Exterior painting for your home is a big job, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you’re prepared. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to painting a house, but these tips will help make sure your project goes smoothly. Exterior House Painter in Minneapolis MN
Prep and Prime
Before you start painting, it’s important to prep your home’s exterior. Remove all debris and loose paint from around the house. Any chips or cracks in the exterior should be repaired with small pieces of wood that match in color and grain, then caulked when finished. The wood must also be checked for rot or damage caused by termites as well as general decay. If your wood is showing signs of rot, take it down before painting—you don’t want to risk introducing moisture into the house through poorly-sealed surfaces! Make sure your home is clean before you begin painting.
You want to prime the bare spots in your home. Priming is what you do before applying a topcoat of paint, and it’s very important. The primer will help to prevent peeling and cracking, as well as protect the surface from dirt and debris that may damage the painted surface.
To prime your home, use a primer that is compatible with the paint you’re using so as not to cause any problems when applying it later down the line!
Buy Quality Paint
When you get down to it, the paint you use is the most important aspect of your project. This may seem obvious, but a lot of people don’t take this seriously enough when they’re shopping for house paint. You could have the best tools in the world and still end up with subpar results if your choice of paint is poor.
The first thing you’ll want to do is check out the coverage rate—this can be found on any bottle of quality house paint and refers to how many square feet it will cover per gallon. You must buy good coverage if your home has lots of textured walls. Otherwise, there might be patches where there are still visible brush marks or other imperfections.
Next up: durability! The higher a paint’s durability rating, the more resistant it is against fading in harsh weather conditions like sun exposure or high winds. Another factor here is color saturation. Some paints tend toward more vibrant colors than others.
Be sure to use paints that are meant for exterior use (as opposed to interior). These paints typically have better UV protection and durability than interior paints do. They also tend to be thicker, which means less thinning is required before application! This can save time when covering large areas like trim boards or gutters because fewer coats are needed overall—which equals less prep work beforehand too!
Use Quality Brushes and Other Tools
Use a good brush. You’ll need to spend a little more money on this, but it’s worth it. A quality brush will last for many years and is much easier to use than a cheap one.
You should also use a roller with a good-quality nap. If you’re going to paint the whole house yourself, you’ll want at least two rollers: one for the walls and another for trim work and corners (which will go faster). Also, make sure they have firm cores so they don’t bend or sag under pressure as you paint.
For large areas, a roller is your best bet. For small areas and textured walls, you’ll need to use a brush or paint pad. If you have uneven surfaces, try using a paint sprayer.
Use the Right Amount of Paint
It’s important to have enough paint on the roller and brush—but if you put on too much, this can lead to a few problems. If there are drips or runs, it may indicate that the paint is too thick and needs to be thinned before using it again. Too much paint also makes cleanup more difficult and can cause brush marks in your finished product, so be sure not to go overboard when mixing up a batch of paint.
The exterior of a home takes a lot of prep work and attention to detail. Prep work includes cleaning, sanding, and repairing your siding, priming the wood before painting it, and preparing the surface for optimal adhesion (which is especially important if you’re using high-quality paint).
Exterior House Painter in Minneapolis MN
We hope that you found this post helpful. It’s important to remember that many factors go into choosing what paint color will look best on your home, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different shades before making a decision. Painting the exterior of a house is not something that amateurs should attempt. It requires experience with proper techniques, tools, and materials. If you need help with painting your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to a painting expert. You can contact our team of professional painters at Home Drywall and Construction in Minneapolis, Minnesota today.