3 Mistakes To Avoid When Painting Your Home's Exterior
When mistakes are made on an interior paint job, only visitors and household members are aware of them. However, mistakes on an exterior paint job are noticeable to everyone. If you are planning to paint your home's exterior, here are some mistakes to look out for.
Not Power Washing the Surface
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when painting the exterior of your home is to overlook cleaning the surface first. Cleaning the walls helps you to find problems with the surface, such as cracks and holes. It also helps the paint to stick better to the surface.
If you use a power washer, you can use detergent and water to remove dirt. Before starting the machine, take the time to remove the window screens. Not only can you clean the walls, but you can knock out the windows, too. After power washing, wait a couple of days for your home to dry before painting it.
Skipping the Primer
Primer is good for preparing surfaces for paint. Some people skip the primer because they believe it is only necessary for interior paint jobs. In actuality, primer helps to ensure the paint sticks to the wall better and also can make the paint stand out.
The primer is especially important for wood surfaces that have not been painted before. To save time, you can opt for a paint that also includes a primer. It is important to note that the result will be better if you use a standalone primer when you are painting a concrete or plaster surface.
Forgetting to Check the Weather
Since you are painting the exterior of your home, you need to know what the weather is for the next few days. Not only does the weather dictate if your paint will be washed away by rain or snow, but it also plays a role in how well the paint dries.
For instance, in high humidity situations, the paint can dry slower. As a result, the chances of your paint job being ruined are higher. If you are painting with a latex paint, cold weather can keep it from sticking to the walls properly. If there are humidity problems or cold weather coming, consider delaying the paint job.
There are many other mistakes that could have an impact on your home's exterior paint job. To avoid these, work with a painting contractor, such as Meyer & Meyer, to ensure your home's paint is properly applied.