Home Painting
Tips & Advice for Exterior House Spray Painting
Painting the exterior of a home is a huge endeavor for many homeowners, whether it’s done by hand or with a spraying machine. Either way, painting the exterior of your home increases its value, enhances its appearance and offers most homeowners a great sense of pride and ownership. Before tackling the actual painting process, following several tips may make the job a little easier.
Preparation is Key
Take the time to prepare the exterior of the house for paint. Wood siding should be sanded to offer a smooth surface for new paint to adhere to. Stucco should be in good condition, and any cracks or holes filled with stucco patch.
Give the house a bath, washing dirt and plant growth off exterior surfaces, which will offer paint a better surface to cling to. Painting over dirt, plants or holes causes the paint to chip and decay faster than it will if surfaces are properly prepared before paint is applied.
Taping
When using a paint sprayer, it helps if windows and doors are taped off before applying new paint. Tape off doors and windows one side of the house at a time. Use clear plastic paint drop clothes and duct tape to tape openings. Trim ends so new paint can be applied right up to moulding or window and door frames for more professional-looking results. Read the rest of this entry »
Exterior House Painting Color Tips
Selecting the exterior colors for your home should not be rushed. There are many factors to take into consideration, such as landscaping and seasonal changes in light.
Take the time to mull it over and view your home under different conditions to come up with some choices you like; you will be living with them for a while.
Evaluate Your Home
Look at your home and the materials of the exterior. There may be some colors that will not change or that you don’t want to change, such as stone or brick.
These givens will influence the types of colors you pick for siding and trim. Check the trees and other landscaping around the house to see if there are significant areas of shade or other barriers to viewing the home.
Take a Walk
Take a tour of your neighborhood to see what the other houses look like. It can be interesting to look at houses you have seen many times before but focus on the color. Think about whether you want to harmonize with what you see or stand out from the crowd.
Brainstorm
Go to the paint store and pick up some swatches that appeal to you. Start mixing and matching to see what your main color could be, and what trim colors might match it. Bold tastes may prefer a match of complementary colors like purple and yellow.
Lighter colors make a tasteful base, and more dramatic colors, like mauve or vermilion on trim, add a strong accent, but with restraint. Remember that intense colors will look even more intense on a large wall.
Test
There is no substitute for test areas painted directly onto your house. Once you have decided on colors, get some test jars from your paint store and paint some test areas on the exterior. Make the test areas at least 3 feet square so you can get a good idea how they will look. View them over the course of a week to see how they look under different lighting conditions.
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