Exterior painting is the fastest, most cost-effective, and most protective home repair option available. It also revitalizes, beautifies, and protects a house. Your home’s appearance can be significantly changed with a fresh coat of paint. Even though painting a house can be a major task, it can be finished in a week or two.
The cost of hiring an exterior painting service can range from $1,000 to $6,000 or more, depending on the size and condition of your home. Making it a DIY project allows you to cut costs on labor, which often makes up more than half of the total cost. But be aware that painting your house will require a lot of work.
You’ll want this project completed well so you don’t have to repeat it in a few years, whether you work with a contractor or do it yourself. Here are 10 exterior home painting guidelines you should go by in light of this:
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1. Spend Money on Materials
Spend money on premium paint, primer, and caulking material. Superior paint flows, covers, and lasts longer than inferior paint. Purchase paint that comes with a lifetime warranty against finish flaws.
You usually get what you pay for when it comes to house paint, and the best components are pricey. Costs for premium exterior paint range from $35 to $40 per gallon and even up to $80 per gallon. Make sure to select acrylic paint alone.
2. Do the Necessary Preparation
Paint should be applied to an area that is clean, dry, and not cracking or peeling for it to adhere well. This frequently necessitates extensive scraping and sanding in order to paint, depending on the state of the old siding and trim.
Clean the surfaces first. A pressure washer or hose with detergent and water can be used, as well. When using a pressure washer, take care not to damage the the wood’s surface with the high-pressure water spray or push water deeply into the siding joints.
You’ll need a scraper to get rid of flaking, loose paint. A 5-inch disc power sander will then be effective for sanding the surface and removing more difficult paint.
Fill holes and cracks using wood filler and a putty knife. Sand these areas once more after letting the filler dry. Clean out all of the dust, caulk the joints, and then apply primer when the caulk has dried.
3. Don’t use Lead Paint
Although lead is not present in modern home paints, lead was probably present in paint that was applied before 1978. Environmental Protection Agencies advise that any lead paint-related home remodeling project has the potential to produce lead dust or chips that are dangerous to both children’s and adults’ health.
The EPA advises contacting a nearby lead-safe certified remodeling contractor, which may be contacted through the EPA’s website, for lead testing and removal.
4. Use multiple coats of paint:
If you’re painting over raw wood or metal, start with a high-quality alkyd primer for your base coat. This will assist prevent bleeding and will be mentioned on the paint package. To reduce the need for two finish coats of paint, some painters prefer to tint the primer toward the final paint colour. Some people prefer to add a contrasting colour to the primer to highlight any areas that the final coats didn’t entirely cover.
Apply the first finish coat following the primer. Apply a second top coat after it becomes tacky.
5. Use the Appropriate Tools
Utilize top-notch brushes, rollers, and, for some homes, airless sprayers, all of which may be hired at the majority of home improvement stores or tool rental shops. The simplest method for applying primer and paint to textured surfaces is to use an airless sprayer to spray it on, followed by a hand-rolled back-roll to guarantee adhesion.
If you’ve never used an airless sprayer before, pay close attention to the instructions and gain some practise by painting a side of the home that won’t draw notice. Utilize a paint strainer to prevent paint from clogging the sprayer while you work from a 5-gallon paint bucket.
6. Be practical
If you don’t have the necessary time, resources, expertise, and energy, don’t attempt to paint your house yourself. Preparing and painting a house on your own can be a tedious, challenging task depending on the size, height, and state of the current siding.
7. Watch for mild weather
Avoid painting on warm days, in the rain, or when it’s windy. 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit are the ideal range for painting. The paint dries too quickly in hot weather and in direct sunlight. Pause for the shade if at all feasible. Lower than 50 degrees can stop the paint from properly bonding to the surface. Surfaces can bubble due to moisture or dew.
8. Cover every other point
Use drop sheets or plastic sheeting to cover sidewalks, patios, gardens, bushes, and patios to prevent paint splatters and spills. You’ll avoid significant cleanup issues later on by doing this. Masking and covering is essential when using an airless paint sprayer because overspray could even coat your neighbors’ cars.
9. Use Tested Techniques When Painting
Do your research if you’re new to painting. Online resources offer a wealth of free information, including expert-produced films that break down procedures into simple steps.
To prevent fresh paint from dripping onto freshly painted surfaces, start at the top with overhangs. After the siding has dried, tape off the areas around the windows and doors, then paint the trim. The painter’s tape or masking tape should be removed as soon as you are through painting the trim to prevent leftovers. Touch up any areas where paint hasn’t completely coated the surface after it has dried.
10. Request quotes and references if you hire a professional
Ask at least three exterior house painters for thorough quotes and ask for the names and contact information of happy clients. Make contact with two or three of those clients or, if you can, go to their residences to check the quality of the work. Networks like Angie’s List, HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Google, and Yelp can all be used to identify local experts and read client testimonials.
