Before Painting, Wash and Sand Thoroughly

Question: I am going to paint my house, which is built of concrete. I have scraped off all the loose paint and am ready to begin. Do I need to prime the entire house or just where I scraped off the paint?

Answer: The key to a good paint job is in the preparation. Removing loose paint, patching, caulking and priming will lead to a better-looking and longer-lasting paint job.

Although you say you have “scraped off all the loose paint,” we suggest that you also use a power washer to remove any remaining paint.

This also will open the pores of the concrete to accept the fresh layer of paint.

If you don’t own a power washer, you can buy or rent one.

Because scraping and power washing can result in an irregular surface, use a power sander to smooth the edges between the existing paint and the raw surface.

You can also use an exterior-grade patching compound (compatible with concrete) that can be applied with a wide-blade putty knife to disguise the rough areas.

Apply it as smoothly as possible.

Once the patching work is complete and has dried, spot-prime the patched and bare areas using a latex masonry block sealer or concrete paint.

Finish the job by painting the entire building with a coat of premium quality 100% acrylic exterior house paint.