5 Things to Know Before Painting a House
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again - nothing adds a pop of fresh life like a fresh coat of paint. There’s a few dilemmas with painting the outside of your home, not to mention its a major project if you’re planning on DIY. Today, we’ve put together our top 5 favorite tips to know when you’re planning on painting your house.
With that said, here are 5 things you should know before painting a house:
1. Clean the House
Preparing a surface for paint is they key to to ensuring that your paint looks fresh, not dirty, and sticks well to your wall. Be sure that you fill cracks, then sand them down. The key is a consistently smooth surface.
One of our favorite methods for home prep is a pressure washer. If you don’t have one, there are a lot of great rental options available.
Check out this guide to the process you’ll want to follow when you pressure wash.
2. Test the Paint
Don’t be afraid to do a test patch first. Begin by priming a hidden spot on your house to see if your paint sticks well and is compatible with your siding. If you find that the paint doesn’t stick and you’re sure that you’ve cleaned your siding well, you may need to consider changing your paint.
3. Check the Weather
A quick look at the forecast will tell you a lot about if you can or should plan on painting. Spring or summer might be the best times to paint, but a word of warning:
We recommend that you not paint if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, if it happens to be incredibly humid or foggy outside, that can affect how your paint adheres.
Additionally, painting in direct sunlight can make your paint dry too fast. As a result, your paint will begin to chip and wear out much sooner than intended.
Be sure to work your way around the house, painting on the side opposite of the sun, or paint on an overcast day.
4. Get the Right Tools
Spend a little bit of money to get good quality paint and the right tools. We recommend that you get both a small-diameter roller and a brush. Use the roller to paint long patches of flat areas, and take the brush to touch up narrow surfaces or edges.
5. Start at the Top
A lot of people make the mistake of painting from the bottom up, but we recommend starting at the top of the house. Apply paint generously and work your way down, painting and cleaning as you go down.
If you’re uncomfortable working while up high, or want to make sure that your new paint job is professionally done and guaranteed, contact Coastal Painting and let us help you rejuvenate your home!
