In any neighborhood, the houses with beautiful exteriors always stand out. They are eye-catching, memorable and lovely to look at. One of the things that normally catches your attention when you look at these attractive houses is the paint job. A new, well-made paint job looks great but it needs to be refurbished every 5 years to maintain its attractive appearance. So, what do you need to do to ensure that your exterior wall’s paint job lasts a long time? Here are some tips that exterior painting contractors recommend.
What Does An Exterior Painting Contractor Recommend?
Prep the Surface Properly
According to exterior painting contractors, you should always prepare the surface properly for a paint job. How is this done? First, clean the surface and remove all the dirt and loose paint. It is recommended that you use a pressure washer to get this done. In case there’s more dirt or paint that needs to be removed, use a scraper to remove them. Make sure you scrape away all the loose paint. Check for surface flaws and repair them with a surface repair compound made for exterior use. Lastly, remove and replace the old caulk and re-putty your windows.
Prepping the surface is very important so that the exterior paint would adhere very well to the surface. This is a significant factor for a long-lasting paint job. If the surface is not prepped and exterior paint is applied, the paint will not last long. Paint would not adhere to the surface properly and they would chip off or become loose.
Choose the Right Type of Paint
There are different types of paint available in the market. However, you should make sure that the paint you’re using is the right type of paint, one that is made for the exterior. Interior paint is very different from exterior paint. Exterior paint is more resistant to molds, mildew, and fading. It is also designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. Exterior paint is resistant to the heat of the sun, the ultraviolet rays, the rain and the winter snow. It is waterproof so it absorbs little to no water when it rains.
Choose the right type of exterior paint. Choose the exterior paint that has all the features you want like being mold and mildew resistant, weather resistant and waterproof.
Have the Right Equipment
Apart from having the right exterior paint, you should also have the right tools for the job. This means having the right brushes and paint rollers to paint the exterior of your house. For the paint brushes, choose the wide, straight-edge brush for painting flat areas. For the exterior window trims, choose the angled brush so that you can have more control when you paint on edges.
If you plan to use rollers, you can choose the 9-inch rollers for the large flat areas of the exterior and you can switch to the 7-inch ones for narrow spaces. Make sure that you have nap roller covers, one for each paint colour that you will be using. You should also have a roller screen to remove excess paint from the roller.
Do Proper Maintenance and Repair Work
Once the paint job is finished, what’s important is that you properly maintain your house’s exterior. Trim the trees around your house so they won’t hit and damage your exterior wall. Clean your gutters so water will flow properly from the roof to the ground. Clogs can cause water to seep into the exterior wall which may cause water damage. Remove grime from your exterior sidings and trims. Grime can cause a more rapid decay if they’re not cleaned off.
Inspect your walls on a regular basis so you can check for any damages. Do this inspection especially after harsh weather conditions like storms or snow. It’s important that you immediately repair any damage so that it wouldn’t get any worse and not cause any further damage.
Hire A Professional Exterior Painting Contractor
Exterior painting is a tough job but you have to be diligent and you have to make the right choices to maximize the longevity of your paint job. If you make mistakes, it can be costly. You might end up spending more instead of saving. So, even if you can go the DIY route, it may not always be the best choice. The best choice is always to get the services of professional painters so you can be assured of top quality long-lasting exterior painting.
When you get the services of professionals, everything will be done in an organised manner. You will initially be provided a cost estimate as well as a schedule estimate pending your confirmation and agreement. After everything is agreed upon, then that’s when the project starts and it will be finished within the committed timeline, barring any unforeseen circumstances. When the job is completed, you will now have a professionally painted exterior wall.
Do you want to know more about exterior painting? Do you like to get our services for your exterior painting needs? Talk to our professional painters to learn more. Call us today on 086 608 1817 / 085 139 0233 or leave us a message here.
