If you have a home, there is no project in the home improvement sphere that can more easily revive, protect, and beautify your house than painting the exterior. A new painting job can effectively transform your home’s appearance without costing you much money. While house painting is not a small project, it can be completed within a couple of weeks. This makes it much faster to complete than the average home improvement project.
If you decide to hire a professional to paint your house, HomeAdvisor estimates that it can cost you between $1000 to $6000 depending on how large your house is and what condition it is in. A DIY project allows you to save on labor costs, which are usually what make up more than half of the total costs of the project. But if you decide to do it yourself, you should be prepared to put in a lot of effort.
Top 10 House Painting Rules You Must Follow
Whether you decide to go with a professional or tackle the painting on your own, you want to have the project done right the first time. When painting a house, there are a few things to remember.
1. MAKE SURE THERE WILL BE TEMPERATE WEATHER
When house painting is happening, it is a lot more pleasant if it occurs during temperatures, between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure that the day won’t be too hot and that the forecast doesn’t call for rain or excessive wind. Hot weather and direct sun can make the coats dry too quickly, while low temperatures can prevent proper adherence. If there is rain, it can be more than uncomfortable for you while painting–dampness or dew can cause surfaces to bubble up.
2. PREPARE WELL
Paint needs to be applied to a clean and dry surface that isn’t peeling so that it adheres well. If the surface is flaky, it might require significant scraping or sanding before the job can begin.
The surfaces should first be washed, which can be done with a pressure washer or a hose and scrub brush. If a pressure washer is used, the water shouldn’t be driven deeply into the siding joints so the wood surfaces don’t get eroded.
In order to remove loose paint, a scraper can be used. For tougher paints, a power sander will be helpful to smooth the surface. You should start with 60-grit sandpaper and follow that with 100-grit sandpaper. It’s not necessary to remove all of the paint; rather, just the loose bits should be removed and the surface smoothed.
Putty knife and wood filler can then be used to fill holes and cracks in the surface. Before starting on the first coat of primer, make sure the filler dries and sand the areas again. Then, brush the dust off, apply caulk on the joints, and ensure that the caulk has time to dry.
3. USE QUALITY PAINT
High-quality materials last longer and are able to cover surfaces much better than low-quality ones. It is a good idea to buy 100% acrylic paints that have a lifetime warranty against finish defects. The best ingredients in paint are expensive, so exterior paints that perform well can cost between $35 to $40 a gallon, or more. Try to find room in your budget for high-quality paints, caulking compounds, and primer.
Flat finishes, which are better for siding, are used because they are better able to hide irregularities or defects. Satin enamels or semi-gloss finishes are used for trim and are more durable and easier to wash.
4. USE QUALITY TOOLS
Brushes, rollers, or airless sprayers can be rented at many outlets for tool outlets or home improvement centers. Airless sprayers are the easiest ways to apply primer and paint to surfaces that are textured. This should be followed by backrolling with a roller for adherence.
When using all tools, make sure to pay attention to the directions for using the equipment. This is especially important for airless sprayers. If it’s your first time using one, test it out first on a less visible side of your house. Use a paint bucket that’s 5 gallons and a paint strainer to prevent the sprayer from becoming clogged.
5. COVER EVERYTHING NEARBY
Decks, gardens, walkways, and everything nearby should be covered from paint splatters using plastic sheets or drop cloths. Using airless sprayers makes covering and masking even more important, as overspray can even reach the cars of your neighbors. Proper preparation will prevent problems with cleanup later.
6. BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE LEAD PAINT
Most house paints no longer contain lead, but houses painted before 1978 likely used materials that contained lead. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that home improvement projects that involve lead paint can stir up lead dust in the air that can harm people’s health.
If you suspect that your home might have been painted with materials including lead, you can contact a lead-safe certified renovation contractor for lead testing and removal.
7. USE MORE THAN ONE COAT WHEN PAINTING
You should use a high-quality primer for the base coat first, which will help prevent the paint from bleeding. Painters sometimes use primers that are tinted toward the color of the final paint job so that two finish coats aren’t needed. Other times, a primer of a contrasting color can be used to highlight spots that haven’t been fully covered by finish coats.
When the primer is dry, the first finish coat should be applied. When that finish coat is tacky, a second topcoat can be applied.
8. BE REALISTIC
Don’t decide to do it yourself if you have the time and skills to undergo a project like a house painting. Doing it on your own can be a tedious and difficult task, particularly if your home is large or tall.
9. USE PROVEN TECHNIQUES WHEN PAINTING
If you’ve never painted before, there is a lot of free information that is available to guide you. You can read articles or watch videos that break down painting techniques into steps. Start from the top and work your way down so the paint doesn’t drip on surfaces that have already been painted.
After that, paint the siding and tape around the windows and doors when it’s dry. You can then paint the trim and remove the tape once it’s dry. When all the coats have dried, you should go over the areas and touch up any surfaces that didn’t get fully covered.
10. IF YOU DECIDE ON A PROFESSIONAL, GET REFERENCES AND BIDS
When deciding to work with a contractor, you should get bids from at least 3 contractors and ask them for references from customers who they have worked with. You should call these customers or inspect their homes to evaluate how the workmanship looks. Google, HomeAdvisor, Yelp, and Fixr can also be helpful to find professionals and show you reviews for the contractors that you’re already considering.
Commonly Asked Questions
IS HOUSE PAINTING HARD?
Painting your house can be challenging especially if your house is large or needs a lot of prep work before painting can begin. Watching videos on YouTube can be helpful for learning painting techniques, but make sure you fully think through whether you want to undertake the project on your own.
HOW MUCH DOES HOUSE PAINTING COST?
It can cost between $1000 to $6000 or more, but the cost of paint is less than half of this amount. If you choose to do it yourself, you can save a lot on labor costs.
HOW DO YOU ESTIMATE HOUSE PAINTING COSTS?
If you’re working with a contractor, you can ask a few contractors for bids to determine the price range of the project. If you’re doing it on your own, the costs will include the cost of paint and materials like brushes and rollers.
WHICH PAINT IS GOOD FOR THE HOME?
Top paint brands for the exterior include Behr Premium Plus Ultra, Clark + Kensington, Benjamin Moore Aura, and Sherwin-Williams Duration.
WHAT TEMPERATURES ARE THE BEST FOR EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINTING?
Temperatures that are too low or too high should be avoided. A range between 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal to prevent problems with adherence or drying that’s too fast.
TRUST IN QUALITY WITH PRAIRIE EXTERIORS
Prairie Exteriors will always provide you with the best products and customer service that are available in the industry. We have over 60 years of combined experience within the exteriors industry and are experts in everything from roofing to siding.
Your home is something that you should be proud of, and we know that! That’s why we are committed to providing you with the best work possible. We will only offer products that we would put on our own homes, and our team is always happy to answer any questions you may have.
We’re looking forward to working with you on your home improvement project. Contact us today to discuss your project or request a quote.
