How to Protect a New Paint Job

Looking for tips on how to protect a new paint job? Paint can transform your home, but part of keeping that fresh new look is proper care and maintenance. Read on to learn important tips on protecting the paint that protects your home. 

Tip #1: Respect the Curing Process

House paint must cure in order to be effective. Curing occurs as paint dries completely and bonds fully to the surface where the painter applies it. In the case of interior and exterior paint, that process can take several weeks. However, the paint will appear dry long before it is actually cured, which can often lead people to make mistakes that cause damage. A commercial exterior paint like Sherwin-Williams, for example, can take around 30 days to cure completely. 

During the curing process, you can protect your paint with a few steps:

• Avoid touching newly painted surfaces. If these surfaces are in high-traffic areas, take care to protect them from being bumped, touched or scratched. Don’t push furniture against the walls immediately after the paint appears dry as the paint may adhere to the furniture instead. 
• Try to maintain a moderate temperature for interior paint. Exterior paint is formulated to withstand fluctuations in temperature during the curing process. However, even exterior paint can have curing issues. Extreme heat can cause the paint to dry too quickly in the wrong phases. Cold weather can slow the curing process and severe freezes can cause damage to your paint. Your commercial painter should be able to work with you to navigate this process and ensure your new paint job stays new. 
• Minimize exposure to moisture and water. Humidity can impact the color of your paint by making it cloudy. If water gets on paint immediately after application, it can cause running, dripping and failure to cure. Ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens. Exterior paint is formulated to account for some climate fluctuations. However, extra caution like scheduling outside of the rainy season or coordinating with your residential painting contractor can help minimize potential damage. 

Proper curing is foundational to the lifelong success of your paint. Take care of it in the first 30 days and you will have a great start when it comes to protecting a new paint job. 

Tip #2: Mitigate Potential Damage to Your Paint from Day One

In addition to ensuring proper curing, you should also start taking protective measures on day one. 

Exterior Paint Protection

• Prevent vegetation from touching your siding and trim. Remove climbing vines, even those deemed harmless. While they may not dig into the siding, they still create vectors for moisture and dirt to sit on paint and create damage. 
• Remove overgrown tree branches. It will make your insurance company happy and it will keep your paint and siding from getting scratched. 
• Move your grill. If your grill is right next to your home, you could cause damage to your paint in several ways. Smoke and grease can stain your paint. High heat can cause it to peel or become discolored. 
• Remove furniture, planter boxes and decor from the exterior walls. Like climbing vines, anything that is placed against the siding can create an area for water and dirt to collect. Like trees, these objects can also scrape, scratch and rub away at your paint when they are moved. 

Interior Paint Protection

• Protect your walls by applying a barrier to furniture that rests against your walls. 
• Keep high-use furniture like recliners and chairs away from walls so they do not constantly rub and scrape away at your paint. 
• Use the proper paint for the proper area. Do not use a delicate eggshell or flat finish in a high-traffic area or high-moisture area. Use a cleanable paint that won’t rub away under a strong cleaning. 
• Use proper tools and hardware for installing art or wall hangings. Large screws or ultra-strong adhesives can chew into or rip away paint and start a cascade of damage and chipping. 
• Use proper ventilation. Even the strongest paint is vulnerable to moisture and mildew. If you have a poorly ventilated bathroom or kitchen, water will sit on your paint. This can cause discoloration, mold, peeling, bubbling, chipping and other damage. Upgrade your bathroom fan, open windows, leave the door open after showering — anything that will allow moisture to dissipate fast. 

Tip #3: Perform Routine Paint Inspections

The adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” applies well when it comes to paint. Take time to perform periodic inspections of your paint. Walk around your home’s exterior and examine how your paint is holding up. Pay attention to your trim in particular. Paint helps you seal the trim around your windows and doors. Chipping paint creates an entry point for moisture. Look for peeling, chipping or cracks in the seams and surface of your paint. Look for bushes or tree branches that may be rubbing or scratching your siding. Check for peeling, chipping, bubbling or discoloration like fading and clouding. 

On the inside of your home, start with high-traffic areas. Do you see any holes or scratches? Is there a build-up of dirt and grime? Don’t feel bad if you notice the walls have gotten a bit dirty over time. Check the walls around light switches and outlets, as they are hot spots for grime due to accidental touching. Your doors, especially around the door knobs, also collect dirt daily. The area behind your door should also be examined. If you do not have a protective stop, paint can become damaged by doorknobs hitting the wall. 

In the kitchen, be on the lookout for stains and grease that can damage your paint. Cabinets collect dirt and grime near the oven and vent hood, as well as where they are touched by human hands over and over again. In the bathroom, look for discoloration, sagging, mildew or standing water. 

Tip #4: How to Protect a New Paint Job — Clean Paint Properly

It is a fact of life that interior and exterior paint will get dirty. Keeping these surfaces clean can help preserve your paint and keep it looking fresh. The faster you address issues, the easier they are to resolve and the better off your paint will be. 

