Thing You Need to Consider Before Painting Front of House
Exterior house painting is an exciting prospect, especially if the outside of your property has seen better days. However, there are a number of factors that you should consider before getting your paintbrush out!
First, you will need to think about the look you want to achieve and which colours and finishes will help you to do that. Next, you will need to think about the type of weather that you experience in your area and whether you need any specific or specialist materials to ensure that your paintwork offers the longevity you are looking for.
Other key considerations include checking whether there are any restrictions on the way you decorate your property in your area, if you have a specific type of surface that requires specialist paint and the weather in your area. Finally, it is important to also research the best type of paint for the job as investing in a high quality offering is often the only way to get the finished look you've been dreaming of.
Preparation Tips for Excellent External House Painting
Getting exterior home painting right starts with quality preparation work, including removing flaking paint, filling cracks and holes and sanding down any areas that need it. Even if the outside looks fine to paint at first glance, you can be certain that there will be areas that need some extra care – take a look at the best prep process to follow here:
- Scope the Job – before you start preparing the exterior of your house, take time to check every inch of the surface to get an idea of what work will need to be done. Make a list or mark the areas so that you can go back to them with ease.
- Get the Right Tools – there are a variety of tools you will need to complete each of the different prep jobs including scrapers filling knives, sanders and more. Make sure you have tools that are suitable for exterior use before you start.
- Pick the Perfect Products – remember that exterior jobs will need exterior products so find the right filler and caulk rather than using any leftover you have from your interior. If you aren't sure what to buy, head to your local DIY store and ask for help with choosing.
- Follow a Methodical Order – you may be tempted to dive in and start filling every hole you can find but it's better to follow a section by section order so that you can be confident that you have found every last piece of prep requirement.
- Check and Check Again – once you have completed and sanded down all your prep work, take time to recheck the entire exterior, looking for any missed sections that need some attention. Once this is done – you are ready to paint!
Choosing the Best Exterior Paint for Your House
No matter how well you have prepped, or how skilled the person is that is going to paint your house, you will never achieve the finish you want without the best exterior paint for your house. Many brands will claim to be the right choice, but there are very few on the market that live up to the hype.
One of the absolute best options available right now is Properla as it is not only produces the quality finish you want but it comes with a range of other benefits that are good for your house:
- Super Hydrophobic – keeping water out of your walls and reducing the risk of dampness.
- Self-Cleaning – stops dirt from collecting on the wall and uses rain water to wash it away.
- Breathable – once applied, it allows air and moisture to escape from the internal walls so that it doesn't collect inside your property, causing you issues that are hard to resolve.
- Range of Colour Choices – no matter what colour you are keen to use, Properla has a number of options to choose from so that you can protect your house and your originality in one go.
Choosing the Right Time for Home Exterior Painting
Once you have completed your exterior decorating, you will need to ensure that there is enough time and the right temperature for it to dry. Many people don't factor this requirement in when they are planning their work and end up with a result that dries too quickly or too slowly.
Take some time to work out when the weather is best in your area and aim to complete the work in that window. Once you know the right time of year, you can then start to look at forecasts when the time approaches. Try to find a time where there are a few dry days in a row and no high or low temperature spikes.
It's also important to think about humidity as if the weather is humid, it can interfere in both the application of the paint by adding more moisture into the layers and the total drying time required. If you aren't sure when to paint your exterior, the best time tends to be at the starting stages of the summer months or just as autumn is coming around.
DIY or Professional External Painting House Service?
When you know that you need to get your house exterior organised, you will need to think about whether you want to complete the work yourself or hire a professional service. Unless you are an experienced exterior painter, the likelihood is that you will save money and get a much better finish if you choose a professional.
This doesn't mean that you can't get involved and do prep work and maintenance yourself, but when you think about the safety aspects, tools and skills needed to scale the outside of your home, hiring professionals is often the most sensible choice.
Maintaining Your House Painting Exterior
Once your house painting has been completed you will need to think about maintaining the work so that it lasts as long as possible. Failing to maintain the exterior can result in the paint chipping and cracking or even peeling. Rather than letting this happen, take a look at some of the key maintenance tasks that you should complete:
- Wash Your Walls – it may sound crazy, but completing a thorough wall wash every few months will help to keep your walls looking clean and clear of dirt and debris. Don't scrub your walls with a hard brush or use a pointed jet wash, instead gently lather it with a soft brush and hose down afterwards.
- Repair and Touch Up Regularly – even the best paint job will get chipped or dinked as time goes on and so it is best to complete repairs and paint retouches as and when you notice the issue. Doing it this way will stop the issue from growing and keep your property looking great!
- Clean and Clear Your Gutters – if your guttering is left to grow moss, you may find that the build up stops them from working properly and ends up sending dirty water down your newly painted property. Arrange regular gutter clearing at the end of the season to keep water travelling in the right places at all times.
- Keep Your Sealant Up to Date – sealing edges, wood and windows is an important part of keeping your property look tidy, but it will need to be replaced long before you need to repaint your house. Get all the sealant redone once a year and you'll be amazed at how good your paint job continues to look.
- Keep the Rest of Your Exterior Looking Good – finally, don't forget about the rest of your exterior when you want to get the most attractive results. From landscaping to keeping your driveway in a good state of repair, make plenty of time to work on the rest of your exterior.
Things To Avoid When You Paint House Exterior UK
As with any type of decorating job, there are a number of things that you should avoid when you decide to paint the exterior of your property:
- Don't Paint in the Rain – if you've planned to paint on a specific day but it begins to rain, you'll need to rearrange the decoration day. Painting onto a wet surface can stop you from getting a smooth and even outcome and even dilute the paint so that it runs and causes streaks.
- Don't Paint in High or Low Temperatures – it's important to apply your exterior paint in a temperate to warm climate as this will allow the best drying results. Paining when it is too cold could stop the paint drying properly for days or weeks and painting in extreme heat can make paint dry too fast.
- Don't Paint Without Preparing First – before you can even apply your first coat of paint, you will need to prepare the area first. Failing to complete adequate prep could result in your paint work chipping, cracking and peeling as soon as the paint dries. Paint also doesn't work to fill cracks and gaps so the end job won't look as good as you want unless you prep first.
- Don't Paint Alone – painting the exterior of your house should never be done alone as you may need to climb ladders to reach all the areas that need painting. Arrange to do the job with someone you trust, or pass it over to a professional company to do it instead.
- Don't Paint Without Safety Equipment – when you are painting outside it is important to use appropriate safety equipment designed for the job. Proper ladders and exterior decorating tools are an absolute minimum to ensure that you are able to safely reach the entirety of your exterior.
- Don't Use Interior Tools – if you've recently decorated the interior of your home, you may be tempted to use the same tools to do the exterior, but this would be a mistake. The thickness of the paint and the surface area is different and requires a more hardwearing set of decorating tools.
Things To Avoid When You Paint House Exterior UK
If you are keen to update the exterior of your home but you can't face doing the work yourself, you are not on your own! In the vast majority of cases, using a professional exterior house painting service is the best way to get outstanding results.
At Countrywide Coatings, we provide external decorating services, using quality products like Properla, for clients across the South. Reach out to our team of experts today and arrange a no-cost property inspection to find out more about what we can do for you.