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Spring is here in Overland Park, which probably means you want to enjoy the warm weather by sitting outside on your deck. It makes for a great spot for hosting friends, grilling, and even reading a book. But what if wood rot or termites infect your deck? Both are extremely unfortunate circumstances and look very similar, but what are the differences? Before you call for wood rot repair in Overland Park, let’s determine the difference between the two. 

Termites 

Termites are small insects that colonize and add nutrients to the soil. However, these pests can cause severe structural damage to a home, as they feed primarily on wood from the inside out. Signs of termites include peeling paint, small holes in drywall, crumbling and buckling wood, or mud tubes. If you suspect your wood is suffering from termites, it is best to call a pest management company rather than rot repair in Overland Park. 

Wood Rot 

As a homeowner, it is not unusual to experience wood rot at some point. Wood rot is caused by decay fungi, which breaks down the structure of the wood. Decay fungi require these four conditions to survive: 

• At least 20% oxygen 
• Moisture content between 20-30% 

• Temperature between 70°F and 90°F 
• Wood 

When all of the above conditions are met, wood begins to discolor and creates cracks that then make the wood more brittle. Wood rot can grow at a fast rate until there is no more moisture or the temperature becomes too hot or cold. Once the source of moisture is established and eliminated, the next necessary steps are to remove the damaged wood and call for wood repair in Overland Park.  

Here at Residential Solution, we understand that wood rot is a serious problem and you need an expert for wood rot repair in Overland Park to enjoy sitting on your deck this spring and summer, without falling through it. When you call for wood repair in Overland Park, our trained carpenters will check for signs of wood rot and establish a plan of action. During the inspection, it is typical to discover other additional wood and siding issues. After repairs, if the replaced wood on your home needs to be painted, we also serve as painters in Overland Park.  

Give us a call today at 913-522-9004 for a free in-home estimate for wood rot repair in Overland Park. 

If you’ve painted many interior walls and have done a variety of home renovations yourself, you may think you have the confidence to paint the exterior of your home. You’ve got the paintbrushes, the ladder, and painting experience, right? Why hire a professional painter in Overland Park for your home’s exterior?

Think again. 

Exterior paintwork is an entirely different level of expertise than painting your 14×14 bedroom. So before you start grabbing your handy-dandy tool pouch and paint bucket, you should consider hiring professional house painters in Overland Park to do the job. 

Prep-Work 

Unlike interior walls, exterior walls require a complete cleaning and inspection for repairs before any paint touches it. This could include power washing or sealing any cracks on the siding or windowpanes, for example. If your exterior is experiencing peeling paint, you will need carbide blade scrapers to take the paint off successfully. You may even need to call for wood rot repair in Overland Park.  

Tools 

Exterior painting requires many tools. Some include a pressure washer, ladders, caulk, cleaning chemicals, sandpaper, and quality brushes. The size and condition of your home will depend on how many tools are needed. By leaving the painting to professional painters in Overland Park, you won’t need to spend unnecessary money on tools you may never use again.  

Ladders 

Falls from ladders are the leading cause of ladder-related deaths, killing nearly 300 people in the U.S. each year. While a small one-story home may need just one general ladder, a multi-story home will require much larger ladders, sometimes even a scaffold or lift, to get to areas that are harder to reach. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you put yourself at great risk of falling. So is it really worth your life to paint your home yourself?  

Paint and Primer Application 

Before slabbing any paint on the exterior, priming is an essential step to make sure the surface is adequately sealed and smooth, specifically for weathered areas. Proper application tools are also important. The best exterior home painters in Overland Park will have the highest quality brushes, rollers, and spray equipment for the job and are crucial for a smooth painting process.   

Time 

One of the most critical factors in deciding whether or not you should paint your house or hire professional painters in Overland Park is time. Will you have the time in your schedule needed to prep and paint? If your home’s exterior is in poor condition, you are looking at many hours of prep repairing and replacing any damage to the walls and its surroundings, such as gutters and windows. You don’t want to skimp out on important steps, so if you are short on time, hiring a team of house painters in Overland Park is probably not a bad idea. 

