Comments0 by in Home Maintenance
October 15, 2016
Painting your Home, Our top 7 tips

Home improvement projects are important because they help add to the aesthetics and value of your home. One of the easiest ways to spruce up the appearance of your home with the least amount of expense is to get the interior and exterior walls painted. It’s true that many homeowners like to get this job done by professional painters and depending on your time and budget, this is a great option. However, many people like to embark upon DIY house painting projects themselves.

Painting your walls is an excellent way of uplifting the look of the entire space. This is because the walls are such a large part of your home structure that they become the backdrop for all the other features and décor within your home. If you are planning on getting your home painted, you are sure to want to go about it the right way.

Our Home Painting Tips

Regardless of whether you are planning on hiring professionals to get your house painted, or are planning a DIY home painting project, here are 7 top tips for painting your home:

  1. Choosing the right paints
  2. The cost factor
  3. Read the fine print on the label
  4. Prepare the surface
  5. Use a roller and paint brush
  6. Start painting in the shade
  7. Start from the top

1. Choosing the Right Paints

There are a number of varieties of paints on the market. For interior spaces, you can choose between oil-based or water-based paints with a range of finishes such as matte paint, eggshell, and satin paint, as well as semi-gloss and gloss paint.

For exterior walls, you can choose from oil-based alkyd or water-based latex paints. You would have to conduct a certain amount of online research or speak with your local paint store before you make your final choice of paint.

2. The Cost Factor

If truth be told, there isn’t a fixed formula to picking the best paints for your home. Every paint manufacturer offers paints to suit a wide range of budgets and you will have to identify what suits you best. It’s a good idea to buy the best quality paint within your budget since cost is definitely an indication of quality. Paints that are more expensive have more pigments than any bargain paints and they produce a much longer-lasting, thicker and protective coating.

3. Read the Fine Print on the Label

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to omit reading the fine print on the label; however, they really should. There is a significant amount of information printed there to help you and complete a very beautiful paint job. You will find information like the right temperature at which the paint should be applied, how to best prepare the surface, etc. Start reading what’s printed on the label before you actually start painting.

4. Prepare the Surface

If you want the new paint to get affixed to the surface better; you would first have to clean the walls thoroughly. This is especially true of the exterior walls and you have to ensure they are clear of all the mildew, grime, dust, chalky residue, and dirt. The best way to get all the surfaces clean is to use a power sprayer/gerni.

However, if you don’t have one, you can use a stiff brush to accomplish the task and a cleaning agent. Since some set-up time and preparation is required, it will take a little longer than the power-sprayer process. It’s also important that you carefully remove or tap nail heads (if any), into the surface, with a hammer. This is also a great opportunity to fix any small holes, which should be filled in with putty. Wait for this to dry completely and then sand them flush to the surface.

When you are applying any caulking around the trim, windows and doors, ensure you use paintable caulk. If you find that the paint on your walls is in good condition, you can paint directly over these surfaces. If you find any old, flaking and peeling paint, make sure you scrape it and sand it well before you start painting. In case there are any bare wooden surfaces, they will have to be primed before you paint them.

5. Use a Roller and Paint Brush

Using a paintbrush as well as a roller is the best way to apply interior and exterior paint. You would have to brush the paint onto the narrow edges, surfaces, and all the smaller areas. Make sure you use a roller that has a much smaller diameter when you are painting long and large surfaces such as trim and siding.

6. Start painting in the shade

If you paint in direct sunlight or apply paint to any sunbaked surfaces it will cause the paint to dry too fast. This means the paint won’t get the time it requires to adhere well to the surfaces and you will find it flaking and blistering prematurely. This is why you should start painting on the side of the house that’s shaded. Wait for the sun to then move and you can tackle the rest of the exterior walls once they are covered in shade. You won’t have to worry about this aspect so much, when you are painting the interior walls of your home.

7. Start from the top

It’s important that you start painting from the top. Paint the ceiling first and then tackle the walls when you are painting indoor spaces. When it comes to painting the exterior of your home, start with painting all the areas near the top of your house & then work your way down. First, paint the bottom edge of the siding and then move to the board surfaces.

When you brush from one of the wet surfaces to another; it helps prevent lap marks. If you aren’t able to do this, you should paint onto the area that has been previously painted & dried and then overlap onto that surface by a few inches.

Your safety matters!

When you are painting any high surfaces, always observe basic ladder safety. While tackling the exterior walls of your home, don’t reach too much to the side, or you risk toppling over. It’s important that you keep your hips right within the ladder’s horizontal rails. If you can’t easily paint a spot that’s beyond your reach, it’s far safer to get down and then move the ladder; you can then climb back up and start painting, rather than risk falling.

While painting your home can be a fun and rewarding project, it can be quite tedious and time-consuming too. It’s a much better idea to hire the services of skilled and experienced professional house painters to handle this job for you.

We hope that helps the next time you decide to paint your home!

Cheers,
Shane Caldwell

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