The exterior of your house can be viewed as
its skin. Not only does it protect you from the elements outdoors and trap the
cool air in during the summer, but it also serves as the single most important
cosmetic feature of your dwelling. As time goes by, you may find that your
house's skin is not looking so great: it's chipped in spots and faded in
others. Some areas of your exterior may be very difficult to clean, as it seems
like dirt has just found a permanent home within it. Perhaps that shade of
pastel pink that seemed like an awesome idea in 1986 isn’t so appealing
anymore. Regardless of your reasoning, you may feel the need to paint your
home's exterior.
Painting an exterior is much more complicated than painting a
room. First off, there are many things to consider, such as what type of siding
you have, what type of colors work well in your neighborhood, the climate of
the area that you live in, and many others. Then there's the actual painting of
the house, which might seem like an easy task in your head, but upon starting
the job you may feel like you've ordered more food than you can stomach. It is
for these reasons that we've put together a list of things you should avoid
when you approach the painting of your home's exterior.
Choosing
the wrong type of paint
As technology continues to advance in computers, cell phones,
tablets, etc., it also continues to advance in the field of paint. There are
many options available when choosing which paint to use, so consider a few
things when choosing it such as its resistance to fading, mold and mildew, and
ultra-violet radiation. You should also research how easy the paint is to work
with. You may also do your part to be environmentally friends by choosing a
paint that is low-VOC and eco-friendly. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly,
be sure that the paint has a high durability that will keep it looking good for
many years regardless of what type of climate you live in.
Choosing
the wrong color
You may think that you are a home-renovation fashionista, but more
than likely you should still run your color choices by others to be sure you
aren’t making a horrible decision that you’ll regret for years-to-come. Talk to
professionals, particularly contractors, architects, and realtors to determine
which color choices best match your style of house and neighborhood. A bad
color choice will leave your home looking tacky until you can afford to paint
it again or you’re lucky enough for the color you picked to come into style (it
probably won’t).
Bad
preparation
Did you know that a thunderstorm can completely undue an entire
day’s worth exterior painting work? Do yourself a favor and double check the
forecast before you drag your ladder out of the garage- it will save you time,
money, and a broken heart. Also, closely inspect the exterior of your home
before you begin painting. Be sure you remove every fixture (mailboxes, house
numbers, etc.) and cover all of your nearby plants to prevent them from being painted.
Don’t forget to put painter’s tape around your windows and other areas that you
don’t want the paint to leak on. I would also recommend moving any vehicles
away from the house, as sometimes wind can blow bits of paint away from the
area that you are working on. Failure to do these things can lead to damaging
your property or at least making your painting endeavor more stressful than it
needs to be.
Doing a
poor job
One of the most important rules of home renovation is to never be
impatient. Take things slowly. Watch videos on YouTube that teach proper
painting techniques. When you purchase your brushes or paint, be sure to ask
the professional if you are buying the correct materials. Always know when you
should be using a brush and when you should be using a roller. If you know that
you’ve made a mistake, fix it as soon as possible. Don’t leave it for later, as
you will probably be tired and make an excuse to just leave the eyesore as is.
Not
knowing when to get professional help
Never take on a job that is bigger than what you can handle. It is
a waste of materials, time, and money to start a job only to abandon it.
Painting the exterior of your home is a long and laborious process. If you
don’t have the time, patience, or expertise to take on a project this big, or
if your house is large and has a lot of complicated angles, etc. than you
should probably hire a professional. There is no reason to throw out your back
and drain your bank account only to have a half-painted exterior. Really think
about what you are about to take on and get at least a few professional quotes
before you dig the overalls out of your dresser drawer.
By carefully planning and doing a small amount of research, you
can save yourself a lot of time and money and come out with an awesome, newly-painted
exterior that you can be proud of.
