Painting does just make buildings look better, it protects them from moisture, sun, temperature, and other forms of environmental damage such as rusting. Toronto´s harsh climate provides year round opportunities for buildings to be damaged from snow, sun, rain, and cold. In order to keep the buildings exteriors from decaying and in order to attract tenants and customers to buildings the exterior paint job must be well maintained. Property owners should contact exterior painters Toronto in order to keep up the value of their buildings.
What Primers to Use for What Surfaces
Surfaces must always be clean and dry before they are painted. In order for the surface to take the paint well, it generally must be primed. There are exceptions to this, so one must let the exterior painting services Toronto know what surfaces need to be painted and what the condition of the surface is.
- Epoxy primers are for industrial surfaces. They protect steel structures from damage from water and other forms of environmental damage, as well as chemical damage. They are followed by industrial grade paints to provide additional protection and for aesthetic reasons.
- Two-part epoxy primers are rarer and more expensive than standard epoxy primers. They are also used for industrial applications.
- Acrylic primers are used on galvanized metals.
- Rust inhibitive primers are for metal surfaces that have just had rust removal treatment.
- Penetrating stains are for wooden steps and walkways.
Sealants
Sealants are used to waterproof building exteriors by exterior painting Toronto. There are three main types.
- Silicone caulk. Silicone offers long lasting protection and is very flexible in terms of the weather-related expansion and contraction of materials. But cannot be painted over.
- Acrylic caulk. This caulk is the most paintable, yet the least flexible in terms of expansion and contraction of the materials it is sealing. Many still paintable acrylic caulks have silicone added to provide the ability to expand and contract.
- Polyurethane sealants are mainly used for fill gaps left by construction. It’s difficult to clean and one needs mineral spirits to do so. It is mainly used to seal gaps between materials with different expansion and contraction rates because of its strong adherence abilities.
Finishers
These are the actual paints that are applied over the primers and/or the relevant sealers. The best types of paints for an exterior depend on the environmental conditions, as various paints are developed for local and regional environments.
- Alkyd paints. High VOC (volatile organic compounds=) content, which gives off more fumes and also provides food for fungus. Not used much today due to environmental issues.
- Acrylic paints. Much lower VOC, and therefore safer to apply. After applying, tools and hands can simply be washed with soap and water. Quick drying times.
- Acrylic paints for pools. These paints are used to waterproof new pools.
- DTM-Metal Paints. These paints provide corrosion and rust resistance from weather and various chemicals including oxygen and salt.
- Masonry and concrete paints are used to waterproof bricks and concrete.
- Epoxy finishes are used on concrete and floors and walkways.
- Stains, varnishes, and waterproofers are used on wooden steps and walkways.
Maintenance
Painted surfaces should be gently cleaned with water. Using a low pressure hose is best. Proper maintenance allows the paint job to last longer. But in Toronto´s harsh weather, many buildings need exterior painting services Toronto on an annual basis.
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