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Factory Built Housing Painters Handbook: Chapter 2
Best Practices for Factory Built Housing
The exterior of a home or office is painted to beautify, protect, and maintain the external surface of the structure. Ultraviolet rays, extreme temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and high winds all contribute to damaging exterior surfaces. When applied properly, high-quality paint materials can extend the life of an exterior surface for years. However, insufficient or incorrect surface preparation, improper storage and application of paint, and adverse environmental conditions can have harmful impacts on the performance of paint. See All Chapters View Chapter 3: Spray Application General Guidelines
Best Practices
Storage
Ideally, latex paint materials should be stored and applied in ambient air temperatures about 50°F (10°C) and below 80° F (27°C), with a relative humidity of 50% or lower. Other materials, such as substrates, wallboard, siding, etc., should be stored according to manufacturers’ instructions, away from moisture and extreme temperatures. Containers should be sealed to prevent contamination and degradation. Exterior siding and trim materials specified for painting should be stored in dry environments. Surfaces exposed to rain, fog, or high humidity conditions should be allowed to dry thoroughly and to reach the optimum temperature range prior to painting. Proper storage can dramatically reduce prep time for materials. When materials are moisture-free and within the recommended temperature range, they are ready for paint application. Because of their tendency to absorb moisture, gypsum products should be stored in a dry environment. Frequent rotation of paint inventory will enhance the performance of the product. Mix paint thoroughly just before use. find the right paint for your project
Application
Unless you are using products specifically formulated for low temperature applications, do not apply paint when the surface or air temperature is below 50°F (10°C). If you perform touch-up work, or any other painting task outdoors, never paint immediately following rain, during foggy weather, when rain is predicted or when ambient air temperature is below 50°F (10°C) unless you are working with exterior products that have been specifically formulated to cure at temperatures as low as 35°F (1.6°C). To meet product specifications, wet film thickness gauges should be used to ensure that the proper amount of wet film is applied, generally 8-10 mils. Use the “Box” paint method. “Boxing” refers to the process of pouring the contents of the next bucket of material to be used into the original bucket when it becomes half empty. “Boxing” helps to ensure that the paint is blended and that the color remains consistent. Choose the Right Paint Color for Your Project
Spray Application
Airless spraying is ideal for the Factory Built Housing (FBH) industry. Airless sprayers are fast, efficient, and offer uniform application of paint. To achieve the best results, use the recommended spray pressure. Too little pressure will result in an uneven spray patters; too much pressure causes excessive overspray and premature tip wear. CAUTION: Keep your fingers and hands away from the spray tip while the sprayer is in operation. The pressure at the tip of the spray gun is typically in the range of 3000 psi. At that pressure, paint can cause severe cuts and inject paint into your skin! And, always use the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the job. Find the Best Spray Equipment and Supplies
Tip Size
The most common tip size in the production environment is a .015” - .017” diameter orifice tip. However, based upon the experience of the operator and the speed of the applicator, a larger tip may be substituted. Never exceed the maximum tip size that the equipment can support. View Tip Options
Tip Rotation
Because of the high pressure of the paint material as it passes through the tip, spray tips have a limited life. Several factors, including the abrasiveness of the material pressure and the number of hours logged on the sprayer, contribute to the speed at which the spray tip wears out. For typical production wall finishes, routine spray tip replacement is recommended if the fan size has lost 25% of its original size. Continuing to spray with a worn tip would simply result in a poor quality spray job, and a substantial waste of paint and labor. The spray distance to the board should be 12”. The spray gun should be triggered before any movement begins and ends. Move the spray gun parallel to the surface, not in an arc. The spray overlap should be 50%, and the angle of the spray should be perpendicular to the wall. Explore Masks and Other Personal Safety Equipment
Rolled Application
The easiest way to apply paint with a roller is to use a roller tray. Dip your roller into the paint at the deepest part of the tray and then roll back up the ribbed bottom of the tray until a uniform load of paint has been picked up by the roller cover. If the roller drips, you’ve overloaded the cover. Remove excess paint by rolling over the ribbed bottom of the tray until the cover is full, but not dripping. Begin by rolling a vertical “W” pattern, about 2-feet by 2-feet, onto the surface that you’re painting. The “W” pattern should widely distribute the initial heavy load of paint. Next, roll horizontally across the “W” to fill in a square. Paint from dry areas into wet areas to avoid lap marks. Do not squeeze the last ounce of paint out of the roller by pressing down as the paint runs out. The strokes of paint that you apply in this manner will not match your previous rolled paint, and you’ll cause matting of the roller cover, making it unusable. When paint is rolled onto a surface too thinly, it will not cover properly. When your roller begins to run out of paint, refill it. Find Roller Kits & Trays
Touch-up
To ensure color and consistency match, touch-up paint should be applied in the same conditions that existed when the paint was first applied to the substrate. Touch-up of sprayed finish needs to be applied without thinning the material. Colors will change when the material is thinned. Temperature can greatly affect your ability to match touch-up paint with the painted surface. If there is too great a variance of temperature of the touch-up paint and the painted surface, the color and texture may vary greatly. Paint with the tips of the brush. Dip your brush into the paint can until paint is halfway up the bristles. Slap the inside of the paint can lightly with the flat side of the brush to remove excess paint. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to the surface and feather (brush in all directions) the touch-up area. Brushes and rollers should never be stored in paint. They should be rinsed thoroughly in water after use. Replace touch-up containers and brushes regularly. View High-Quality Brushes
Drying
Today’s exterior latex paint is fast-drying, but painted exterior surfaces should be isolated from extreme temperatures or moisture for a reasonable length of time. Extremely high or low temperatures can cause cracking on newly-painted exterior surfaces. Heavy rain, dew, or high humidity can cause blistering of newly-painted uncured surfaces. Whether you’re using exterior latex paint or “cold-weather paint” specifically formulated for low temperatures, remember that exposure to temperatures exceeding recommended limits at any time during the curing process may have a negative impact on overall curing and system integrity. Browse Our Painting Supplies Catalog
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