Page:Cyclopedia of Painting-Armstrong, George D (1908).djvu/165

Rh or three years and one coat is to be given over a shade similar to the one already on the building, the surface should be thoroughly cleaned with a wire brush or broom, then thoroughly dusted. It is sometimes necessary to wash the surface with sponge and water to remove the smoke and dirt, which otherwise will work up through the paint, changing the color and making un-uniform shades. It is almost impossible to brush dirt streaks out and the only way to get the work in condition for painting is to first wash the surface with water. Allow time for the surface to dry, then, if the wear of the paint is found to be uniform, one coat mixed to a good consistency with a full oil reduction and sufficient turpentine to assist the working will make a satisfactory job. If, however, upon examination the paint is found to be weather-beaten or wearing off in spots on the exposed parts, the building will have to be touched up on these exposed portions and a coat of paint applied to the entire surface to even it up; otherwise it will be spotted when the paint has dried out, making an unsatisfactory job.

If the paint has not worn down to the wood and is only worn off to the undercoats which are solid, mix the paint with half turpentine and half oil, go over the exposed portions of the building with a smooth, even coat, and as soon as hard dry give the entire surface a coat of paint mixed to a good heavy consistency, as before directed. The paint should dry out even, thus making satisfactory work.

As all portions of a building do not have uniform exposure, it is very hard to find a surface where one coat will produce satisfactory work over the entire building. On the most severely exposed parts of a building, the paint will naturally show more wear than on the protected parts and these exposed parts will need to be touched up or painted over to even them up with the less exposed portions.