Your house reflects your personality, and every homeowner wants their home to reflect well on themselves. One of the most obvious aspects of a house is its paint job, but there is an art to painting an exterior – one which many homeowners are unaware of. A high-quality painted exterior is one of the most valuable factors in a home’s curbside appeal, so managing a proper paint job on your home can add immense satisfaction as well as serious value to your property. Here are some tips and tricks for your next exterior paint project.
1. Wash First
Washing your home’s exterior before you start to paint is very important if you want your paint to stick in the first place. Dirt and grime can prevent paint from staying tight on the surface of your home’s exterior, so give it a good pressure-washing beforehand.
2. Pick the Right Paint
Don’t be afraid to splurge on high-quality paint. Your investment is more important than the initial price tag, after all, a good coat of paint will last longer – despite the higher upfront costs. When choosing paint, consider choosing three different shades, one for the body, one accent color, and one color for the trim of your home.
3. Consider Your Location
Picking a paint color depends on where you are in the country, as well as more specifically where you are in nature. The right color home will add major value to your property, though you should always consider homeowners’ association requirements and restrictions first.
4. Picking the Right Time
Be careful when you decide to paint – as picking a dry, clear time of year is critical. Ignoring the weather means running the risk of deciding to pick up the paintbrush right as the sky rips open in a downpour, washing away your hard work.
5. Scrape Away Old Paint
Once your siding is clean, the weather is clear, and you have all the paint you need, it’s time to remove your old coat of paint – specifically flakes and chips left over. Be sure to only tackle this step once enough time has passed after cleaning and your exterior is dry. Ignoring this step might result in even more flaking and chipping paint, wasting your time and money on the next coat. Either way, take the scraper and remove any sections of paint that are starting to flake away in preparation for your new coat.
6. Apply Primer First
Once you’ve scraped away old paint chips, you will likely have a few areas of exposed siding. While it is possible to paint directly on these, it is better for your exterior if you apply a coat of primer first. This helps keep paint attached to the surface of your siding, making it last much longer than it otherwise would.
7. Move From the Top Down
If you paint from the top down, you will be painting with gravity rather than against it. Not only does this make your job somewhat easier, but it will protect your project from streaks you would otherwise face as paint drips downward while you brush.
For maintenance free siding consider investing in some new vinyl siding. Here at Mr. Roof we have scratch resistant and fade resistant siding options to enhance your homes’ beauty.
