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Well, I made this oops a long time ago. After I tore off the front porch and rebuilt it in the original Victorian style, I painted all the fillagree wood. (a big 3 color job) I had never done an exterior paint job before & followed someone's recommandation to seal the wood first. When I painted the deck (using forest green deck paint) it looked great. Then winter came. Ever since then, the paint on the deck peels. In big hunks & small pieces.I scrape & sand & repaint. Over & over. I talked to a paint rep. and he said it peels because of the sealer. I would have to sand and then paint. The rest of the paint job is just fine. I used a supposedly good quality paint. If I do sand completely will that work? Because the parts that I spot sand and paint still peel. Thanks for any advice in advance.
Gloria, who is getting too old for this stuff.
I would probably sand, then use a good quality primer which will help the paint stick to the wood, then paint. I think what probably messed you up was the sealer--these will make the wood waterproof, so then if you paint a water based paint over it, it's not going to stick very well. Using a primer even with the sealer would have helped you a little, but I've had the best luck taking unfinished/unsealed wood, priming it, then painting it. You may need several coats of each to get good coverage though (and make sure to let the coats dry in between, otherwise that can cause peeling too)
Gloria, make sure it's a porch and deck oil floor primer! If you read on any other can of primer, even exterior, it will say not to use on floors of porches and decks. It's not made for water or snow to stand on. So, you need a porch floor oil primer. The one I got, once we got the porch cleaned, power washed and sanded, we painted on the primer. It takes 8-12 hours just to dry to the touch. I believe it was 72 hours before a top coat could be put on. My latex floor paint needed to dry overnight to recoat. You can't use a regular exterior paint either, it has to be for floors. The other paint can't take the walking on.
terryr sorry it took so long for me to get back to you > we had a massive power outage here starting last thursday> my puter isnt working properly>After I sand the porch floor and apply a porch and deck oil floor primer>then I wouild have to use a oil based porch and deck paint. yes? I was never told that and I bought a latex porch and deck paint. Now I know why it keeps peeling off. And I never primed the floor first either. ???Why do manufacturers even make a latex porch and deck paint at all? I know there is some kind of rule about not mixing oil-based paint w/latex(water based) paint. I think it was that you couldn't paint over oil based paint with latex based paint. I'm probably not making too much sense here. I've been living in the dark without heat for a week. My brain needs to re-adjust. :) Gloria
I think there have been a lot of improvements in latex paints over the last few years--if you have a latex primer and a latex paint which both are labelled specifically for porch/floor (I know the paint exists, not sure if the primer does or not--if you can't find a latex primer that says it's OK for porch/floor then I would for sure follow terryr's advice). The latex ones won't hold up as well as the oil based ones but if the surface is prepped right you wouldn't see peeling nearly as quickly as you have been. Oil based is still going to last longer, but if you don't mind a little more frequent repainting in exchange for something that's easier to work with latex paints have come a long way on durability. If you do go with the oil based primer though, you are correct that you should use oil based paint with it, latex paint won't stick to the oil based primer so you'll end up with peeling at least as bad as what you're seeing now if not worse.
Oh Gloria! You were in that snowstorm! I hope you're warm and toasty by now.
Your latex floor paint is correct. It's the floor primer you want to be oil based. In fact, I never saw or found or heard anyone say there was such a thing as a latex floor primer. And, I never saw, heard or found an oil based floor paint. Sorry Ecrane, I don't know a whole lot about anything, but this I do know. Primers are different than paints. I don't know what all it is, but the make up of them is different. So a latex paint can go over an oil based primer, and you can reapply an oil based primer over the latex paint when needed. I've done that inside of every home I've lived in for the past 25 yrs. I believe the peeling on porch floors is from we the consumers not being informed to not use an oil (or water) based exterior floor primer . I don't know why the people in these stores, be them paint stores or big box stores, don't tell you that you can't use a regular exterior oil based primer. In fact, the guy at Menards and the woman at Ace all wanted me to use the Zinsser. And it says right on the can, do not use on porch floors or deck floors.
OK, lets see if I got that. terryr, you said that "not to use an oil (or water) based exterior floor primer." The paint is top-rated (from Consumer's Report), so I doubt that the paint is the problem. I know that I didn't prep properly, so what I have to do is:
1) sand surface, removing existing paint
2) prime, using Porch & Deck primer. ????Oil -or-latex.
