Painting Pergolas and Gazebos: How NOT to Botch It!
There are some times of year here in the San Francisco Bay Area when you really must have shade to enjoy the outdoors. That’s why so many of us have gazebos, pergolas, or other shade structures. Of course, since they’re made of wood, they need occasional repainting, and if you are like us, you’ve seen some pretty lousy paint jobs on these. So, in the spirit of sharing, we thought it would be helpful to share a few tips on how NOT to mess up the paint job on your pergola or gazebo.
Tip #1 – Thoroughly Protect Everything Else
Any type of exterior painting project is likely to produce drips, but the slatted nature of a shade structure makes it more likely than others. Use tarps or painter’s plastic to thoroughly cover the ground under and around your painting area. You may also want to cover nearby plants, and anything you don’t want paint on. Just remember that the tarps act like a greenhouse and can cook a plant, so don’t leave it too long.
If your pergola is right next to the house or an exterior wall/fence, you’ll want to protect that as well.
If you have light fixtures, outlets, or anything else under or beside the structure, use painter’s tape and plastic to cover it.
Tip #2 – Start at the Top
When performing exterior painting, always start at the top and work your way down. That way, if there are drips or runs, you can see them as you move downwards. When you see drips or splashes, quickly brush or roll them out, so they don’t leave a lasting mark.
Tip #3 – Don’t Wait Too Long
Once your exterior paint has begun to fail, you have entered a whole new level of painting difficulty. Before you can repaint, all failing paint must be removed, which is laborious and time-consuming. Instead, repaint your pergola or gazebo before the paint begins to fail. That way, you will probably only need one coat of paint, and the surface preparation will only require light washing.
Tip #4 – Talk to MB Jessee
For best results with exterior painting here in the San Francisco metropolitan area, contact MB Jessee. When you want your pergola or gazebo to look fantastic, calling us is the best way NOT to botch it! We have an excellent reputation for premium painting services, and we emphasize great customer service. Not only that, but we also have a unique guarantee on our exterior painting that sets us apart from other local painting companies.
Feel free to call us or to contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you!
