Exterior Painting
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 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
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.)
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