How to Avoid Cracks and Peeling Paint on Your Northern California Home

Northern California Real Estate Podcast with Andrew Lamb

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When should you paint your home? Is there a good time of year to do so? Who should you hire - a solo person or a team? These are common questions we’re asked by homeowners here in Northern California, and today we’ll try to answer them. Steve of Universal Painting joins us today to share the ins and outs of painting your home.
By the time Halloween rolls around, it’s too late to paint your home. The sun starts coming up later and setting sooner, so paint doesn't dry properly. We typically do interior painting from November to about the end of March and early April. The worst thing you can do is paint during the winter time because moisture is trapped in the colder months; when the warm weather returns, the first hot sun that hits your house will cause the paint to peel and crack. In other words, plan on having your exterior painted anywhere from April to the end of October!

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Plan on having your exterior painted anywhere from April to the end of October!

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People are often curious about what they can do about dry rot. Typically, dry rot occurs when the people who built the house forgot to prime the back. When Universal Painting replaces wood, it’s primed on all four sides to prevent dry rot. An open piece of wood is like a sponge: it sucks in the water and then rots. Using good paints and caulking are helpful deterrents to dry rot as well.
The first thing Steve and his team do before painting is powerwashing. Paint only sticks to clean surfaces. He and his team come out with two power washers and thoroughly clean the home. They then give it two full days to dry. Next, the team sands, caulks, and fixes stucco cracks before showing up with the whole crew the next day. Steve calls it “the big show” because he believes that the quality of the job rises when you have more people doing it. Bushes are draped and tarps are laid all around your house to ensure the only thing that’s painted is your home. Once the body of the home is painted, Steve’s guys hand-paint the shutters and more delicate areas of the home.
Once Universal Painting has finished the job, they walk the property with the homeowner to ensure they’re 100% satisfied. No money is asked for up front; you don’t have to pay a dime until you are 100% happy with the product you’ve received.
If you would like to reach Steve, you can give him a call at [phone] or email him at [e-mail]. Of course, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any of your real estate needs. I would love to help you create a better life through real estate.