When Rick Bruno graduated from high school, he started working for a large professional painting company and quickly fell in love with the trade. He remembers an old boss telling him, “Rick, if you’re going to be a tradesman, pick a trade and master it.” After gaining years of experience painting, he did just that and moved on to start his own company.

Bruno Painting has now been in business for 18 years, specializing in residential repaint and new construction in Newport, Rhode Island. On this job, the Bruno Painting crew is in the historic area of Ocean Drive to prep and paint the exterior of this home.

To get an excellent exterior paint job, you first need to start off with a thorough washing to make sure dirt, mold, and mildew are all off the house. Typically a pressure washer is used, taking care to not get too close to the house to avoid causing any damage. Once dry, scrape the house with a carbon blade scraper to take off any loose paint, and then sand it down for a nice smooth finish.

Prep is the most important part to a successful paint job. Rushing these steps usually results in blistering, flaking, and peeling paint, so it’s always best to invest in the time it takes to make sure it’s prepped properly for good adhesion and a long lasting topcoat.

After sanding, prime bare wood and any stains with a good oil based primer such as Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Primer. On this job, the crew is full priming all the shingles and spot priming the trim. After spot priming, caulk open seams, and fill nail holes with a hard drying wood filler.

When applying a first coat, their crew typically uses a brush, but will decide whether to roll or spray which is often determined by their surroundings. On this job, they are spraying the body of the home, the silo, and brushing out all the trim.

Benjamin Moore AURA^® Exterior is often used on their job sites for its superior color retention, durability and coverage, and how well it upholds its sheen. Whether brushing, rolling, or spraying, AURA levels perfectly and is a long lasting option that will keep customers happy long term.

“My grandfather was a painter, my dad was a painter. So when I started my own business, I thought it would be great to carry on the Bruno name,” said Rick. “What’s unique about Bruno Painting is that we put our mission statement into action–to uphold and care for surfaces and relationships. Not only do we care deeply about what we’re painting for you, but we care deeply about our relationships with our team, with our client, and with our community.”

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