How to Clean Eggshell/Flat Paint

Eggshell paint and flat paint both contain less resin than other finishes. While this creates a soft and sophisticated effect, it also means that the paint is less durable. Harsh chemicals or abrasive tools can weaken the paint and create discoloration, blurry spots or fading. 

Create a very gentle detergent. The less cleaning agents you can use, the better. There are several specialty formulas you can purchase online that are designed to be gentle on paint. Use a soft cloth to gently wipe the surface of the wall. Do not scrub hard. Avoid abrasive cleaners. Do not scrape at stains to remove them. When in doubt, call your painting contractor and request advice on how to clean your walls. 

How to Clean Satin Paint

Satin is a much sturdier paint, blending the soft feel of eggshell paint with the increased durability of a semi-gloss. The increased resin creates a less penetrable surface that can withstand a little bit more elbow grease. 

As with eggshell and flat paints, you will want to use a mild cleanser and soft cloth. You can be a little more aggressive with stains. However, you should still use caution, as the paint can still wear away under vigorous scrubbing. 

How to Clean Semi-gloss Paint

Semi-gloss is one of the toughest paints. It contains more resin and can hold up to some pretty tough conditions. This strength and durability makes it a favorite for high-traffic areas like bathrooms and kitchens or hallways and high-touch areas. 

Semi-gloss paint holds up to tough cleaning methods. You may be able to use a stronger cleanser (taking care to ensure it is paint-safe) or use a plastic scrub sponge for stains and build-up. For basic cleaning,  a standard cleanser and a soft cloth will get the job done. 

If you have any questions about how to clean your paint, contact your painter. They will have the paint they used on record and can give you the most specific steps. Be sure to avoid gimmicky cleansers that claim to protect your paint, but actually damage. “Magic” sponges are actually abrasive and can scrub spots in your paint. Natural cleansers can still be quite harsh. Test the cleaning method in a hidden area before tackling more visible spots. 

How to Clean Exterior Paint

It is quite a bit easier to clean interior paint than it is to tackle exterior paint. However, periodic cleaning and stain touch-ups can help protect your paint and make your house look great, too. Here are some easy ways to clean your exterior paint.

Mild Detergent and Brush or Sponge: Use a soft brush on a telescoping handle paired with a mild detergent. Some sponge mops may also work, although they may not have the same reach. Gently scrub the surface and then rinse with a hose. 

Power Washer: This option has the most potential for damaging your exterior paint job. Remember, power washers are often used to remove paint and stain. If you turn it up too high, yours will be no exception. Review your owner’s manual for recommended settings and then test on a hidden area. When in doubt, use a hose. You can get decent pressure from many hose sprayers and you won’t have to worry about ruining your paint. 

Prevention: One of the most important ways you can keep your exterior surfaces looking fresh is to perform preventative maintenance. Keep brush, debris and trees away from the side of your home. They collect dirt and grime and allow moisture buildup that can lead to staining mildew. Fix problems right away when you find them. Don’t let a broken gutter pour down the side of your home or ignore the sudden appearance of rust stains, for example. Last, give your home a gentle spray down once or twice a year to remove dirt buildup. 

Tip #5: Know When to Call in the Pros

You can make many minor repairs to your paint using paint left behind by your contractor. For example, you can patch up nail holes and apply a small amount of paint to hide the repair. When it comes to larger issues, however, it may be better to call your painting technician for professional assistance. They can show you how to protect a new paint job and help you resolve persistent problems with expert advice. 

Constant Peeling and Cracking

If your paint is under 10 years old (and especially if it is new), it should not be peelingor cracking. These are signs that

 something is wrong — bad paint, poor application, harsh environment, foundation issues, etc. An expert can help you troubleshoot what is causing the problem. They may also be able to support you getting repairs covered under your paint’s warranty. 

Mold and Mildew

Do you have dark blotches, discoloration or “blooms” on your walls? These stains may be mold and mildew build-up caused by too much moisture. While a painter cannot perform mold remediation, they can help you get your bathroom safely back to good once you’ve resolved the issue. 

Large Stains

Stains are common on surfaces, but sometimes they are a sign of a larger problem. Smoke damage, water damage, dirt, rust, grime and grease can all settle on the surface of your paint and ruin the color. A professional painter can help you hide discoloration quickly and easily while matching your existing look. 

Bad Application by a Previous Contractor

It’s unfortunate, but there are unscrupulous and inexperienced painters who may do a less than satisfactory job. We are often called to correct mistakes made by other painting companies and it is always frustrating for the homeowner. However, it is much better to call for help than have to live with looking at a bad paint job for years!

Difficult Repairs and Touch-ups

Call in a professional for any repairs and touch-ups that require special equipment. If you need a scaffold to make a trim touch-up, for example, it is much safer to hire a professional. The same is true for painting repairs and touch-ups that require precision, specialty angles, hard-to-reach places or extra safety precautions. 

Remember, most painting contractors are happy to answer questions. At AMC Painting, we offer complimentary estimates so people can get a no-hassle consultation. When in doubt, ask the experts. That’s why we’re here!