How to Prepare Your Home for Painting

If your home in Davie needs to be refreshed, a fresh coat of exterior paint is an easy, affordable way to improve its appearance. So if your house is looking shabby or if you’re just ready for something different, consider painting the exterior of your home yourself or enlist a local painter to do the job for you.

Painting a home is a big project, but it isn’t an unreasonable job for most homeowners. You just need to do your research to understand how to prepare the exterior surface by scheduling residential pressure washing, as well as which brushes and paints you need to use.

You can also partner with a professional painter by completing all the prep work on your own, but then having their team come over and do the actual painting with their tools, safety equipment and selected paint.

Whichever direction is right for you, you’ll still need to know exactly how to prepare your home for painting. Here are the most important things to remember.

6 House Painting Preparation Tips

1. Decide which parts of the home to paint, gather the ladders and all other safety equipment. If you’re planning to do the painting yourself, you’ll be glad you did. Having a clear plan will help to make the actual painting go a lot faster once you begin. Gathering your materials ahead of time guarantees that when you start painting, you won’t have to stop and search for needed supplies, meaning you’ll be able to maintain a wet brush edge the entire time you are painting.
2. Choose paint and brushes. The fun part of painting your home is choosing the color or color combo. You will also need to pick the right paint finishes for each part of the home. Latex is better than oil-based paint for home exteriors. It’s less messy and much easier to clean up. The flat surfaces need more of a flat, or matte, finish, versus semi-gloss. You’ll need synthetic fiber brushes for latex paint. Rollers and sprayers are also time-saving options if possible.
3. Pressure wash. Finally, it is time to start prepping the exterior of your home for its brand new paint! Invest time into power washing your home (or hiring a local pressure washing service) to loosen any cracked or peeling paint. The high pressure is the most effective way to remove old paint, and it simultaneously cleans the exterior of your home. Some of the sections of paint will peel right off as soon as you spray them. That’s a sure sign that the paint was aging and had to be replaced!
4. Remove peeling paint. Now that the old paint has been loosened, get more of it off with a metal or plastic straight edge, being diligent not to dig deep into the wood. Then sand surfaces for a smooth finish. It isn’t necessary to sand every surface down to the bare wood. Any areas where the paint is still adhered just need to be cleaned and have the edges sanded so the new coat of paint goes on smoothly.
5. Prime. Don’t skip priming! Primer is a very important part of preparation because it conceals any previous paint (especially important with dark paint colors), results in an even color for your new coat, and a smooth exterior with minimal imperfections throughout. Let the primer dry according to the directions so that the original layer of paint won’t blend into it or leave behind a rough patch on the surface.
6. Plan to paint on the best day. A professional painter is able to look at the forecast and tell you the most opportune day for applying exterior paint. That’s why they’re experts! If you plan to do the painting on your own, wait for a day that is between 75 and 85 degrees, with low humidity. This will lead to the best adhesion.

Why Painting Your Home is a Good Idea

Not only does a brand new paint job make your home look several years newer, it also adds a layer of protection for the overall exterior of your home.

Paint can help prevent pests from eating or clawing into your home’s exterior. It also reduces wear and tear from the elements. Good quality paint stops wood from rotting and dirt doesn’t adhere to paint the way it does to bare wood.

Peeling paint is an obvious indication that it needs to be replaced. If paint is peeling, you need to have it repainted in order to protect the wood beneath.

Worn paint takes a toll on your home’s appearance. If you’re concerned about curb appeal, painting your home is one of the simplest things you can do.

Painting is also a good idea if your home doesn’t to “fit in” in the neighborhood (but you want it to). If your home’s exterior color makes it stand out too much, or if it is the opposite and you want it to stand out, a different paint color can completely change its vibe.

Hiring a Local Professional Painter in Davie

After prepping is complete, you might want to hand the work off to a professional painter in Davie (if you hadn’t already decided that from the beginning!). Hiring a painter is affordable. It also guarantees that the results will exceed expectations with minimal effort from you.

Hiring a local painter to paint your home has several obvious benefits:

• A professional painter will know the most efficient way to do the job, meaning the paint will look much better and the project will go a lot quicker.
• Companies don’t make a big mess. Their results will be much neater, without excess paint splattered or spilled on your home.
• Because of their skill and knowledge, your new exterior paint will last longer than if you painted yourself.
• A professional painter will already have the safety equipment needed to paint areas above ground level.

Based on your DIY capabilities and interests, you can trust your painter to do all the pre-painting preparation, too. Most pros are prepared to take care of every part of the project, from removing old paint and pressure washing the exterior to applying the new paint.