Painting the exterior of a house can be a very time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Most people usually put it off for this very reason. Unfortunately, this can mean that years go by without your house getting a new coat of paint. Professional services can also be a bit expensive but a new coat of paint is actually worth it.

A new coat of paint is necessary for a lot of different reasons. However, the most important point to pay attention to here is that painting the exterior of the house is not just good for aesthetic purposes only – it can also improve the value of your home. In this case, a good paint job is a necessity.

Luckily, if you pay attention to the following points, you can have a much easier time painting the exterior of your house:

1. Plan it In Advance

Always plan to paint your house according to weather the schedule. The exterior of the house is exposed to all elements so it can be a bit challenging to paint it. Make sure that you’re getting the painting done during the dry season.

That’s when there will be minimal chance of rain. Nothing can be worse than just painting your house and seeing it rain. All that hard work and paint are going to go to waste. During the dry season, there is little to no chances of rain and the humidity levels will also be low, which means that you won’t have to settle for a paint job that was ruined because of the weather.

Keep in mind that dry seasons, rain and humidity levels can be different places. Also, try not to paint during hot summer days. Sweltering heat can make your paint bubble or flake in areas too. Just remember to schedule it on the perfect spring days.

2. Wash Your House Down

Before you can begin painting, you need to wash your house properly so that you have a clean surface to paint on. In this case, it is very important because the exterior of the house is usually coated with dust, dirt, and grime. In highly populated areas or homes situated near high traffic lanes, smoke and soot can also stick to the house.

Additionally, spider nests, bird nests, and even wasp and bee hives can also be found on the exterior of the house. In such scenarios, you need to remove them first. With wasp and bee nests, you might have to call in exterminators to get rid of them to ensure the safety of others.

Due to this reason, you have to clean your house thoroughly. Also make sure that the dust and grime can be washed away with a hose. If the house has never been washed for years, you will have to use a pressure washer to carefully clean all the surfaces.

3. Focus on Prep

Once you have washed the house, you need to let it dry and focus on the prep. Just like you would for the interior, you will have to plastic coat any area that you don’t want paint on. You also need to lay down a tarp to protect the ground or the roof properly.

Prepping is a time-consuming task so make sure that you have plenty of time to do this. Don’t be surprised if it ends up taking a good part of your day. It can be tempting to try and save time by cutting corners but this is not a good idea.

You can end up causing damage or getting paint on areas that you didn’t mean to. Remember that the more time you spend on prep, the better your results are going to be. Additionally, pay a visit to a home depot store beforehand so that you have enough tarp, plastic sheets, and painters tape on hand.

4. Prime All the Problem Areas

All surface areas can benefit with a coat of primer but when you are painting the exterior of the house, this isn’t an easy task. Applying primer to the whole house can take you a day and then you will have to wait before you start to paint it. This can really throw your whole schedule off, especially if you didn’t take this factor into account.

In this case, you can get away with only applying primer to problem areas. These can be areas such as raw wood, bare spots, dried wood filler, and more. This will also save you a lot of money since only a small amount of primer is needed.

So, go around your house and apply primer on bare or un-painted spots. On the other hand, if you have plenty of time and no fear of the weather changing, you should put primer on the whole house. This will ensure that you’re able to plan out your home’s paint job without any issues.

5. Pick Quality in Paints

When picking paints, don’t get caught up in finding the right shade and finish – there are other factors which should also be considered. In this case, you have to also consider the quality of the paint. While higher quality paints tend to be more expensive, you will get better results with them.

In fact, paint technology has improved to the point where painting with these will mean that you only have to paint your home once or twice. In this case, they’re going to be better for your home in the long run. You won’t have to spend time and money getting your house painted again and again.

Apart from the durability, they will also be more weather resistant and you won’t have to deal with pain discoloration, peeling, or other paint issues. You will also need fewer coats of paint with quality paints so less really will be more for you. Try different brands and see which ones do not only offer you high quality but also meet your available budget.

6. Watch Out for Rotten Areas

If your house is being washed or prepped for the first time in years, it is natural for there to be many flaws which are only coming to light now. In this case, you want to make sure that you’re correcting them first before you apply any paint. Rotten areas are going to be found so you should fix these first before you apply any further paint.

