Painting a barn ... in January

[checkitnice]

So we've finally found a lovely home, with 3+ acres, and a barn. And a shed, and a chicken coop, and a garage. We've been so excited, and maybe listened a little TOO much to our realtor, and now we're finding out that the barn needs to be painted for FHA. Even though she said "ohhh don't worry, we'll work around it" a hundred times.

Except that we're in Michigan, and it's January, and the largest barn really only has paint on the very top of it, because the rest has worn away. And she keeps saying, "oh, I have someone that can power wash the flaking paint and then spray the paint". I may not be a painter, but how is that even possible when it's below freezing?! Am I just dense? If you use a power washer on 100+ year old barns, aren't you going to have to wait for them to dry? What am I missing?

[rancher1913]

depends on how bad you want the place. warm weather and paint go better than cold but if the "bankers" have to have it painted before a loan then just slap some cheap paint on and skip the pressure wash -- it only has to look good for a photo from a distance. if its on your dime get a good paint sprayer and lease a "cherry picker" and let the paint fly. don't worry about dirt or that the paint may not adhere good, after all is said and done this summer pressure wash and do a good prep job then repaint with good paint.

[wharton]

Amazing what hoops you need to jump through sometimes, eh? I went through this exact BS a few years ago. The FHA inspector won't let the deal go through unless all the flaking paint on the front porch is scraped and painted, in the dead of winter. We scraped the loose stuff, waited until the warmest, sunniest time of day, and hit it with one coat of oil based Binn white shellac sealer. It the stuff used to seal smoke and water stains. It dries in a few minutes. I can't imagine that pressure washing, or using any type of latex based anything will end well. Good luck.

[vicker]

You are in a pickle. I wouldn't do a halfway job with cheap paint myself. That is setting yourself up for years of trouble. You'll never get all of the cheap paint off this summer, and while your good paint may adhere to the cheap paint, the cheap paint won't adhere to the barn well. Been there and done that. I've never lived in Michigan, and am not that familiar with this type of job in your area, but I don't think you can do a decent job of painting the outside of a structure during a Michigan winter. After pressure cleaning, most recommend drying for at least 2 weeks prior to painting. That's during the dry spring and fall days. It matters if you are using latex, or oil based paint, and their range of surface temps for applying vary.

[vicker]

Just a thought, but what if you whitewashed it?

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'd tell whoever is saying to paint it that you'll watch THEM do it in January weather. Good grief.

[checkitnice]

Realtor is claiming she has someone who will do all four buildings (one coat only) for $2100. Then she says that this week will be warm enough, which it won't be with only one day hitting 40F. But we have to wait until we get the official appraisal, which probably won't be until Tuesday.

I think she's flipping nuts. Whitewash would be perfect for the large barn, but the smaller ones need paint.

[cindy-e]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I'd tell whoever is saying to paint it that you'll watch THEM do it in January weather. Good grief.

Unfortunately, this is an FHA rule. Federal. We had to paint something for our loan too. We have barns that are in terrible shape that have paing chipping off and etc... but we had 1 barn and one LOG play shed. They made us paint both before the FHA underwriter would accept this place. The other ones which had a little paint on them (and I mean just a very little) were ok. Thank goodness for that, I guess.

[wharton]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I'd tell whoever is saying to paint it that you'll watch THEM do it in January weather. Good grief.

It's FHA's money, their rules, and you can either play the game their way, or not. Trying to bring logic or common sense into the situation is a vast waste of time. I had another FHA deal where the inspector would not let a deal go through without a septic inspection. This was a brand new home with a septic system that had been inspected SEVEN times by a state certified, civil engineer who provided detail documentation that I forwarded to FHA. After review, FHA came back with the fact that this was inadequate. In the end I hired this goofy, shady, FHA approved "home inspector" Who charged me $125 to flush the toilet, stare into the new, clean, empty tank and give me a one page "inspection report". Total scam, but like painting a barn in a blizzard, sometimes you go to do whatever it takes. That said, when it comes to selling new construction, I would probably refuse to do business with FHA again. Two months of jumping through hoops like this isn't worth the effort.

[fordy]

Originally Posted by checkitnice

So we've finally found a lovely home, with 3+ acres, and a barn. And a shed, and a chicken coop, and a garage. We've been so excited, and maybe listened a little TOO much to our realtor, and now we're finding out that the barn needs to be painted for FHA. Even though she said "ohhh don't worry, we'll work around it" a hundred times.

Except that we're in Michigan, and it's January, and the largest barn really only has paint on the very top of it, because the rest has worn away. And she keeps saying, "oh, I have someone that can power wash the flaking paint and then spray the paint". I may not be a painter, but how is that even possible when it's below freezing?! Am I just dense? If you use a power washer on 100+ year old barns, aren't you going to have to wait for them to dry? What am I missing?

