Paint and Stain
Because of changes in the formulas for paint (such as the elimination of lead to make paints safer), painted surfaces must be washed gently using mild soap and as little water as possible. Avoid abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, or scrub brushes. Flat paints show washing marks more easily than gloss paints do. Often better results come from touching up rather than washing the paint.
Colors
Your selection sheets are your record of the paint and stain color names, numbers, and brands in your home.
Exterior Paint
Due to weather conditions, fading of exterior paint is to be expected. The degree of fading is dependent upon climatic conditions and the shade of the paint or stain. The fading of paint, varnish, lacquer, or sealed stain on exterior surfaces will deteriorate rapidly and are excluded from the Limited Warranty.
Severe Weather
Hail and wind can cause a great deal of damage in a severe storm, so inspect the house after such weather. Promptly report damage caused by severe weather to your homeowners insurance.
Stain
For minor interior stain touch-ups, a furniture-polish-and-stain treatment is inexpensive, easy to use, and will blend in with the wood grain. Follow directions on the bottle.
A Q-tip may be used to touch up small scratches and smudges.
Touch-Up
When doing paint touch-ups, use a small brush, applying paint only to the damaged spot. Touch-up may not match the surrounding area exactly, even if the same paint mix is used. When it is time to repaint a room, prepare the wall surfaces first by cleaning with a mild soap and water mixture or a reliable cleaning product.
We provide samples of each paint color used on your home. Store these with the lids tightly in place and in a location where they are not subjected to extreme temperatures.
Related Topics
- Wood Trim - Caring for interior and exterior trim
- Drywall - Wall surface maintenance
- Caulking - Sealing joints before painting
Warranty Coverage: See Paint and Stain Standards for coverage details.