free of grease, dirt, mildew, excess chalk, and loose or scaling paint. } | Photo Courtesy of Benjamin Moore & Co. Old and tired looking siding can berevitalized with new paint. Dull any glossy surface. Treat any mildew with a commercial mildewcide or a solution of household bleach and water. Rinse thoroughly and let dry completely before painting. Wash under eaves or overhangs with a detergent solution and rinse with a strong stream of water to remove surface salts that can prevent paint adhesion. Chalking should be removed by power washing, followed by priming. by stirring well before using and occasionally during use. After you have almost finished a can of paint, open the next can, stir it, and add it to the used can. Pour paint back and forth a bit to ensurecolor uniformity. Never paint in direct summer sun, when the temperature is below 50 degrees, on damp surfaces, or during foggy weather. Clean all surfaces to be painted first. Scrape away old damaged paint and smooth rough spots with sandpaper. Sink all nail heads below wood surfaces andfill in holes with putty. Always paint from the top down to avoid dripping and splattering what you have already painted. Paint gutters and eaves first. Work side to side coating four or five boards at a time completely across the house. This will minimize lapping. Finish painting by doing the trim. If shutters can be removed, paint them separately and put them back up when dried. When painting siding, use a quality latex paint, such as Moorgard Latex House Paint, MoorGlo Latex House and Trim Paint, or MoorLife Latex Flat House Paint. These will provide excellent coverage and color retention. | | | | ee ilnHH (NAPSA)—Most people install aluminum,vinyl or hardboard siding on their house with theidea it will last forever and not need maintenance. Unfortunately, anything that is exposed to the elements needs upkeep so that it will continue to look good. Ultraviolet rays from the sun, airborne pollutants, rain and other environmental factors cause the original finish on manufactured sidings to chalk, fade or become porous, allowing dirt to collect and penetrate the surface. Mildew can form on damp, shady partsof the siding. The solution to aluminum, vinyl or wooden siding that is beginning to look wornis to paint it. Painting these types of sidings, after proper preparation of the surface, will eliminate the problems, renew the finish, and make the house look almost new. Painting siding gives a homeowner a chance to choose a completely new look or color. However, when painting vinyl siding, do not use a deeper color than the original, since deeper colors can cause warping on some grades of vinyl siding. Benjamin Moore & Co. hasseveral recommendations for anyone planning to paint manufactured siding. Surfaces must be clean and \ Restoring Old Aluminum Siding Is As Easy AsPicking Up A Paint Brush e If the siding has only faded and has only a minor amount of dirt, a simple rinsing with a garden hose should be sufficient. Painting a house is a goodsized job, but there are several ways to make the job easier, according to Benjamin Moore. Always mix paint thoroughly For more information, paint project ideas and color tips, visit www.benjaminmoore.com on the Internet.
