Early summer and early fall are the ideal times of year to paint the exterior of your home. Before you get started, here are a few helpful tips for getting excellent results.
Choose Quality Paint for the Exterior of Your Home
The paint will be your most significant expense when painting the exterior of your home, and cutting corners will be noticeable. High-quality paint resists fading from the sun and stands up to moisture. If you choose a low-quality exterior paint to save money, the finish won’t last as long, and you’ll spend more money in the long term.
Plan Around the Weather
When you paint the exterior of your home, be prepared to work around the forecast. The best conditions are sunny days with low humidity and no chance of rain. The surfaces you are painting should be dry to the touch, as the paint will not adhere or smoothly coat wet materials. If possible, choose five days of sunny, mild weather. Several days in a row allows plenty of time for painting and drying.
Prep the Surface Before You Paint the Exterior of Your Home
Just as surface preparation makes a difference when painting the interior of your home, it also gives you better results with exterior painting. Pressure wash the siding a week or so before beginning your painting project. Pressure washers are great for removing mildew, dirt, and grime, but never use one if you are unfamiliar with the process. Hire a professional company to clean and make repairs to the exterior without causing damage.
Use the Right Tools
To paint the exterior of your home, use a combination of high-quality rollers and brushes. Both serve different purposes; using only one or the other will leave you with unsatisfactory results. Rollers efficiently and smoothly spread paint across large areas. Use a brush when painting around edges and corners and when cutting in next to exterior doors and windows.
Paint Evenly
When painting the outside of a house, it’s generally best to paint from top to bottom. Overlapping the brush and paint-roller strokes will guarantee a professional finish and that all parts of your house are evenly covered. Always allow the paint to dry completely between coats. The last step should be painting trim, doors, windows, and shutters.
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