Field Guide: Painting Peeling Wood Siding & Trim

Let’s face it, painting old wood is hard, and, honestly, it’s taken us years to develop a process that could bridge the gap between what painter suppliers require for warranties, what painters have never been taught, and paint prep that can be completed without stripping all of the woodwork of your home to bare wood.

Below is the process that we have specifically developed with Sherwin Williams for our painters to paint old homes WITHOUT removing the paint to bare wood. Yes, it will have continue to have the character of an old home, but when viewed from the sidewalk, the paint will look amazing and be eligible for Sherwin Williams’s lifetime warranty. If you want to remove it to bare wood, we highly recommend using a Speedheater over a heat gun.

(For our process in Spanish click here)

The following process is intended to be the final step in a Lifetime Exterior Renovation. This is the difference between putting color on a house and prepping & painting a home where we can all stand behind the quality of work. 

1. Any products outside of those specified and provided must be approved by Old Home Rescue prior to use.

2. Follow Manufacturer’s Specifications on all products not outlined here

3. Clean the Surface

   1. Pressure washers are NOT used to prep for paint application

   2. Remove all surface contamination by using the following; 

      1. Walls should be wet down with garden hose & nozzle

      2. Mix 1 gallon water, 1 cup bleach, & 1 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP)

      3. Working in sections, clean from bottom to top to avoid streaks

      4. Rinse walls with garden hose and nozzle before solution dries

      5. Allow to dry until wood as 15% or less moisture level

4. Prep the Surface

   1. Cover the work area with plastic or drop clothes to collect paint debris

   2. Existing loose, peeled or checked paint must be scraped with a pull scraper and sanded to a sound surface

   3. Feather the rough edges from peeling paint to improve the final appearance. 

   4. Set nail heads on wood where exposed beyond surface level

   5. Repair minor cracks with exterior painter’s putty

   6. Repair rot with up to a golf ball sized quantity of Abatron WoodEpox BEFORE priming or a replacement board primed on all sides and end cuts. Damage or rot exceeding epoxy threshold should be communicated to Old Home Rescue 

   7. Caulking should be completed AFTER priming

5. Spot Prime

   1. Spot prime bare wood with oil based primer 

   2. Air, surface and material temperature must be above 35 degrees for 4 hrs after application

6. Prime the Surface

   1. Brush or spray + back brush/roll the surface Sherwin Williams PrimerRx Peel Bonding Primer

   2. Peel bonding primer helps even out less-than-perfect surfaces before painting, giving a smoother completed finish

   3. Air, surface and material temperature must be above 35 degrees for 4 hrs after application

7. Caulk

   1. Gaps and fixed joints can be filled with Sherwin Williams PowerHouse or MaxFlex caulking after priming the surface

   2. Allow proper drying time before application of the finish

   3. NEVER caulk the underside of siding 

8. Paint the Surface

   1. Spray, Brush, and/or Roll the surfaces with 2 coats of Sherwin Williams Emerald or equivalent paints in a satin or semi gloss finish finish for ultimate protection.

   2. Air, surface and material temperature must be above 35 degrees for 48 hrs after application

9. Clean the property

   1. Property should be clean of all construction debris

   2. Trash can be disposed of at Old Home Rescue or construction dumpster on-site.

10.  Notes on Painting Wood Windows

    1. The above are Sherwin Williams Approved specifications for painting old wood for stabilization, protection and maintenance on a cyclical basis, which qualifies the painting project for a lifetime warranty. 

    2. Window painting’s cosmetic results should be viewed from the sidewalk as there will be inconsistencies in the paint surface. 

    3. If the Neighbor is interested in additional surface preparation or results, direct them to the Old Home Rescue Project Manager, who will discuss additional options for repair or replacement.