Soffits and Fascia

Priming, Caulking and Painting Soffits and Fascia on Downtown Madison Exterior. 

Eric Welch Painting sprayed and back brushed an oil based primer from Hallman/Lindsey. The surface is ready for primer only after it has been scraped extensively. Be aware of lead paint, especially on older building.

Then, we applied the caulk. A lot of caulk. Over 90 tubes of caulk were used on this project to fill gaps and cracks.

Now, it is time for the first coat of paint. We decided to go with Benjamin Moore's Aura for it's excellent application and the fact that it is a 2-1 primer and paint. We were going to skimp on nothing with this project and are expecting many years performance. 

The first coat was applied with a sprayer and then backbrushed. The painter, above, is brushing in the fascia that was not sprayed. Below, is the application of the second coat. 

 

The finished product is remarkable. We put many man hours into this project and am looking forward to seeing it again and again over the years. Eric Welch Painting takes pride in it's work.

Madison Painters

Top Painting Companies in Madison, WI.

The best house painters in Madison are rarely the most advertised and you won't hear them on the radio. They are hard-working, diligent and invested in the community. They have practiced their trade for many years. Once you find one, the rest will be easy.

First, when you are looking to hire a local painting contractor, look for one that is nearly obsessed with prep.  

Prep is more than strenuous. It's tedious and time consuming.

There is no joy in scraping a house. If you're having fun, you're not doing it right. But no paint job is going to last without the most rigorous and thorough preparation. Scrape every inch from every angle and do it twice. This is how a house is prepared and this is way a paint job will last. We put some heart into it.

Second, this is a career choice. But, for many, while in college, it is just a job. They started working for a company that hires only college students or high school kids and sold estimates like used cars, never looking back, offering very little help if something goes wrong. These so called “painters” are terrible at their job, dripping on the driveway, getting marks on the chimney and on the windows, and of course, not prepping the house correctly. They are not painters. They are nothing more than day laborers and good painters are constantly fixing their mistakes a few years down the road. This is not a profession that someone has “done” in college.

As painters we are always learning and growing. We strengthen our communities by offering a service that is vital to the health of our homes. And now, by using only eco-friendly products, EWP and other contractors around the Madison area are helping to change the health of the community as well. Through Dane Buy Local, a Wisconsin based alliance, I have been introduced to Wisconsin’s very own manufacturer Hallman/Lindsay, which produces excellent interior and exterior eco-friendly, water-borne paints.

What are the benefits to caulking an exterior in Madison, WI?

Caulking the exterior of a wood sided house before painting

Why Caulk? It helps seal the home’s external shell for thermal benefits. (Paint itself has been shown to raise a houses R-factor (heat retention.)) And of course, it helps make a house look its best by filling small cracks and seams that show after the final coat of paint. When a house is properly caulked it looks much newer and the surface cleaner. Caulking is necessary to fill gaps and cracks around windows and doors where the old caulk has failed.

If you add up the small 1/4" gap around windows and doors, and combine that into one area, it can be about the size of a brick. That is a lot warm or cold air lost.

Each different surface has a caulk made specifically for it. Whether you're caulking wood, masonry, vinyl, aluminum or on glass, so check with your local hardware store or painting specialist, and make sure to buy the appropriate caulk for the job. Not all caulks are paintable (silicone is not.) Get one that is. As far as caulking goes, I like to apply the caulk after priming and before the final coat of paint. This way we can easily tell which areas require attention and so the caulk can easily bond with the substrate. The caulk has much less of a chance to pull away and will last for the duration of its warrantee.

Caulk is applied to keep moisture from getting into the cracks of the siding and behind the paint, which may cause premature paint failure.

Learn how to prepare a surface for caulk and best practices of application.

Video for demonstration of techniques.

To summarize: it is important to caulk your windows and siding because:

1.) Caulk will keep moisture out of the homes shell and keep water from getting behind your new paint job, which is a major cause of paint failure.

2.) A caulked house looks better. It has a smoother appearance and large cracks will not detract from the quality of the paint job.

