Exterior Painting Requires Expert Preparation

Painting the exterior of a house can be a demanding job. However, many potentially detrimental challenges can be avoided with proper planning and preparation.

Many times the first step is determining how much of the exterior will be painted. More specifically, consider how much of the exterior needs to be painted to boost the appearance. For instance, painting only the shutters or trim as opposed to the entire house may drastically improve the look of a house, while adding a whole new dynamic to the exterior and saving resources.

Proceed with caution after deciding to paint large areas. Be prepared to spend extra time selecting the colors and types of paint that will be used. In some cases it’s ideal to purchase a quart or so of each color and create larger samples for comparison. This is good for peace of mind when using a new brand or to see how a color translates to a surface. While purchasing a few samples may seem like an unnecessary cost to some, it’s far less costly than redoing an entire exterior because of low quality paint or underwhelming color. Additionally, this also helps narrow down choices to one confident and educated decision. Keep in mind that the color should fit in with the rest of the houses in the neighborhood, and that an experienced painting professional can provide recommended color combinations with sample books to helping to achieve a desired look of colors that look best together.

Moving forward, consider using 100% Acrylic paint or stain for most surfaces. This option has better fade and mildew resistance in comparison to oil-based paints and stains. Regardless of using latex or oil-based paint, make sure to purchase highest quality paint that suits the budget. Lower grade brands often end up being more costly in the long run, leaving homeowners more likely to need additional coats.

At this stage of the preparation, take stock of current equipment, as the tools become equally important to a quality paint job as the paint itself. For example, latex paints require a brush made out of a nylon/polyester blend while oil-based paints call for a natural-bristle brush.

Before beginning the painting project, the surface of the house should be as clean as possible in addition to being dull and dry. If necessary, pressure-wash the exterior to wash off the remaining dirt, mildew or oxidation (chalk). Rinse landscaped plants before, during, and after the pressure washing process. You can refer to our pressure washing blog for more exact details.  After cleaning the exterior, scrape off any peeling or cracked paint prior to sanding or priming the area.

One of the last steps to large area painting is to pay attention to the temperature. For the best outcome, aim to paint on days with low humidity. The ideal temperature is between 75 and 85 degrees. Throughout the process, follow the shade so that fresh paint isn’t exposed to direct sunlight to prevent the development of heat blisters.

Identifying the risks and planning each step of the painting process dramatically improves the likelihood of a quality paint job. Unfortunately, mistakes on a home exterior can be costly and sometimes embarrassing. Remember that household appearance is not something to be taken lightly or to approach with doubts. Feel free to contact Matthews Painting to learn more about what to expect before tackling a sizable project like exterior painting, or to take advantage of our services that come with years of experience and expertise.