HPC of South Bend and St. Joseph County - Standards Update Draft

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 92 For More Information: Paint 4 . Prepare Surface: To ensure a long-lasting painted surface, appropriate surface preparation should be undertaken prior to repainting . • Begin by washing the painted surfaces with a mild detergent solution and a natural bristle brush, then carefully scraping and sanding to a smooth finish, removing any paint that is not tightly bonded to the surface. • Putty or caulk countersunk nails, window glazing, gaps, joints, and openings . • Allow the substrate to thoroughly dry before applying primer or paint . • Spot-prime bare wood, areas of repair and replaced wood including unexposed and cut ends. 5 . Repaint: Using high quality paint applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations should improve the life of a paint job . In general, it is best to use compatible primer and paint from the same manufacturer and apply two coats of paint to previously painted bare wood . • Apply paint during appropriate weather conditions, generally between fifty- and ninety-degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity recommended by paint manufacturer, while avoiding direct sunlight . • Apply finish paint soon after an oil-primer—Surface compounds affecting adhesion can form within two weeks. Complete Paint Removal If the existing paint has failed, it might be necessary to strip all or portions of the paint from the surface . Although there are a variety of tools and chemicals available to strip paint, many of them are potentially hazardous and can cause significant damage to historic building materials. Therefore, it is generally recommended that flaking or unbound paint be removed to sound paint, with complete paint removal only in limited cases . Complete paint removal might be necessary when the existing paint on the surface has completely or substantially failed . Examples where complete paint removal would be appropriate include: • Where wholesale blistering or peeling of an element reveals the underlying substrate . • Where continuous patterns of deep cracks are prevalent in the surface of painted wood . • When windows, doors or shutters have been painted shut . • Where a smooth transition is needed to a new wood element of a Dutchman repair . • When deterioration of a historic building feature or material will otherwise occur . Masonry and Stucco Painting Previously unpainted masonry or stucco should not be painted as this can lead to accelerated deterioration of the materials and will invoke an unnecessary maintenance cycle . If the exterior of the masonry surface has been compromised through previous sandblasting, moisture infiltration or the use of harsh chemicals, appropriate painting can provide a degree of protection; however, applying stucco is typically the more appropriate option . Proper application of a water repellent paint can prevent water from penetrating while allowing water vapor to escape . Waterproof coatings or inappropriate paint can trap moisture within a masonry wall . When repainting masonry or stucco, proper preparation is critical to a successful project and includes removal of vegetation and loose or flaking paint, maintenance of adjoining materials, such as leaking downspouts or gutters; and repointing of open joints. Finally, it is important to select a type of undercoat and paint that is appropriate for the type of masonry or surface coating on the building and apply them following manufacturer’s recommendations .DRAFT