3.) Thermal benefits. Caulking helps keep a house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It's actually one of the cheapest ways to add energy efficiency to your home.

When to spray a house?

When to spray a house? We use a sprayer to apply primer and top coat when the surface area of the siding is large enough to justify the extra cost in paint and preparation. If the side of a home is mostly a continuous expanse of siding then the decision is easy to make. If there are lots of different colors or trim that is not being painted or brick and stone, then chances are spraying wont be the most effective way to accomplish the job. We spray when we can because it is typically more efficient then brushing or rolling and applies paint to a mil specificity. Spraying lays the paint on very smooth, smooth and thick. By spraying we are able to lower the labor rate and apply the paint faster. To sum it up: higher paint cost, lower labor cost.

Sprayed or brushed it is recommended that one coat of paint be used when the new paint color matches the old, and that two coats of paint are used when there is a color change or the substrate (wood or vinyl) is in bad condition. The first coat protects the house and the second coat protects the first. Whether one or two coats, a primer coat is applied first. Spraying applies the paint very fast and even.  These advantages are suited ideally for vinyl and aluminum siding and gives the siding a near “factory finish.”

*Interiors can be sprayed as well

Method: We’ll tape off any windows and doors and lay tarps over all surfaces under and around he area that is going to get painted by sprayer. If needed, we will ask that cars be moved but generally we do not spray on windy days. Windows, trim, door frames and fascias are all generally brushed by hand. We use only Purdy or Wooster brand brushes, most professional painters use these brushes and I suggest you do too if and when you choose to paint. A good brush makes a world of difference.

After the first coat is a good time to check over the house one more time. Apply additional caulk if a gap is spotted or put on another coat of wood filler to the woodpecker holes. Then, the second coat. This is where the colors really come out and smooth finish of the paint looks its best. Remember, the second coat protects the first coat that protects the house. It’s all about protecting the home from the elements, increasing its value and making it look great at the same time. Tape is pulled as soon as the paint begins to dry. All tape, paper and plastic is disposed of and removed from the premise.

A final check through and walk-around with the homeowner. We’re not done until the homeowner is satisfied. In other words, we don’t get paid until you’re happy. On top of a complete satisfaction guarantee, we offer a top of the line three-year workmanship guarantee as well.

How is a deck refurbished?

A deck is refurbished by removing the previous stain and preparing the surface for a new sealant.

Decks require power-washing. During any deck refurbishing job our painters put down the brush and pick up a power-washer. The house must be kept wet and clean if any strippers are being used to remove old stain. (Yes, there are green strippers.) A good power-washing will be with the grain and done in long straight motions over the deck boards. Maintain a constant height and steady hand. If wood grain does get raised we lightly sand it to make the deck smooth again.

Purchasing a Deck Stain: Deck stains are not created equal, not by a long shot. Go with the best. Check with consumer reports, ask the professionals. The best deck stains are more expensive but more resistant to the extremes in climate we have here in Madison and the rest of Wisconsin. The longevity and sustained beauty of these high end stains, such as, Sikkens, will more than pay for itself in the long run. It’s an investment. We like to use Sikkens brand stains in a low-VOC formula.

Eric Welch Painting and the Deck Refurbishing Process: Railings, deck boards, and spindles are all most commonly coated with an oil-base semi-stain. We are now seeing equal performance from water-base semi-stains as well. A china bristle brush is necessary to use with oil-base stains and nylon or polyester is fine with the water-base. Always start with the railings and spindles first and work your way down and around until only the deck boards remain. Apply stain evenly all the way across a deck board before moving to the next and work your way back and off the deck leaving the stairs or break in the railing for last. We like to apply two and sometimes even three coats of semi-stain to a surface as deck boards are exposed to the biggest extremes of the weather and heavy wear and tear. Due to the climate extremes EWP offers a one-year warranty on all deck refinishing. You can expect up to 2 to 4 years of looking its best. Be wary of deck-staining systems promising more.