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Paint Specifications

Museum-quality paint for your old house

The following exterior painting specifications reflect the technical and performance standards Historic New England expects from contractors painting our museum properties.

They serve as an example of the range of potential requirements homeowners may wish to consider when having their properties painted. Not every aspect of these specifications should be required or would be suitable for a private residence.

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Exterior Paint Specifications

Part 1 – General Requirements
A. Description of work
1. The work includes preparation and painting with a three (3) coat system (one (1) primer coat and two (2) finish coats) of exterior exposed materials and surfaces of all exterior wooden surfaces and finishes.
2. Paint as used herein means all coating systems materials, including primers, emulsions, enamels, sealers, and other applied materials used as a primer or finish coating.
3. A three (3) coat system refers to a three (3) coat application of paint at the required mil. thickness for each coating applied, as specified by the manufacturer.
4. Paint all exposed surfaces whether or not colors are designated, except where the natural (unpainted) finish of the materials is obviously intended and specifically noted as a surface not to be painted. Where items or surfaces are not specifically mentioned, paint these areas the same as adjacent areas or material.

Part 2 – Site Conditions
B. Do not apply material when temperature of surface and surrounding areas is below 50 degrees F, unless otherwise permitted by manufacturer’s instructions.
C. Do not apply paint in snow, rain, fog, or mist; or when the relative humidity exceeds 85%; or to damp or wet surfaces. The moisture content of the surfaces to be painted must be 13% or less. Moisture content will be tested in several areas designated by Historic New England prior to the application of any paint materials.
D. All manufacturers’ printed instructions are to be followed.
E. All materials safety data sheets are to be available and copies kept on site until completion.
F. All personnel using materials are to be familiar with information contained within, and proper safety precautions are to be followed.
G. All materials will be delivered to the site in their original containers bearing manufacturer’s label and instructions.
H. All materials on site shall comply with fire safety standards.
I. All waste products to be removed from the site daily and the site cleaned to original condition upon completion of project.
J. The site shall be kept clean and free of debris, paint chips, and all equipment; the work area shall be cleaned in an orderly fashion before work completion daily.
K. If erected, scaffolding will remain in place until the completion of the job, and removed within one week of accepted completion of the work.
L. Every effort shall be made to accommodate the reasonable needs of the Historic New England site personnel in relation to scheduling, both calendar and daily.

Part 3 – Sequence of surface preparation treatment shall be as follows:
M. General procedures
1. Perform preparations and cleaning procedures in strict accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and as herein specified, for each substrate condition.
a. Scrape with hand tools all surfaces exhibiting areas of loose or peeling paint, and areas of adhesion failure. Feather all rough edges with sandpaper to provide a smooth transition between paint layers and substrate. As it is imperative that the substrate be free of all marks from sanding and tools, a disc sander will not be considered. Orbital sanders may be used, following agreement by the owner, so long as little removal of existing substrate results. Agreement by the owner will be contingent upon an accepted sample of the orbital sanding.
2. Clean surfaces of dirt and mildew by the following methods:
a. A commercially-prepared house wash solution, to be applied by handheld compression tank sprayer, or by hand with a natural brush. All areas to be treated must be thoroughly rinsed with clean water before proceeding further. Surfaces must be allowed to dry at least 48 hours before any material application.
b. Window sash should be cleaned by hand and may be rinsed by handheld compression tank sprayer. Care should be taken to avoid any damage the sash or leaking around the windows. Surfaces must be allowed to dry at least 48 hours before any material application
c. The use of tri-sodium-phosphate (TSP) or other products containing phosphates or sodium (soluble salts) is forbidden.
d. Power washing is not permitted.
3. Bare wood treatment- weathered and/or dry exposed.
a. If an application of wood consolidant is necessary prior to an application of patching materials or paint, use Castall Seep-n-Seal. Historic New England will determine whether to use an organic consolidant or Seep-and-seel. Both products are to be applied by flooding surface until saturation is reached, care should be taken to keep application off existing painted surfaces, or sanding of the product will be necessary before paint application. Surfaces must be allowed dry a minimum of 24-48 hours. This work is not included in the original bid and should be billed separately as a materials and labor cost extra. Historic New England and the Contractor shall agree on this work prior to commencement.
4. Rotted and deteriorated areas
a. Retain as much original fabric as possible. If wood consolidant must be applied use West System Resin 105 and Hardener 205, Group B or approved equivalent. Apply per manufacturer’s directions. In areas to be filled and repaired use of a phenolic microballoon epoxy system and fairing compound is preferred. Patched areas are to be tooled to original appearance. All holes, cracks, and penetrations where water might invade must be treated. This work is not included in the original bid and should be billed separately as a materials and labor cost extra. Historic New England and the Contractor shall agree on this work prior to commencement.

