years on stucco. All AWS warranties backed by Northern California's Premiere Home Improvement Company. Family owned and operated in California for over 40 years since 1966.

AWS: The Armstrong WeatherGuard System (AWS) is the Application, Warranty, and Specification of materials by Armstrong

(Armstrong performs custom work. The order of our work, materials specified and application methodology are site specific and may vary on a job by job basis.)