Avoid These Common Exterior Painting Mistakes
Painting the outside of your home is one of the best ways to achieve the curb appeal you’ve been seeking. Perfectly applied exterior paint shows that you have pride in the place you call home, and it gives your house that special “pop” that attracts the eyes of passers-by. Exterior paint is not only aesthetic, but also protective. It protects wood and other surfaces from rot and premature failure. However, painting the exterior of a home is much different than painting the interior, and it’s not something to jump into without a lot of preparation and knowledge.
The following are several common exterior painting mistakes that should be avoided when undertaking an exterior paint job.
Rushing the Prep Phase
It’s easy to rush into painting the exterior of your home too quickly. After all, the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll see that impressive result. Still, it’s essential to properly prep to see the best results.
The professionals at Nolan Painting will do the following prep work before pulling out their paint brushes:
- Scrape away all loose paint chips.
- Sand the rough edges of the paint that remains. A smooth surface allows new paint to apply more seamlessly.
- Thoroughly clean the surface that will be painted. Remove all dirt, dust and other debris. A power washer is a great way to remove the debris, but if this technique is used, the surface must dry for one or two days before painting. Ensuring that the surface that is being painted is at the proper moisture content is important. Painting a surface when the moisture content is too high can lead to early paint failure.
- Repair areas that are rotten or deteriorating.
- Caulk any open seams.
Prepping is the most difficult and time-consuming part of painting the exterior of your home. That’s why Nolan Painting takes the time to carefully perform all the tasks above. We want the finished product to exceed your expectations.
Skipping the Primer
Another major mistake novice painters make when painting the exterior of a home is omitting the priming phase. It’s essential to apply a few coats of primer to any wood that has never been painted, has been stripped or is weathered. Primer helps paint adhere properly.
Using the Wrong Paint
For a novice who’s trying to paint their home’s exterior alone, it’s easy to choose the wrong paint. While color is undeniably important, it’s just as essential to choose a paint that’s specifically designed for exterior use. A high-quality acrylic latex paint is best for maximum durability. These paints are often more expensive, but they are able to endure the elements and last much longer than inferior paint products.
What If There’s Bad Weather?
We use on customers’ homes Sherwin Williams Resilience with “Moisture Lock” paint. It’s designed for changeable weather and it sets and cures quickly before bad weather sets in. Even in bad weather, we often perform a lot of services and can move jobs along. In bad weather, we can prepare the surface, scrape, remove and paint shutters, paint porches and paint other covered areas.
Not Knowing When to Ask the Professionals
Rushing through the painting process is common and often results in a
paint job that doesn’t meet your expectations. This can be a major waste of time and money. It’s beneficial to leave the painting to the professionals who will ensure your exterior paint job is completed properly and withstands the elements for years to come.
Residents located in the Philadelphia area can turn to the experts at Nolan Painting. We are equipped with 100 of the most experienced painters in the industry and have more than 30 trucks ready to roll to your house at any time. Let us create the dream you’ve envisioned for your home without any of the unnecessary stress.
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