Home painting is a cost-effective way to improve the look of your house and increase its value. It also provides protection from the elements and helps maintain the structural integrity of your home.
It’s important to choose the right paint, which is made specifically for exterior use and can withstand the elements. You may also need a primer to help the new coat stick to your home’s surfaces and protect it from dirt, dust, mold, and other potential problems.
Before you start the project, evaluate your needs, budget, and time commitments. This will help you decide whether a DIY project is the best choice for your home and your budget.
Selecting the Right Color: Before you commit to a particular color, test it out by placing large pieces of foam core or cardboard on your home’s walls. This will let you see how the color changes throughout the day and how it looks on different sides of your home.
Picking the Right Brushes and Rollers: Choosing the right paint tools for your specific job will save you time and money on the project. Using the wrong tool for the job can cause costly mistakes and delays in the process.
Be sure you’re familiar with how to use these tools before you buy them. Read about their purpose, how to use them, and how to clean them properly so you get the most out of your investment.
Consider Texture: Some textured walls, such as “orange peel,” popcorn or swirled patterns, require more than a gallon of paint to cover a surface. This extra material and labor will add to the total cost of your paint job, so plan ahead to ensure you have enough supplies to complete your project.
Don’t Overspray: When you’re finished painting, be sure to take care not to splatter the paint onto your neighbor’s house or on any other surfaces in your yard. The home painting splatters can be annoying and even cause damage to your paint job.
Keep a Work Light: It’s easy to get lost in your work and forget to check the progress you’re making. A good work light can help you see your progress and catch any holiday spots before they become too big to fix.
Make a List of the Things You Need to Do Before You Begin: Your paint project will go more smoothly and be less stressful if you have everything you need to do it well before you begin. This includes knowing what you need, securing the correct ladder and scaffolding, brushing up on your safety knowledge, getting adequate tools for the job and recruiting friends to help you with the project.
Be Patient: It will take longer than you expect to finish your home’s paint job. You might have to move furniture around, remove switch plates and outlet covers, and reposition rugs or other flooring materials.
If you have small children or pets, be sure to put them in a safe place when you’re painting. You might also need to ask the painters if they can take them for a short while or provide a pet-friendly workspace.