Surface must be clean and dry. Remove all loose, peeling paint, dirt, mildew, grease, oil, chalk, rust, and any other surface contaminants. Blistering
and peeling issues are commonly caused by moisture behind the paint film. Problems leading to excessive moisture in the substrate must be
repaired prior to painting. Putty all nail holes and caulk all cracks and open seams. Sand all glossy, rough, and patched surfaces. Stucco, concrete,
and masonry surfaces must be completely dry, free of efflorescence, and allowed to cure for 30 days prior to painting. When applied to an uncoated substrate or to bare wood, two coats are required with the first coat acting as the primer. For metal, tannin staining woods, fresh concrete or
masonry (less than 30 days cure), or chalky surfaces, use of an appropriate specialty primer is recommended for best results.
WARNING! If you scrape, sand, or remove old paint, you may release lead dust or fumes. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO LEAD DUST OR
FUMES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS, SUCH AS BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO
AVOID EXPOSURE. Wear a properly fitted NIOSH-approved respirator and prevent skin contact to control lead exposure. Clean up carefully with
a HEPA vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to protect yourself and your family by contacting the USEPA National Lead
Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to www.epa.gov/lead. Follow these instructions to control exposure to other hazardous substances that may be released during surface preparation.
ALUMINUM SIDING: Aluminum siding may present potential adhesion problems. Prime prior to topcoating. A specialty primer may be required
if the original painted surface has degraded to the substrate. Topcoat should be spot applied, allowed to cure overnight, then evaluated for adhesion. If adhesion is good, the application may proceed. Check adhesion by applying a piece of masking tape. When the masking tape is
removed, if the coating peels off, the surface must be scuff sanded prior to proceeding to ensure mechanical adhesion.
BRICK, CONCRETE, MASONRY and STUCCO: New concrete and masonry should cure for at least 30 days and preferably 90 days prior to
painting. The pH of the substrate must be less than 10. Painting glazed brick is not recommended due to potential adhesion problems.
FERROUS METAL: The surface must be cleaned thoroughly to remove any dust, rust, and surface contaminants, and then primed with a metal
primer.
FIBER CEMENT: Fiber cement board may present potential adhesion, alkali burn, and efflorescence problems. New board should be aged for
at least 30 days prior to priming and painting. The pH of the substrate must be less than 10 and the moisture content must be less than 12%
prior to painting. All cracks and opens seams should be caulked to prevent water penetration. Pre-primed board from the manufacturer may not
be uniformly or completely sealed.
VINYL SIDING: Vinyl siding may present potential adhesion problems. Topcoat should be spot applied, allowed to cure overnight, then evaluated
for adhesion. If adhesion is good, the application may proceed. Check adhesion by applying a piece of masking tape. When the masking tape
is removed, if the coating peels off, the surface must be scuff sanded prior to proceeding to ensure mechanical adhesion. Color selection for vinyl
siding is limited. Do not paint vinyl siding with a color darker that the original to prevent potential warping due to heat absorption.
WOOD: Countersink all nails, putty flush with surface. Unpainted wood or wood in poor condition should be sanded smooth and wiped clean.
Any knots or resinous areas must be primed before painting.