3) Paint, using Porch & Deck paint. ????Oil-or-latex.
4) Do not walk on porch ever again...only use the side door. LOL
Yup terryr, I was in that huge storm. Massive damage. Worse than the Blizzard of '77! Plus, I had knee surgery scheduled the same day. Cancelled that.
lol Gloria, you have most things correct, except to make sure you do use an oil based exterior floor primer, not just an exterior primer. I have never seen any oil based exterior floor paint, only latex. So, it would be:
1. power wash, clean, let dry for around 5 full days with sunshine, sand surface (not sure if it's really needed to remove all existing paint unless there's too many layers and it would look "bumpy"), wipe dust off with tack cloth
2. Prime, using an oil based exterior floor primer (railings etc can be primed with just an exterior primer)
3. Paint with the exterior floor color of your choice, just make sure it's a floor paint and just not an exterior paint, different animals. The exterior floor paint, if found in oil, would be my preference, but since I couldn't find any, I went with latex.
4. Make sure to let dry for specified time on can, usually 1 week before heavy traffic (which to me, means no traffic at all for a minimum of 1 week)
A regular exterior primer is made for siding, trim etc. It's not made for horizontal surfaces or water to stand on and is not made for people to walk on. Hence the need for floor primer. Same as with the exterior floor paint. Exterior primer/paint is not made floors because it can't withstand the foot traffic. And remember, that with the temps lower than that on the can for optimal conditions (typically 70 something degrees with 50% humidity), you need to let it dry for a longer period of time, and/or adjust for humidity etc.
Just make sure, when repainting your porch, the floor and steps, you use exterior oil primer and paint (if you can find oil paint, great, if not, latex is fine) that is made for floors, be them deck floors or porch floors.
I hope the surgery went well and you're feeling better! Snow storm and no power...something isn't right with that picture!
Now I got it. Thanks terryr. This thing has been going on for years now. Every year...sand paint...sand paint. Also, I've watched people who were re-painting their porches & porch steps and not one of them prepped the way you suggested. They Just sanded & painted like me. Apparently most people don't know how to prep. (or are just too lazy to do it). At least I can claim ignorance. BG
Prep is the most important part. It also helps if you prime that you're actually using a primer that is made specifically for floors. That's what burns me. I asked I don't know how many people and was just told to use a good exterior oil based primer. WRONG! It has to be made for floors. Otherwise, it just isn't going to work. I've got my fingers crossed that if you do it this way, no more peeling paint by the next year! Not only would that get old, but expensive too! And you're very welcome.
Some water-based porch paint is self priming, you just use a couple coats. I never had a problem doing it that way. I guess Gloria's got a whole different set of problems with the sealer and all.
Oh? I've never seen or heard of a self priming porch paint. What brands? Gloria, I totally forgot about the sealer. You might need to strip the porch then first. I stripped the back deck (again, who puts a deck onto a house built in 1896?) and it wasn't all that hard. If it's cleaned with TSP and bleach in water, I would think that would help the paint to stick. But I don't know. Drats! What do you think claypa? Strip it, or just clean (scrub) with TSP and bleach water?
Well, being as Gloria's in Buffalo, I'd wait till next year, and see how much paint this winter will take off! Then next spring use a belt sander to take all the sealer off, but I really can't say if it would work or not.
I know glidden doesn't call for any primer with their porch paint, I suspect they'd all work okay, as long as the wood was clean and dry. And, no sealer...
Oh yes, I agree, it's way too late in the year now to be trying to paint a porch! She's already had how much snow? I'm afraid I don't like belt sanders. They tend to always break the belts when I use them! I'm also thinking that perhaps by using a pressure washer, that would help to peel off some paint too. Just not a high enough setting to damage the wood.
I've heard of Glidden, but I have no clue who sells it.
Yup, that sealer is the root of my problem. I think that I might do the following:
1) Wait 'till spring. Hopefully the winter will peel more paint off. Thanks claypa. I never thought I'd say "hopefully & winter" in the same sentence.
2) In spring, sand off remaining paint & sealer.
3) Prime with exterior oil-based floor primer.
4) Paint with exterior floor paint.
