Does your home need a major repainting? Think first about repairs to correct underlying problems. Today, in Part II of our winter-survivor series, we discuss surface assessment before painting. A good paint job always starts with a good and solid subsurface, and finding any problem areas by studying the existing paint. If wood is cracking, warping or rotting, it must first be repaired or replaced; if paint is bubbling or peeling, it is a sign of previous poor surface preparation or that moisture is working its way up to the surface and is literally lifting the paint off the house. Either way, these problems must first be found, then addressed and individually corrected before you can accurately assess what is needed with regard to painting. Until the subsurface is in near pristine condition and moisture problems are gone, repainting is futile. Tomorrow, in Part III of winter survivor, you'll learn how to outfit, outwit, outlast and survive with pressure-washer preparation. And that's the On The House tip for today.