Avoid These 5 Exterior Paint Blunders to Prevent Your Home from Becoming the Most Unattractive on the Block
Painting the exterior of your home can significantly improve its appearance and increase its value. However, it's essential to approach the task with care to ensure a high-quality, long-lasting result. Here are some common mistakes to avoid and tips for best practices in exterior painting.
Preparation is Key
Thorough surface preparation is crucial for a successful paint job. This includes cleaning the surface thoroughly to remove dirt, dust, mildew, and cobwebs. Removing loose or peeling paint and sanding rough spots and surfaces helps create an even surface for new paint to stick. Filling holes and cracks with filler or caulk also ensures a uniform surface.
Ensure the surface is dry before painting to prevent bubbling or peeling. Applying the correct primer, especially on bare wood or patched areas, improves paint adhesion and durability. Masking and protecting surrounding areas, such as plants, walkways, and hardware, helps avoid unwanted paint splatter for a clean finish.
Painting in Optimal Weather Conditions
Avoid painting in extreme heat, cold, dampness, or windy days to prevent improper drying and defects like bubbling or trapping dirt. Paint in cool, dry weather for best results.
Choosing the Right Paint and Colors
Direct sunlight exposure can affect exterior paint choices, causing colors like whites to become too blinding and natural olive greens to read as brighter or flatter than intended. Treating the exterior trim color as a frame can provide subtle shifts, define edges, bring out shadow lines, and create depth without looking high contrast or fussy.
Many paint brands offer exterior paint for doors and windows that help reflect heat and withstand harsh temperatures to combat fading in sun-prone spots. When choosing exterior paint colors, consider the effects of sunlight exposure to achieve the intended color accurately.
Avoid using the same color for the body and trim of a house, as this may result in a lack of visual interest and balance. Choosing the same color can flatten the architecture and make the eye have nowhere to rest, resulting in a one-note appearance.
Swatch testing paint colors on different sides of a home for accurate color perception in various lighting conditions is also important.
Expert Advice
Nick Cryer, founder of Berkley Place, emphasizes the importance of understanding the correct temperatures to paint outside to avoid issues with drying and settling. Cryer has a proven track record in high-end residential property renovation and has been an adjunct instructor for the Southern California Painting & Decorating Contractors of America Unilateral Apprenticeship Program (SCPDCA UAP) since 2005.
Edrosa, a senior product manager at BEHR, explains that direct UV rays can break down chemical bonds and fade the color in an object. Edrosa has over 30 years of experience in the paint and coatings industry and is recognized as an expert in the field.
Helen Shaw, a color expert and the international marketing director at paint brand Benjamin Moore, also highlights the importance of addressing any wall damage, such as cracking, before repainting. Shaw and her husband Craig founded Shaw Paints, which was later acquired by Benjamin Moore.
In summary, by carefully cleaning, repairing, priming, and timing your exterior painting for suitable weather, you significantly enhance paint adhesion, appearance, and longevity. Careful preparation, choosing the right paint and colours, and painting in optimal weather conditions can help you achieve a high-quality, long-lasting exterior paint job.
The living room can also benefit from a refreshed look with interior design trends. Consider updating the flooring to a modern option, like hardwood or luxury vinyl plank. Outdoor living spaces can be transformed with colorful, outdoor-rated decor and furniture, making them an extension of the interior design. The choice of color in the living room is essential, as it sets the lifestyle and mood of the space. Art pieces, such as paintings or sculptures, can add a personal touch and enhance the overall decor. To create a harmonious interior design, consider the connecting areas like the home-and-garden when selecting color schemes and furnishings.
