What Is Back-Brushing?

The painting industry has evolved and airless sprayers are becoming more and more common for exterior painting. There are, of course, benefits to using an airless sprayer, like being able to cover more surface area in less time, but there are also some negative aspects to using an airless sprayer, especially on certain surfaces.

What’s Wrong With Airless Sprayers?

Airless sprayers require an extended period of time for both setup and clean up. Paint applied with a sprayer can also sit on top of certain surfaces, rather than really fill in all the ridges, cracks, and nail holes. Filling in these areas is necessary for full adhesion, which is a vital part of a quality and long-lasting paint job.

Back-Brushing To The Rescue

As you might have assumed by now, back-brushing is the solution to the issues we mentioned above. Back-brushing (or rolling) is the process of working the paint into a rough surface after it has been sprayed. Back-brushing must be done while the paint is still wet. Using a brush or roller, work the paint into the cracks and crevices. As you work the paint into the smaller imperfections on the substrate, you create a better bond between the paint and the surface. Back-brushing is extremely important with rougher surfaces, like cedar siding, T1-11 siding, or any surface that has become weathered over time. New, pre-sealed surfaces typically don’t need to be back-brushed.

Hire A Professional

As a homeowner, you probably don’t want to tackle a project as extensive as painting your home’s exterior and you probably lack the necessary equipment. Consider hiring a professional to ensure the job is done correctly. We have the right equipment and we take all of the essential steps to prepare and seal your surface, including covering the surrounding areas and plants, removing old paint, caulking, back-brushing, and more. We will also include descriptions of each step in our proposal. You can trust M. Carlson Painting with your exterior painting project!