How to Prepare Clapboard for Paint

 

If you want to create a certain rustic charm to your house, you can use clapboard wood siding that matches the look of real wood. The siding covers help protects the underlying frame along with its insulation in order to protect your house from elements. It is common for to find wooden clapboard in old type of houses. However, you need to do regular maintenance to the clapboard if you want it to last longer. The clapboard is made of wood and normally it is prone to insect infestation, dry and wet rot, cracking and bowing. Most of the problems related to clapboard wood can be resolved using methods such as doing proper caulking and painting. You would be able to easily prepare the surface of your clapboard wood with fresh coat of paint with the help of the right kind of tools and also a bit of patience.

To prepare clapboard for paint, you need:

  • Water hose
  • Light detergent
  • Clean cloths
  • Paint scraper
  • Solvent-resistant gloves
  • Paint thinner
  • Paint tray
  • Paint brush or roller
  • Steel wool pad
  • Light-grit sandpaper

Preparing Clapboard for Paint


How to Prepare Clapboard for Paint

  • The first thing that you need to do is to hose down your clapboard wood by using your garden water hose.
    • You can use light detergent and clean cloth in order to firstly removing the dirt, grime or loose paint away from its surface.
  • Then, you need to take your paint scraper and remove all the loose paint.
    • You should also replace caulk that has been removed and pay more attention to corner areas where you will two of the clapboard siding meet.
    • If the corner area is left uncaulked, insects and moisture will be able to get behind the siding and create more problems.

You must examine your clapboard siding to see whether there are any loose or bad boards. If you notice there is any rotten clapboard, you have to replaced them while any loose clapboard need to be re-nailed before you start any painting work.

  • Next step that you need to do is to wear the solvent-resistant gloves before you start to apply the paint thinner.
  • After that you should open the paint thinner and pour thinner into your paint tray.
    • You can start applying the thinner onto the surface of your clapboard by using either a paint roller or paint brush.
  • Next, you should leave the solvent to sit onto the clapboard’s surface following the required time recommended by the manufacturer of the product that you can read through its label.
  • Once the solvent has loosened a bit, you could remove large areas of the paint by using a water hose
    • If there are any stubborn areas, you need to use a steel wool pad or even adding more solvent to help you remove any of the problem areas.
  • After you have finished doing the above steps, you need to smooth your clapboard surface with light-grit sandpaper
    • Once you finished sanding the wood, you need to rinse of all the dust or any remaining loose paint.
    • Finally, you should allow the clapboard’s surface to dry thoroughly overnight before you can start applying another coat of paint.

    Always remember that whenever you want to prepare clapboard for paint

    • Consider using a pump sprayer when you apply your paint thinner onto the clapboard in order to apply the application much faster.
    • If you are using solvent, always do the task in a well ventilated area.
    • You should also wear protective gloves in order to avoid skin irritation.

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