5) Sell house...move into condo. BG
terryr, every time DH power washes the porch more & more paint flakes off. I keep telling him "don't do that anymore". Now he can gleefully peel away to his heart's content. He just looooves that power washer. terryr, you wanted to know who puts a deck on a house built in 1896? Ha, I put a deck on this house (circa 1897). PO put a patio onto the back of the house. A pink tinted patio no less. You couldn't even get to it. You had to go out the side door and around to the back. I knocked out the back kitchen wall, installed a slider with mullioned glass & Voila! no more pink patio. I designed the deck myself. I did this after the front porch (&the peeling problem) After that debacle, I decided not to paint or stain the deck..Just seal. So far, its worked out fine.
Well Gloria, I don't know what to say. I just know that in my opinion, my deck looks dumb. It doesn't fit this house at all. But if you're happy with your deck, then that's fine by me. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
I think I know what you need to do. You need to get the person who recommended you seal the deck first to come and strip off all the paint and the sealer under the paint. Then they can prime and paint it, instead of you. It is fun to peel away the paint with the power washer. I just hated how my plants were covered in icky gray paint!
terryr, the deck is only off the kitchen in the back of the house. There are no steps leading off it. I had a pergola built over it & Clematis climbs up & across it. I have a privacy lattice on one side (nosey parkers on that side) & roll up canvas (Sunbrella fabric) on the other 2 sides. The view looks over the garden & pond. In the winter its really beautiful with the snow on the tree branches. The PO had those crank-out windows installed on that kitchen wall. Not nice looking.
I keep all my herbs in pots on the deck. Very accessible to the kitchen. Along with some 'hens & chickens' in pots. The deck is 10'x18', just the length of the kitchen. DH calls it 'the back porch', even though it isn't original to the house. I also had a double lattice skirt put in. On one end (the 10' side) there are hinges attached to the skirt framing. It lifts up & we use the space under the deck for storage. (Gotta have some use for that pink concrete)
Come to think of it. I DID ask a paint rep. about my non-sticking porch . He didn't give me a definitive answer 'cause he was in a hurry to give a demo to the stores paint employees. (so they could no doubt continue to recommend the wrong paint for the job)
When DH uses the power washer those paint flakes (dark green) were everywhere & stick like glue to the walkway. When we had the roof done the roof guys "boarded" the house & foundation plantings. I was real picky about roof debris & clean-up. I've also seen roof work where all the debris went down a giant shute into a dumpster. No mess, no fuss but more$$.
Awhile back, one of my neighbors had painting done & the worker stepped on a 80$ begonia. An heirloom begonia. (Gee, I'd like one of those).G Smoosh! a former begonia. In fact, I've never had exterior work done where something didn't get wrecked. I had a front walkway put in this year & they broke stems on a newly planted hydrangea. Grrr.
Home depot lowes and wallmart sell glidden paint and they have a program you can buy, like the Behr paint one. You can upload your own house picture and hand paint all the house, every detail, in all the glidden or behr paint colors or you can get on Behr .com and find a similar type house and click colors on to get an idea.
Gloria, my deck is off my kitchen in the back also. It's one of those where somebody else might say "who's gonna see it?" And in my mom's voice, because she's in my head, I say "I will!". If you like the looks and that of your deck...which by the way sound wonderful with the pergola and everything...is great...but my deck is the most butt ugly deck. Nothing but 4x4's, 2x4's and porch flooring. The "railings" are just 2x4's with a 1x4 on the top. There's another 2x4 probably a foot or less also on the railings. So to remove the 2x4's and put up balusters and hand railings to match the front porch, would look so much better. Here's a portion of the front porch showing the railings and balusters that are up front. I want to make the back match this as best as we can. My railings, balusters, support beams, nothing is original. Someday, maybe we'll have the money to put it back to how it was. I thought I had a picture of the deck on here, but I can't seem to locate it.
It may not be original but at least you have a porch. We only have a deck and it can't be expanded or have anything bigger than the portico put on for a roof because we have a door on one side and windows on the other. The windows are from the ground to about where the railing is and the door is right about floor height. Then there are windows a few above that. I would rather have a porch but a deck is better than 3 stairs a spot big enough for one person to stand.
I want to build a deck too, in front bcause our porch is deep instead of wide, accross and it faces our neighbors 5th wheel. Nice view. In front I have a Garden and it looks accross the desert to a gold mine and movie set(now),in beautiful hills . I `d rather start a deck and add railings later to be more porch like later. I can`t really cover it either because it would block our only bright room`s light and it is A line roof there in front so it would cost more and have to be a latt roof anyway.
