Preparing exterior wood for repainting
 

I will be repainting my house and porch this year. I'm not clear on what the esthetic standard is for surface preparation. About wood siding I've heard, "Don't try to get it perfect. Just scrape off the loose paint. Sand the edges where the paint is missing if you want. You won't be able to see imperfections from 20 feet away." Do you agree?

I applied that theory to my porch 3 years ago and did not like the result, especially because the porch had a glossier paint on it so the imperfections are more visible. But scraping and machine sanding the whole porch to get an even surface seems laborious.

I won't be doing this work myself. I'm asking so I know what standard to expect from whoever does it.

Lead paint?
 

If I recall correctly, this is an older house so underneath there may be some lead paint from any work done prior to 1978. You can buy an inexpensive kit at the hardware store to test for lead paint. If there is any, whoever does the work needs to wear protective gear and paint that is falling off needs to be properly removed. Other than that, I'd expect broad sanding, at least spot priming and finish coats. Brush vs spray? That's a whole different discussion. Remove and replace window/door caulking? Replace an occasional piece of rotten wood? Remove hornets and bees etc. before the painter seals them into the attic. Same with bats. Prep is not just for painted surfaces.

Descant, the original house was built in 1929 and various parts were added over the years. I had the bedrooms tested for lead paint and none was found. The seller declared that there was no lead paint in the house, but I have no way of knowing whether that's true. The porch wasn't tested. I didn't know that lead was a hazard when working outdoors!?

I'm only asking about preparing the porch floor. I bet some people want a perfect surface. I used a roller last time and wasn't that pleased with the texture, but it sure went fast. Here's what it looked like in 2019.

It probably dried too quickly.

The Gilford Walmart has become much totally better at training to mix paint colors. Used to be only one person know how to do it, but now getting it colored right is much quicker.

Sounds like a satin finish is better than a semi-gloss for deck paint.

Tested by a professional contractor and sent to a laboratory. And what year was this part constructed or remodeled?

Absolutely. In the air and on/in the ground.

The simple solution is to get the deck cleaned. Pressure wash if necessary.
Then a high quality deck paint.

If you can find someone or a paint contractor to paint it. Take it.

Or. If perfection is your goal. Tear down old decking and have new decking installed. Lot more expensive than just a coat of paint.

Now granted. Homeowners scrape and paint their houses without using proper PPE and not seeking out any OSHA guidelines.

Visit your local hardware store or local lumber yard and ask about high quality deck paints. Can also ask about names of painters at same places.

I don't believe that you can take the stipple out, or create enough tooth for bonding a new layer to the old with washing - even using pressure.

The porch and floor that she used is the correct product for that appearance and use.

It was very hot and humid the day I painted. Maybe the nap on the roller was too long. The roller eliminated streaks that would be left by a paint brush, but it left a visible texture.

It is what we call stipple. Brushes leave brush marks. Even if hot and humid, if it dries too fast the product can not self-level.

Why would it dry too fast if it's hot and humid?

Probably more hot than humid.
Stippling occurs with the ridges dry faster than the base layer.

It may have been too long a nap... or so many other variables.
If it was more humid... than the relativity humidity of the air would slow the drying process... but that didn't happen - at least not enough to allow the stipple to flow out.

So is it normally okay to use a roller on a floor?

Yes. Had it been a brush, it would most likely have left brush marks.
If you point it out to the incoming painter, they will most likely lightly sand the porch and add a chemical to the paint to increase the flow.