Rotten areas also shouldn’t be ignored because they are more likely to have mold which can slowly work its way to the inside. In some cases, the rotten wood can also cause serious structural damage if left unchecked. So, take the time to get the rot repaired, identify the source, and treat the area to prevent it from happening again.

Applying pain on rotted wood will not only give you bad results but can lead to you forgetting about or ignoring the issue at hand. Replace the wood as soon as possible. Remember that rotten areas in the home are considered to be red flags. So, if you want to sell your home, you can’t just paint over them.

7. Combine Paint Cans for Uniformity

Now that you’re finally about to start painting, remember to combine all your cans of paints to ensure that there is more uniformity in the color. The paint that you’re using right from the can and the paint that has been mixed in a bucket can have different color hues. It’s a method that even the professionals follow and it’s evident in their work that it gives great results.

To make sure that you’re able to do this, you need to have a large bucket that can hold at least 5 gallons. Mix all the paint cans together in it. Now, remember to have a cover on the bucket or else the paint can start to go dry in the bucket too. This can cause a lot of paint to go to waste and you will have to buy more.

This is also perfect for making your paint last longer, especially if you need that extra bit more but you accidentally didn’t buy enough paint. By using a small trick like this, you can ensure that you get the most out of your paint, even if you bought inexpensive ones!

8. Starting from the Top

When you start painting, whether it’s the exterior or the interior of a home, you have to do it from the top. This is a simple technique which will allow you to prevent paint streaks and also smooth out any paint drips. Regardless of what your skill level is, paint drips can be inevitable and you will end up getting a few mishaps.

With this technique, you’re able to work in a manner where paint drips and streaks are not happening on your clean paint surface. If you do it the other way round, you end up spoiling your painted surfaces and accidentally end up doubling up the work for you. You’ll also be able to have cleaner edges, especially near the ceiling with this technique.

Remember though that this is just for the direction in which you should paint. When coupled with the right brushes, prep, and paints, it will give you significantly better results. However, don’t rely solely on this technique to get the paint results you were looking for.

9. Use Textured Paint for Porches

Surfaces like porches need to be painted but be careful about the kind of paint you use. Smooth paint finishes can make a porch very slippery which increases the risk of falls, especially if there’s rain or mud—or even snow—around. To prevent such incidents, you need to use textured paint for your porch.

In the past, painters would usually add sand to the paint to give it a certain gritty texture but today, you can easily find paints which can accommodate them. In this case, all you have to do is get your hands on textured paint which is designed for use outdoors. Then, paint it on your porch and you’re good to go!

It can be a bit difficult to find such paint but make sure that you’re getting it from a specialty hardware store. These usually not only have the right paints but also have all the tools you would need to make painting the exterior of your home an easier task!

10. Work with the Right Professionals

If you’re unable to paint the exterior of your home or find it a daunting task, you need to work with the right professionals. These can ensure that all the work is done from top to bottom. The right professionals can prep the house, prime the surface, and even clean it as required.

Additionally, their experience means that you can then get the right paint type as well as the results you were looking for. When you’re looking for professionals, you’re not only supposed to look into their experience but it’s a good idea to look at their credentials too. You want to work with the ones who have good BBB ratings and they’re recognized for their excellence.

Sure, it can be a bit more expensive to work with professionals to get your exteriors painted but this will also ensure that you won’t have to worry about any areas getting overlooked. If you’re running short on time and want to get things done right, it is a good idea to get the experts on board your exterior painting project!

Work With Us Today!

If you need professional exterior painting services, get in touch with One Man and A Brush Pro Painters by calling on: 678-368-5115. Our services are curated to meet all your house painting needs. With our eye for architectural design and understanding, we can give your home the perfect makeover that you have been hoping for.

With a BBB accreditation and a stellar reputation, we are the best professionals to handle any painting job you might have in mind. Whether you need the interior painted or exterior painted or have some other DIY project in mind, we can give you the best results for the house of your dreams. If you’d like more information about our services, wish to make an appointment, or want to get a quote on a certain project, please get in touch with us today!