Things To Consider Before Having Your House Painted
Things To Consider Before Having Your House Painted
Painting a home goes beyond picking a color and finding the best finisher to use on your walls. Another consideration is choosing what rooms to paint first. Before having your house painted, you should consider getting your painting supplies ready, choosing a paint color you like, and researching local experts who can help. Let’s discuss these considerations and more.
Test a Paint Color First
Even though you can accentuate the exterior with paint, you must test the color first. By researching and experimenting with different colors, you should find something that represents your personality and style and improves the entire exterior.
If you don’t feel comfortable applying the paint sample on the walls, try using an app. Most home improvement apps let you see how the siding will look with a new paint color. If you don’t want to use an app, paint the sample onto one portion of the siding, and let it dry.
After it dries thoroughly, take some time to think about it; look at how it blends in with the landscape, the window styles, and your entryway. You might not think to look at the front door frame, but it’s actually a good indicator of whether or not a paint color works.
Pick a Color You Like
Make sure to pick a paint color you like. Don’t settle for a color that doesn’t fit your style or doesn’t look good on the exterior. Depending on where you paint, all sides of the house matter, especially if you have an awning.
Don’t rush your process. When you’re in the hardware store, ask the associates for their opinion on the best exterior paint colors. Then, list the best color choices, and sample each. Don’t neglect any colors. It’s better to have tested every color than miss one you might love.
You Can Go Back and Change the Color
Ensure the color you pick is what you want. Although you can go back and change the color, it’s a good idea to be confident in your decision. Picking a paint color is one of the hardest things to do when designing your exterior, next to choosing the best lawn decorations.
Don’t be afraid to speak up and admit if the paint colors are wrong. You can quickly tell if a color doesn’t work by looking at it from different angles. Additionally, if you notice the color looks terrible in different lighting, go ahead and change the color.
Find Out How Much Paint You Need
While you don’t need to go out and buy the paint, finding out how much you need to paint the exterior is essential. You could always rely on your painting team to do the math for you, or you could use an online calculator before contacting a professional painter. That said, a professional can give a rough estimate of how much paint to buy.
Once you’ve found how much paint you’ll need, the professionals will take it from there. They’ll gather the paint, and sometimes they’ll use different strategies to save you money. One method professionals use to save on paint is called “boxing”.
Boxing is when a painter combines the remaining gallons of paint into a big bucket. This method is preferred so the paint color remains the same throughout the process.
The Quality Matters Most
Besides the price of paint, the quality of the job matters the most. Paint has transformed throughout the years, with most having a longer lifespan. When you have newer, modern paint, you won’t need to paint as often. Many of them have other benefits, such as moisture and fade resistance.
Be Mindful of the Weather
The weather can make projects difficult to plan. It’s a good idea to watch the forecast daily and plan your exterior painting project around the days your area will experience the worst weather. Paint can’t dry properly in hot or cold weather.
In order for paint to dry thoroughly, it needs to be applied to a dry surface, so painting on a mild day is better than on a hot, sunny day. Aim for painting in temperatures that range from the 50s to the 70s. This is a comfortable temperature range to paint.
Make Sure You Clean the Siding
Paint won’t stick to siding that’s dirty and rotted. Before painting, you should clear away dirt and debris and replace your siding if it’s warped or rotted. Wood rot is easy to manage if you catch it early enough.
When cleaning the siding, use a scraper to get any chipped paint or hard-to-remove grime. A scraper or sandpaper can remove dirt or paint chips. If you are dealing with wood rot, remove any infected areas, and then hammer on new siding. Right after putting the new wood on, make sure to use a wood hardener and wood filler that match the color of your wood.
Think About the Landscaping
You must protect the landscape near and around the house. Without the right protections, such as tarp and plastic coverings over the lawn, garden, and porch, you risk paint getting into places that are hard to clean.
Painting is messy. Even professional painters can make a mess, so they should also use the essential protective gear in every job. An exterior painter in Alpharetta, GA will use tarps to cover vulnerable parts of the landscape, including gardens, decks, patios, outdoor furniture, and more.
Hire a Professional for Extra Help
If you feel stuck, rely on a professional for extra help. You might not be able to paint the exterior in time alone, so hiring an experienced worker can speed up the process. You and an exterior painting team will plan your painting project together.
An exterior painter inspects the entire perimeter of the outside of the home and will decide what areas to focus on the most. They will especially focus on the current weather conditions before picking a side to paint first.
All in all, you should hire additional help with your painting jobs if you are struggling to finish on time. Aside from looking over the considerations to make before painting a house, you should contact a professional exterior painter for advice on how to proceed.
Every home that needs a paint job should go through Bear Mountain Custom Painting. We’re proud to provide professional painting services to the greater Atlanta area. We look forward to helping you with painting your home. Contact us for more information on our painting services.