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Painting tips

Peter Sloop

Peter Sloop of Sloop Painting has been putting brush to board since 1998. Here’s his take on maintaining everything from siding to decks.

On our environment: Steamboat’s elevation, sun exposure and moisture can quickly wear down exterior stains and paints. Don’t neglect them; an ounce of prevention can increase their longevity and look.

On siding: Re-coat rough-sawn cedar siding with a semi-transparent, oil-based stain every two to three years, especially on southern and western exposures. Northern- and eastern-exposed walls can last a year longer. Look for faded areas, warping and discoloration.



On decks: With intense sun and dryness in summer and snow, ice and low temperatures in winter, decks here take a beating. Re-coat traditional redwood/Douglas fir 2×5 decking and railings with stain every summer. Sweep free of dirt and debris and power wash or use a hard-bristle broom to remove water stains beforehand.

On water marks: Ice dams often drip down a home’s fascia onto siding and trim, creating water marks. Pressure washing these areas with a high quality, 3.5-gallon-per-minute, 3,500-psi washer will reduce and/or remove these water stains. Apply at least one coat of high quality stain to these areas afterward.



On applying: In general, hand brushing will yield the best look and overall durability of the wood substrate as the technique penetrates deeper than rollers or spray. If you’re on a tighter budget, you can spray and then back-brush afterward to impregnate the stain into the wood’s pores as a less expensive alternative.

On stains and paints: A medium-tone stain will stand up to UV light better than a clear stain. For paint, a high-quality, 100 percent acrylic latex paint will last the longest. Most major brands of stains and paints specific to each end use are available at area paint stores. But bear in mind you get what you pay for. A $10 gallon of paint or stain won’t even last one season in this climate. Better to invest in a better brand up front. Expect to spend between $35 to $55 per gallon for quality paint or stain.

–Info: Sloop Painting, (970) 846-8178, http://www.slooppainting.com.


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