21 Steps Prep

1. Remove ordinary dust, dirt, cobwebs, debris, etc. from under eaves, siding and stucco by power-washing the house.
   
2. Check for and remove any minor mildew. Most homes have a small amount of mildew on them and Miracle Painting will remove this mildew as standard procedure. However, homes that have excessive mildew will be subject to an additional charge.
   
3. Survey the entire job. At this time the foreman and crew will determine exactly what has to be done and how it will be done. The job will be organized accordingly. Areas requiring more preparation time will be started immediately. Areas requiring primer will be primed as soon as they are prepared. By surveying and organizing at the beginning of the job Miracle Painting can perform the job in the most efficient manner.
   
4. Remove or cover items that are against or near the house. This includes cars, boats, lawn furniture, potted plants, etc.
   
5. Perform minor pruning of bushes or shrubs, if needed. It is preferred that this step be taken care of by the owner, that way the owner has it done to his satisfaction. If the owner is unable to do this, Miracle Painting will gladly perform this step, but it should be understood that some plants may have to be cut back substantially to facilitate painting.
   
6. Verify type of paint used previously to determine the type of preparation and primers required for best adhesion. Sand and spot prime any surfaces requiring attention. If surfaces were previously painted with oil-based paint, a special primer may be required to bond the finish coat. These oil-to-latex conversions will be subject to an extra charge.
   
7. Scrape gutters and downspouts of loose paint and spot prime bare metal with the appropriate primer. Most homes with metal gutters will have a small amount of peeling. Some homes may have quite a lot of peeling on the gutters and may have to be stripped to bare metal in some sections, or on very rare occasions completely stripped. Gutters requiring stripping are subject to an extra charge.
   
8. Sand gutters completely. Many homes have no peeling on the gutters at all. Some gutters appear to be in such good condition that no sanding is required. Miracle Painting will sand these gutters front and back to "etch" the surface and provide more "bite" for the new paint.
   
9. Remove minor hooks and nails from under eaves, fascias or siding (not including roofing nails) and fill remaining holes. Hook and nail removal will be done only at the request of the owner.
   
10. Scrape off all loose, peeling, chipping and flaking paint from fascia. Fully sand, even where not peeling, and spot prime bare wood. Fascias requiring stripping are subject to an extra charge.
    
11. All wood siding and eaves will be thoroughly sanded, where needed, cleaned and spot primed prior to painting. If the existing paint is peeling excessively and requires extra-ordinary scraping, sanding and priming, there will be an additional charge.
    
12. All entrance doors will be fully sanded, all holes will be filled and bare wood will be primed.
    
13. All garage doors will be fully sanded and bare wood spot primed.
    
14. If the stucco or foundation (if it is to be painted) goes below the dirt, the dirt will be trenched away several inches and any remaining dirt will be wire brushed off the stucco. This enables us to paint below the dirt line. This is especially helpful if there is going to be a color change.
    
15. Fill all significant cracks or holes in the stucco with a suitable patching compound. (Miracle Painting will fill holes and cracks not requiring repair by a specialty contactor.)
    
16. Check for rust, prepare and spot prime.
    
17. Check for water damage or leakage and seal stains to prevent bleeding through finish coat of paint.
    
18. Caulk cracks around window and door casings. Excessive caulking will be an extra charge.
    
19. Mask fixtures, and if requested, remove and replace fixtures. This includes house numbers, lights, mailboxes, etc. Note: Miracle Painting is not responsible for faulty electrical systems if fixtures are removed and replaced or for the replacement of flimsy house numbers that break when removed.
    
20. Mask window openings, door openings, concrete, etc., to avoid over-spray and paint splatters.
    
21. Cover plants with cloth sheets.