Homeowners are always looking for quick and easy ways to revamp and beautify their homes’ appearances. Truth be told, painting your house is the easiest and most effective way. A freshly painted house can transform your home’s look, accentuate its appeal, and rejuvenate it for the years to come. Although it can be time-consuming, keeping up the pace can quickly get the work done in a week or two.
If you choose to paint your house yourself rather than hire a professional, there are some rules you should follow. Not following the essential rules can result in a poorly-done job and botched outcomes. Quite surely, you aim for flawless results, so don’t forget to follow these tips for a job well done.
Rules to Follow When Painting Your House
Here are the essential tips to follow when painting your house.
Don’t Compromise on the Quality
It goes without saying that choosing poor-quality products won’t do you any good. They might come by cheap but won’t last long. Therefore, invest in top-quality paint, caulking compound, and primer with a lifetime warranty against defects.
The best ingredients come at a cost, but the price is worth it. Good quality paints usually cost between $40 to $80 per gallon. In addition, you can choose flat finishes for siding, which do a great job of concealing irregularities and defects. As for the trim, the most suitable options are satin and semi-gloss enamels, which are durable yet easily washable.
Take Your Pre-Painting Rituals Seriously
Just like painting on a canvas requires a clean and dry surface, painting your house is no different. You must paint on a dry, clean, and not peeling surface to ensure the paint adheres well. Therefore, the most important preparation step is scraping and sanding before you begin fresh painting.
The first step is washing the surfaces thoroughly with water and detergent. Then, move on to scraping the flaking paint with a scraper. For tougher paint, you can use a 5-inch disc power sander. It will help remove the paint while smoothing the surface. The ideal way is by starting with 60-grit sandpaper and following up with 100-grit sandpaper.
One thing to remember is that the idea isn’t to get rid of all the paint. The goal is to remove loose, flaking paint and make sure the surface is smooth. You can also use a putty knife and wood filler to fill holes and cracks. Once the filler dries, sand the areas again. Remove all the dust, caulk the joint, and ensure the caulks are dry before you proceed with applying primer.
Always Check the Ingredients
Lead is an extremely hazardous material in paints that can be injurious to the health of children and adults alike. The US Environmental Protection Agency states that any lead-based materials used in home improvement work can cause lead dust or chips. These chips can cause lead poisoning and be fatal at high levels.
Lead was banned in 1978, so it’s unlikely that house paints contain harmful ingredients. Still, you must make sure the color is free of lead. The EPA recommends contacting a lead-safe certified renovation contractor for lead testing and removal.
Double Coat Always Wins
If you’re painting over raw wood or metal, start with a high-quality alkyd primer for your base coat. It is mentioned on the paint label and will help keep the paint from bleeding. To reduce the need for two finish coats of paint, you can also shade the primer towards the final paint color.
Another way is to tint the primer with a contrasting hue to highlight any areas that the final applications did not entirely cover. Once the primer is done, apply the first finish coat and apply the second top coat when the first one goes tacky.
Use an Efficient Technique
If you’ve never painted before, there’s an abundance of free information available on the internet to help you get started. Painting techniques can be broken down into steps by reading articles or watching videos.
The most efficient way to paint is by starting at the top and working your way down to avoid dripping paint on previously painted surfaces. The next step is to paint the siding and, as it dries, tape around the doors and windows. Once the trim is dry, you can paint it and remove the tape. After all the coats have dried, go over the areas and touch up any spots you might have missed.
Pick Your Tools Carefully
Just like high-quality paint and primer are crucial to the job, your tools also significantly impact the results. A high-quality brush, roller, and airless sprayer are important when you paint your house. The trick to achieving maximum adhesion is by spraying the primer and paint on rough surfaces with the sprayer and then using a roller to back-roll it.
If you’ve never used an airless sprayer before, pay close attention to the instructions and practice on a less visible side of the house first. Use a 5-gallon paint bucket and a paint strainer to keep the paint from clogging the sprayer.
Check the Weather Forecast
Imagine you wake up early on a Sunday morning to paint your house. Two walls later, it starts pouring, and you can do nothing except watch your hard work go down the drain. Of course, none of us wants that to happen. Therefore, you must always plan your house painting in Concord according to the weather, as the region gets its fair share of thunderstorms, cold waves, and coastal storms.
Refrain from painting during the rainy season or when the temperature gets too high. The ideal temperatures for painting lie between 50-90°F. Extremely hot weather can cause the paint to dry too quickly, which affects its durability. Similarly, temperatures below 50°F will prevent the paint from sticking to the surface properly.
You should also avoid painting in windy weather, as it will make the job difficult, and the application might not be as smooth as you hope for.
Final Thoughts
Painting your house is no rocket science. With proper precautions and the right techniques, you can paint your house without any hassle. Following these rules will ensure you get the job done well, and the results will surely please you. So, quit procrastinating, and get all your supplies ready for the much-awaited and long-overdue task!