Part 4 – Priming Surfaces
N. Apply paint in accordance with manufacturer’s directions. Materials to be applied by method best suited for application: brush, roller, or spray. All paint to be finished by brush application.
O. Apply each paint coat at not less than recommended spreading rate to provide the dry film mil. thickness specified by the manufacturer for each paint coating.
P. Allow at least 24 hours dry time before proceeding with any additional paint application. Coating failure may result by application of additional paint over non-dry film.
Q. Apply additional paint coating where undercoats, stains, or other conditions show through paint film, until uniform finish color is achieved.
R. New wood – all sides (especially end grain) to receive prime coat application prior to installation or fabrication of structure. All wood to be installed with ground contact will be treated with wood preservative.
S. Caulking – all joints or gaps around doors, windows, or siding where water invasion may occur are to be filled with Benjamin Moore Elastomeric 465 01 Caulk, or an approved equivalent, not to be applied until primer coating is applied and allowed to dry a minimum of 24 hours.
T. All areas indicating stains due to corrosion of hardware:
Following discussion and agreement with Owner:
1. hardware shall be removed if necessary and rust and corrosion shall be removed by wire brush. All surfaces to be treated with rust inhibitor (Duro-extend or equal), primed with a rust inhibiting primer, and reinstalled after finish painting, if possible.

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Part 5 – Finish Paint
U. Upon completion of previous treatments, inspect all surfaces prior to paint application. Lightly sand rough or fuzzed areas. Care should be taken not to expose substrate or repriming will be necessary.
V. Apply first finish paint coat according to manufacturer’s directions; film thickness as per material specifications. Upon completion of coat, inspect all surfaces and allow to dry before additional coating.
W. Apply additional paint coating where undercoats, stains, or other conditions show through paint film, until uniform finish color is achieved.
X. Apply second finish paint coat according to manufacturer’s directions; film thickness as per material specifications. Upon completion of coat, inspect all surfaces and allow to dry before additional coating.
Y. Apply additional paint coating where undercoats, stains, or other conditions show through paint film, until uniform finish color is achieved.

Part 6 – Window Sash
Z. Prepare surfaces following all guidelines in Part 3.
AA. Remove all loose and deteriorated glazing. If necessary secure loose glass with glazing points and apply glazing material. Allow glazing to cure and harden before paint application.
BB. Glass replacement- Cracked glass is not to be replaced without prior approval of Owner. Replace with like glass unless new glass usage is approved. All glass replaced is to be dated in corner under glazing for future identification.
CC. Apply primer to sash (shellac based paint cannot be applied over glazing). On all window sash, extend paint 1/16″ onto glass to seal glazing. If sash is operable, it is important to paint bottom edge to prevent water invasion. Paint all sides if sash is removed from structure, to seal against water invasion.
DD. If sash is operable, apply paraffin wax to sliding surfaces (jambs, insides of stops and parting beads, and sash sides, if accessible) to facilitate ease of operation.
EE. Clean glass prior to finish paint application with ClearVue Window Cleaner or an equivalent glass cleaner that does not contain ammonia.
FF. Apply finish paint following all guidelines in Part 5. As with the primer, extend paint 1/16″ onto glass to seal glazing. If it is necessary to clean the glass after applying the finish paint, do not break the paint seal between the glass and the finish paint.

Part 7 – Window Shutters
GG. Prepare surfaces following all guidelines in Part 3.
1. When the shutters are being removed, they will be tagged with their current location for proper reinstallation after the work has been completed.
HH. Apply primer following all guidelines in Part 4.
II. Apply finish paint following all guidelines in Part 5.

Part 8 – Clean-up
JJ. General: The site shall be kept clean and free of debris, paint chips, and all equipment and work area shall be cleaned in an orderly fashion before work completion daily. As stated before, the scaffolding is to remain on-site, erected, throughout the duration of the job.
KK. Protection: Protect work of other trades, whether to be painted or not, against damage by painting and finishing work. Correct any damages by cleaning, repairing, or replacing, and repainting as directed by the Owner.

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