The Weekly Gazette

Question: I have a problem that I would like to have you settle for me. I am just about to have my house painted, and plan to make it a two-coat job. Some neighbors advised me to have one coat done this spring, and the second coat put on in the fall. A painter to whom I was talking, however, says it would be wiser to do both coats at once with only two weeks between. What is your advice?-G. W. S.

Answer: The painter is giving you the better advice in this instance. His advice will be more economical for you, too. In preparing the paint for the first coat, he knows that if both coats are to be applied now he will mix the paint thin. Your painter knows that two thin coats of paint are better than two heavy coats. A thin first coat gives better penetration and the linseed oil will fill up the old paint which is dried out. Then the second coat will not sink in, but will stay glossy, which means longer wear. If, however, the second coat is planned for fall, the painter will have to make his first coat heavy. The thin coat would be dried out by fall unless it was second-coated at once. Two heavy coats applied six months apart is not good painting practice. The linseed oil is what makes your paint last, and therefore two thin coats applied at the same time is the better.

If there are any painting questions home owners of East Hartford have, just write to "Painter Pete", in care of this paper, and he'll do his best to answer.