With the summer home improvements well underway, millions are once again setting their sights on long overdue home improvements. Motivated by weather that’s at least semi-reliable, households across the country are planning ambitious exterior painting projects.
Indeed, time it right and there really is no time like the present to treat your home to a fresh coat of paint.
For those who love nothing more than a spot of DIY, exterior painting can be enormously satisfying. Even so, it’s important to approach jobs like these the right way, in order to avoid disappointing results.
With this in mind, here’s a simple yet essential five-point checklist for anyone planning to paint their home’s exterior this summer:
- Protect the surrounding area properly
Before getting started, you’ll need to ensure the surrounding area is properly protected. Irrespective of your preferred application method – spray, brush, roller etc. – you need to be braced for the fact that paint gets everywhere when painting outdoors.
In a nutshell, anything you’d prefer not to get splattered with paint needs to be removed from the vicinity entirely. Or at least, covered with the kinds of protective sheets that don’t have become a health hazard in their own right.
Top tip – beware the use of plastic protective covers outdoors, as they have a habit of becoming as slick as ice when they become even slightly damp.
- Focus heavily on surface preparation
We often say that preparation accounts for at least 80% of a successful exterior painting job. Applying paint smoothly and evenly is actually quite straightforward if the surfaces have been properly prepared.
What this means is first going over your home’s exterior to note for any damage that could slow you down. This includes any peeling, cracked, loose or chipped paint, along with holes and cracks in the woodwork itself.
Glossy surfaces are practically impossible to paint, and therefore need to be sanded slightly to a rough finish. In addition, thoroughly cleaning your home’s exterior and using the right kind of primer is essential.
- Don’t cut corners on quality
Ensuring you have the right tools and equipment is a must, which across the board must be of the highest possible quality standard. There’s a reason why paintbrush prices range from 50¢ to more than $50.00, and why a can of paint can cost anything from $5.00 to more than $100.
The long and short of it is simple – you cannot and will not achieve a professional-quality finish with low-grade products. If you want to get the job done like the pros, you need to set your sights on the same kind of equipment and supplies professional painters use.
All of which will inherently cost more than low-end gear, but you can’t put a price on a flawless look for your home.
- Always start at the top
Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of starting from anywhere but the top of your home. This applies to both the paint and the primer you’ll be using, which need to be applied in careful moderation, starting from an upper corner.
You’ll soon find that gravity is anything but your best friend when painting your home’s exterior. Drips and runs along the way are practically inevitable, so it’s best to work with gravity, rather than against it.
Tackle the job any other way and you’ll simply be making things much more difficult than they need to be.
- Watch the weather
Last up, don’t take the risk of the elements laying waste to your hard work at the worst possible time. Exterior painting is best performed when conditions outdoors are mild, dry, still, cloudy and as consistent as possible.
There are so many factors that can affect the difficulty of an exterior painting job and the resulting finish. Overly hot temperatures, high humidity, direct sun and of course, a freak downpour.
If there’s even the slightest chance of things taking a turn for the worst, it’s advisable to delay your project to a more amicable window of weather. Otherwise, you could watch all your hard work come to nothing, as Mother Nature deals you a hammer blow out of the blue.
Alternatively, you could have the professionals at Homm CPS handle the job on your behalf, and perhaps save you money. For more information on the services we provide or to discuss your requirements in more detail, contact a member of the team at Homm CPS today.