Back-Brushing: The Key To A Perfectly Painted Exterior

A fresh coat of paint is the easiest and most affordable way to make your home's exterior look new once again. You will need to take many factors into consideration when you make the choice to paint your home's exterior. One of these factors is the technique by which you want your residence painted.

Professional painters often utilize spray guns to help create uniform coverage with minimal time investment. When spray guns are combined with a technique known as back-brushing, you can achieve a durable and attractive finish with your new exterior paint color.

The Problem With Spray Guns

Even though professional painters turn to spray guns for large exterior painting applications, the spray gun method of painting does come with some limitations. The paint applied through a spray gun has a tendency to sit on the surface of your home's exterior. This is especially true if your siding has a rough texture.

Paint that sits on the surface of your siding won't be as durable because proper adhesion can't take place. This is where back-brushing can step in to help improve adhesion and achieve a proper paint seal.

Back-Brushing Defined

Back-brushing involves the use of a brush or roller to go over the surface of the paint applied with a spray gun. Paint can be pressed firmly into the surface of your siding through back-brushing. Any exposed nails, cracks, or crevices in your home's exterior will be eliminated, creating a more uniform and durable finish.

Combining back-brushing and a spray gun application gives you the best of both applications. You can reduce labor costs by speeding through the painting process with a spray gun, and you can ensure proper adhesion by back-brushing when the spray application is complete.

Factors That Contribute to Back-Brushing Success

The back-brushing technique only needs to be used under a certain set of circumstances.

New siding materials have not had a chance to be exposed to the elements. The surface of new siding is generally smooth, allowing a spray gun paint application to suffice. Homes that have a weathered or worn exterior must be back-brushed to get paint into every nook and cranny.

Back-brushing must take place while the initial paint application is still wet. Once the paint begins to dry, dragging a brush or roller across the surface could create unsightly streaks. Professional painters have the skill needed to work quickly when back-brushing so that your home's newly painted exterior will look as attractive as possible.