................Either walk away or let the current owner pay the bill ! , fordy

[OK Yankee]

It's not only FHA. The insurance people are like that, too. We bought an old house (circa 1880s), so the insurance people said it needed a new roof before they would insure it. Okay, we reroofed it. My brother bought a newer house (circa 1950s), they wouldn't insure his until he had new windows. Same insurance company. My windows were in much worse shape than his. lookiong at a new insurance company, they won't insure unless we paint it! This is Michigan,too.

Like Rosanne Rosanna Danna said "It's always something!"

Yankee

BTW the house is not mortgaged. No leins whatsoever.

[Studhauler]

See if they will let you put money in escrow for the paint job on the barn. This way it can get painted proper and not a quick coat.

I have painted window trim in 10 degree weather. I watch my father paint his whole garage in the same kind of weather. We used oil based paint, it took forever to dry, but it was a good paint job in the end. That paint is still on his garage and it has been at least 10 years.

[Awnry Abe]

Originally Posted by checkitnice

100+ year old barns, aren't you going to have to wait for them to dry? What am I missing?

The logic of FHA, which we all would. Painting/restoring barns is certainly worth the effort, but not in the winter.

[Chucknbob]

Umm, if its a company that is doing the job, will they warranty the work? IF they'll stand behind the job let them do it.

Paint can dry in low temps, it just takes longer, I suggest talking to the business, they're the pros, call the business and ask them exactly whAt theyree going to do and how they'll do it.

On a side note, I got an FHA for my first home. I was told that a couple of my windows weren't acceptable because they weren't double pane. We literally taped plexiglass to the wall over the window, and that was considered a double pane so we passed. Stupid government.

[FarmboyBill]

I think the idee of white wash is a darn good one, Specially since yo can make it yourself, and thereby paint it good with it, and not skimp, andsave way over 1/2 what you would have to pay for paint. one suggestion
Buy yourselves a Llewwyen Moon Sign Book, IF you dont know how to read any other alamanac, and paint it in the 3rd quarter on a dry sign. It will stick to the walls better, and quicker. And stay there longer Good luck. Try to get a warm day IF possible, But the right sign is more important than a really warm day.

[checkitnice]

Chucknbob - it's not a company that would be doing the work. It's "some guy" that the realtor knows. I have no issue with the fact that the barns need painted at all, and I know that FHA regulations DO require it. Our realtor first told us that the appraiser would assign the barns no value, and so it wouldn't be an issue. Then she told us that they could split the parcel so they wouldn't be a part of the appraisal at all.

I guess our lender won't let us put funds in escrow to cover the painting once it warms up. Not sure why at all. It's just stupid that they'd rather have us powerwash all of the lead paint ONTO THE GROUND, and then do a crap job painting, just to get it to pass.

[||Downhome||]

I would not pressure wash nor would I use latex or water based anything!
Even the low temp stuff.
I was a product specialist for Sherwin Williams and I'm also Lifetime Michigander!
Listen to what I'm telling you.
You need to scrape, power washing is not the cat meow like most people think.
You don't need to "sand" it down just get the loose stuff.
Scrapers and wire brushes.
The only other option would be to sand blast them, but I've only seen that done for floor prep and they use steel shot and not sand...
the weather may be suitable to paint, the low temp is good for 35 degree temps.
everything else is 50 degrees.
That building is going to be cold, the temps are only going to be for a few hours.
Then its going to be cold.
Again stay away from Latex!
Option 1 oil base, thin it down to a stain like consistency.
Use a fast flashing thinner like naptha, make sure the paints compatible.
option 2 use a alkyd solid color stain.
Either way temps do not matter , slower it drys better the adhesion.
In the cold its gonna take a while to dry, takes it twice as long as takes in regular temps.
only thing is a driving rain, hail snow can make a mess of it if it hasn't dried.

I'd see if you can't get some sort of extension on the paint aspect, seem they would or should know the mess their asking you to create!

actually you know I would just give it a thinned down coat of alkyd stain (50/50), forget scrapping, consider it a partial prime job.
Do it right in the spring. or take the spring and summer to get it done proper.

[HDRider]

Originally Posted by Studhauler

See if they will let you put money in escrow for the paint job on the barn. This way it can get painted proper and not a quick coat.

I have painted window trim in 10 degree weather. I watch my father paint his whole garage in the same kind of weather. We used oil based paint, it took forever to dry, but it was a good paint job in the end. That paint is still on his garage and it has been at least 10 years.

This is a good idea, maybe attach an agreement to paint to the deed or loan doc.

If it is well worth painting it is worth painting well.

[OkieDavid]

Call me a lazy redneck but I'm thinking Rit Dye in a tank sprayer with a gallon of RV antifreeze added.

[dkhern]

talk to a painting contractor of your choosing not the realitors friend