Your home is a valuable asset, and you want to put as much care into it as possible. Painting your house yourself may seem like a logical way to save money, but the cost and quality you will receive by hiring a pro will weigh out the time and cost it’ll take you to do it yourself. If you’re looking for the best exterior home painters in Overland Park, Residential Solutions is here for you. 

Painting is simple, but being the best interior home painters in Overland Park is not!  From DIY projects to major commercial painting jobs, painters in Overland Park work hard to ensure their work is done well and appreciated.  From cabinet refinishing companies in Overland Park to deck staining in Overland Park, it takes more skill than many understand to handle a brush professionally and adequately.  For those looking to grow in the craft of painting, or those looking to understand their DIY project ideas better, here are painting tips from the best house painters in Overland Park.   

 

Surface Preparation 

 

Ensuring you have a clean canvas to paint on is the first step of any paint job, both interior, and exterior.  The best exterior home painters in Overland Park understand that if they paint of a surface that hasn’t been prepared right, they will bring out more imperfections than not.  Make sure to clean interior surfaces with a damp cloth, or use a mild detergent to remove any signs of grease of staining.  To kill mildew, use a solution of one part bleach to four parts water as to prevent wood repair in Overland Park.   

 

After cleaning your surface, it’s time to make any repairs that need to be made.  This is important to do before painting to ensure that all of the hard work you put into painting your wall or surface doesn’t go to waste. 

 

Tip: To retain a wall’s textured look when filling nail holes, wipe a damp sponge over it to remove any excess spackling before your paint dries.  
 

 

Priming 

 

Priming your surface is also extremely important, and allows the paint to cover your surface better.  The primer provides a proper adhesion between the surface and the paint.  Primer should be used in cases of:
 

• Unfinished Surfaces/Bare Metal 
• To Prevent Knots & Wood From Bleeding 

• Over Dark Or Bright Colors 
• To Cover Hard To Remove Stains Or Marks 
• Before Painting Over Oil-Based Paint With Latex 

 

Tip: To determine if the existing paint is oil or latex, rub it with a rag containing denatured alcohol.  If the paint softens after the alcohol is applied, then it’s latex.  

When spring finally arrives, and the snow melts, it’s time get your deck ready for some amazingly warm weather.  Warm weather means it’s time to host parties, bbq’s, and a host of other events for your friends to see your beautiful deck staining in Overland Park.  For many homes, the best exterior home painters in Overland Park say, that the deck is the centerpiece of the backyard.  From avoiding wood rot repair in Overland Park to continue having to work with painters in Overland Park, maintaining your deck is a great way to ensure your home remains beautiful and healthy.  Is your deck ready for spring? 

 

If you have a wood deck, you need to inspect your deck for needed wood repair in Overland Park.  It is essential to do a detailed and thorough visual inspection of your deck before anything else to know where there is any damage following a harsh winter season.  Inspect your deck today, don’t let your house painters in Overland Park find repairs too late to resolve later down the road.  Wood rot can appear in a variety of ways that many people are unaware of.  Most of these areas aren’t going to pose any life-threatening threats, but they are still important to check regularly.  Make sure to keep an eye out for:
 

• Soft Spots On Your Deck 
• Discoloration of Wood 

• Splintering Of Wood 
• Loose Screws, Bolts or Nails 

 

Mildew on wood decks can also accumulate during the winter months but is much easier to resolve and treat than wood rot.  Some people use bleach to clean mildew off of their deck, but the best exterior and best interior home painters in Overland Park will encourage you to get it professionally cleaned.  The ideal approach is to use a wood cleaner that is recommended to you by a professional to ensure it does not damage your deck stain.  Be careful pressure washing your deck as it is easy to damage your stain and wood if the nozzle is set too high.