PAINT & STAIN

Interior:  Semi Gloss: The interior woodwork, as well as the bathrooms and kitchen walls have been painted with semi-gloss latex paint. These areas may be wiped down with a soft sponge and soapy water.

 Flat Latex:  The balance of the walls are painted with flat latex wall paint and should be touched up with a matching paint rather than wiped with a wet sponge. Spackle may be used to cover any small defects prior to pant touch-up. It is recommended that you visit a minimum of thirty days prior to washing any painted surface. Do not use soaps, abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, or brushes.

 Touch-ups:  When doing paint touch-up use a small brush, applying paint only to the damaged spot. Touch-up may not match the surrounding area exactly, even if the same paint mix is used.

 When it is time to repaint a room, prepare the wall surfaces first by cleaning with a mild soap and water mixture or a reliable cleaning product. 

Stain:  For interior stain touch-ups, Old English Furniture Polish and Scratch Cover is inexpensive, easy to use, and blends in with the wood grain. Follow directions on bottle when using.

 Wall Cracks:  Do not attempt to fix drywall cracks or other separations due to shrinkage until after the first heating season. See "Drywall" for additional information concerning repairs.

 Exterior:  Regular painting and repair will preserve the beauty of and add value to your home.  

Check the painted/stained surfaces of your home's exterior annually. If you repaint before there is much chipping or wearing away of the original finish, you will save the cost of extensive surface preparation. It is wise maintenance policy to plan on refinishing the exterior surface of your home approximately every three years or as often as your paint manufacturer suggests for your area and climate. The chemical structure of the paint sued on the exterior is governed by the climatic conditions. Over a period of time, this finish will fade and dull a bit.

 Maintenance:  When you wish to repaint exterior wood work on your home, nails should be reset; the blistered or peeling portions preparation should be wire-brushed or scraped with a putty knife, sanded, and spotted with primer. Then the entire areas can be painted. 

Be certain to apply a top quality exterior paint that has been formulated for local climate conditions. 

Do not allow sprinklers to spray water on the exterior walls of your home. This will cause blistering, peeling, splintering, and other damage to the home. Trim painted white or light colors will more readily show grain and cracks and therefore requires additional maintenance.

 Severe Weather:  Hail and wind can cause a great deal of damage in a sever storm and the house should be inspected after such weather. Damage caused by severe weather should be reported to your insurance company promptly.

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