HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-04-14, Page 32Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Exoter Times -Advocate
31
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Give Your Home A New "Spring Coat" Of Paint
Spring is perhaps the most popular time of year to
paint and redecorate your home. Following are some of
the most common questions and answers do-it-your-
selfers ask about painting inside or outside their home.
Q. Can 1 paint over mould on my ceiling?
A. Mould should be treated and removed before dec-
orating. To remove mould, use a
hypocholite solution (household bleach)
diluted 1 to 3 with water. Wear gloves '<
and goggles to protect your hands and
eyes and protective clothing to protect
skin from splashes. Apply the solution
with a thick scouring pad and highly
abrade the surface to ensure physical
removal of any stubborn areas of'
mould growth. Leave the solution on
the surface for 15 minutes, then wash down thoroughly
with clean water. If residual stains are left, spot paint
with an oil-based undercoat. Mould grows in a particu-
lar environment. To discourage the regrowth of mould,
try to improve the ventilation in the affected area.
Recoat with a low -sheen or semigloss paint when redec-
orating to discourage the regrowth of mould.
Q. What's the best way to prepare powdering, chalky
and peeling surfaces?
A. Paint that peels or flakes away from the surface
and is powdering or poorly bound should be removed.
The surface should then be cleaned thoroughly; and
when dry, resealed with an oil-based sealer. When
repainting allow sufficient time for the sealer to dry and
cure if overcoating with an acrylic paint (water-based),
i.e., 2-3 days.
Q. How should 1 repaint my concrete patio?
A. Of all the surfaces we paint, concrete paths, patios,
driveways, etc., require the most specific surface prepa-
ration. All new concrete should be cured at least 12
weeks before acid etching and painting. On previously
painted concrete, scrape off any loose and flaking paint,
clean and sand to a flat finish and spot etch any smooth,
;bare areas. Test coat a small area to
establish suitability for recoating. If the
existing paint or new paint bubbles
and/or wrinkles, remove all the paint,
acid etch, allow to dry thoroughly, and
then apply pang paint.
Q. Why do 1 need to acid etch
my concrete before painting with
paving paint?
A. Due to the heavy wear and
tear that paving paints receive, it is always necessary to
etch the surface prior to painting. The acid etching
scours and cleans the surface, allowing the paving paint
to adhere properly. All new concrete should be cured
for up to 12 weeks prior to etching and painting. To acid
etch, a solution of hydrochloric acid and water, 1 to 3, is
applied to the surface with a mop or broom, allowed to
react for approximately 15 minutes, then is thoroughly
rinsed away with a liberal quantity of water. The paving
paint is not applied until the surface is thoroughly dry.
This may have to be repeated to obtain the proper etch.
Q. Should 1 use enamels or acrylics outside?
A. The choice of an enamel or an acrylic for exterior
use is still a personal choice. But it is thought that the
greater flexibility and UV protection of an exterior
acrylic is the better option. As enamels age they become
very brittle and chalky and will continually flake off the
HowToAvoid Cottage Fires
(IBC) -A rustic cottage is
the perfect spot for a
break, but if you want to
give yourself a break from
fires, remember to estab-
lish a break. Got all that?
1/hat4 w . _ talking
about is afire break, an
area around your cottage
that won't fuel a fire. Your
basic protection is to keep
the grass cut and raked.
But there is much more
you can do to create pri-
mary and secondary fire
breaks.
A primary break is a
clearing of all ground
within five metres of your
buildings. Space trees so
the tops are at least five
metres apart. Saw off
branches that are. less
than three metres above
ground level. Prune
branches so they're at
least three metres away
from a chimney or
stovepipe. Remove flam-
mable ground litter such
as dead grass, dead trees,
branches and household
debris.
A secondary fire break
extends at least 15 metres
from your buildings.
Remove shrubs, small
trees and dead ground lit-
ter. Keep the tops of
mature trees even more
than five metres apart to
lower the chance of a
ground fire spreading up
them. Extend the fire
break area to 25 metres
downhill from any build-
ings on a sloping site, as
fire will travel uphill if
possible.
To protect your cottage,
consider a few other fire
safety tips:
• For the structure itself,
select fire-resistant mate-
rials; metal roofing and
aluminum siding may not
look as nice as logs and
wooden shingles, but
they're a wiser safety
choice. if you can't resist
wood, treat it with a fire
retardant every few years.
•Dry grass and debris
collect under open porch-
es, decks and floors, so
close them in. This will
keep sparks from blowing
in and setting fire to dry
floor joists or rafters.
•As you would in any
home (but especially one
you don't always live in),
maintain the fuse boxes,
heaters, wiring, stoves
and other possible heat'
sources.
Insurance Bureau of
. Canada
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surface. On the other hand, acrylics retain their colour
better, do not chalk to any great extent and do not get
brittle, giving a longer -lasting, more durable paint fin-
ish.
Q. How do 1 test to see that my old paint is stuck on?
A. When repainting, it is important to know that the
previously painted surface is sound and the old paint
stuck on firmly. The best way to find out is to test the
paint in several areas by cutting a small cross with a
sharp knife and pressing 10 cm or so of adhesive tape
firmly across the middle of the cut. Rip it away quickly
after a few minutes and if any pieces of paint come with
it, you'll need to strip away the loose paint. If the paint-
work has failed the adhesion test or is heavily layered, it
should be stripped back to a firm, clean base before
repainting.
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