Exterior paint is important to the long-term health of your home. When done correctly and properly maintained, exterior paint protects your home form mold, mildew, moisture, and rot, and it makes your home look beautiful. When applied poorly, exterior paint cracks and peels, allowing moisture to creep in and wreak havoc on the structure of your home. You can hire a professional to paint for you, as exterior painting is a big job, or you can tackle it yourself. If you are considering painting on your own, here are a few tips to doing the job like a professional.
Prepare the Surface
Preparing the surface is critical to achieving an attractive paint job that will protect your home for many years. Don’t rush through this part of the job. Your preparations should include:
1. Washing the house and removing all dirt, mold, and mildew.
2. Allowing the house to dry completely following the cleaning.
3. Scraping off cracking and flaking paint and caulk.
4. Recaulking joints and filling cracks and dings with filling putty.
5. Applying primer.
Use High-Quality Paint
The type of paint you use will make a huge difference in the quality of the finished product. If your house already has an oil-based paint, then you need to stick with that. Otherwise, choose a water-based latex acrylic paint that will be easy to work with and dries quickly. Don’t buy the cheapest paint you can find. Painting is a lot of work and you really don’t want to have to do it again anytime soon. Choose a trusted brand that adheres well and is proven to last a long time. Use a paint specially formulated for exteriors, as these are typically treated to withstand UV rays and resist mold and mildew.
Paint with High-Quality Tools
Choose rollers that will make applying thick, smooth coats of paint effortless. The better your tools, the easier it will be to achieve a beautiful finish. Thick, uniform coats of paint look better and last longer.
Paint in the Right Weather
Professional painters know that painting works best in mild weather with temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees. Anything warmer or cooler adversely affects the curing of the paint. Don’t paint in the wind or rain and avoid the hottest part of the day.
Good exterior paint jobs in Johns Creek are a matter of careful preparation and using the right tools. If you aren’t up to the task of doing it yourself, hire a professional today!