If your bright white trim isn’t looking as crisp as it did last summer, or your deep forest green or midnight black siding is looking lacklustre, be sure to clean your exterior before reaching for a can of paint.
As a painter, Chad Gilchrist knows firsthand that cleaning and sanding your exterior will give your paint better adhesion and a better finish, and save you time and money.
“I tell people that, when we’re painting their property, I’m including a set price for washing their exterior finish,” says Chad, the owner of Roll-On Painting and Muskoka Softwash. “That’s because we don’t want to paint over dirt, organic matter, pollen or anything living, and we want to save them money if we can.”
Washing a building properly often means that Chad’s team may not even need to paint as much as their clients think. Instead, they can adjust the estimate to save their clients money.
“If one side of your cottage isn’t faded, let’s table your paintwork on that side for another three or four years, or re-evaluate every two years when we come to wash your property.”
The power of softwash
Painters often use power washers to remove built-up dirt, dust, mould and mildew. While that works well on some surfaces, it can damage softer woods like cedar shakes or peel the paint back further than what’s required to repaint.
If you’re not looking to remove your paint or stain, Chad suggests using a gentler option: soft-washing your exterior.
Soft-washing uses a diluted cleaning solution with a surfactant, which is gently sprayed on the exterior surfaces. Within 10 to 15 minutes, it kills the organic material clinging to the surface, removing stains and brightening wood. Once the solution is rinsed off, your exterior’s original lustre is restored.
The solution includes diluted bleach, but it won’t damage or fade your surfaces or damage the surrounding gardens and foliage.
Soft-washing is ideal for almost every surface of your cottage’s exterior from siding and trim to decks and fences, and cedar shingles.
“If your roof has a carpet of green moss or discolourations from mould and lichen growth, you are cutting the lifespan of your roof,” Chad adds. “That organic growth is feeding on your roof and causing it to remain wet. Always remember, prolonged wetness equals rot.”
Once your roof is cleaned, Chad’s team can use a roof sealant, like Gonano (a product that they are exclusively authorized to install in Muskoka and Georgian Bay.) “Gonano uses nano technology to add up to 15 years of warranty to your roof.”
Cleaning is cheaper than painting, he adds. If you’re noticing black or green growth on your exterior, book your free estimate and protect your property’s surface with a softwash. “Let’s extend the paint cycle and keep clean every year
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
