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Are you planning an exterior home painting project? Are you looking for excellent design help? Well then, by reading this article you’re already off to a good start.
In the home painting world, there are many colors and designs as well as types of paints that you can choose from. This is why you’ll likely want to get a professional painter’s opinion.
Here we’ll cover some topics that will help you get started in choosing the right paint and colors for your home exterior.
But first, you’ll need some motivation for such a huge undertaking. So, here are the main benefits of repainting your home exterior.
3 Benefits of Repainting Your Home
1. Exterior Protection
You might have asked yourself, why does my exterior paint fade away so quickly? Most people have asked the same question.
Well, this usually means that you used subpar exterior paint.
If you want to make your house look beautiful, then you should consider using the best exterior paint that will beautify and protect your home from the sun and weather.
As you no doubt understand, the exterior of your home needs more protection than your home’s interior. Only paint can protect your home from the elements, such as rain, sun, wind, dirt, snow, etc.
And instead of wasting money on a cheaper paint, or paying for more repairs each year, you should instead choose the best exterior paint. That way you won’t need to do constant repairs, and you’ll save money.
2. Increase Home Value
Are you planning to move and sell your home? If so, then the key thing to keep in mind is to increase its value. And how do you do that?
Well, one way to increase a home’s value is to give it a new paint job.
Many buyers will make up their minds to look inside when they see a well-painted home exterior. So oftentimes you won’t need to put that much effort into buying fancy furniture.
3. Personal Satisfaction
How will an exterior paint job improve your own sense of well-being? The improved view is a big part of it. You’ll feel better and more motivated going home every day.
People will also stop to admire your new work, which will increase your happiness levels even further.
8 Things to Consider When Choosing Exterior Paint
Now that you know the benefits of your newly painted home, let’s talk about how to choose your exterior paint.
1. Consider the Physical Structure
Before you go to the store, consider your home’s history. Knowing your home’s history can make it much easier for you to choose your exterior paint.
2. Choose the Right Color Scheme
Choose a color scheme that can work with other colors. If your main goal is to make your home look beautiful, then you should consider varying your colors.
3. Consult with Your Homeowners Association
Not all color choices are necessarily available as you may need to get approval first. This means that you will need to consult with your homeowners association regarding the colors you want to use.
4. Check Out the Neighborhood Houses
Be sure to check out your neighborhood’s houses to see if there are similar colors that you would like to use. Remember, you don’t want your home to look too strange to others. If you choose a color that’s too bold then it won’t be in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood.
5. Try Not to Stand Out Too Much
Of course, you can make the outside of your home look beautiful but make sure that it doesn’t stand out too much among the rest.
If you have no idea what to do, you can always get advice from Tera Painting.
6. Clean Your Painting Surface
Another thing you have to consider is to clean your painting surface before you apply the first coat of paint. It’s also a great idea to hire professional painters to do this job exactly right.
7. Choose the Right Finish
Using a low-quality exterior paint is not a good idea (it can make your efforts worthless).
Here are brief descriptions of the main kinds of finishes.
- Satin Finish – you can use this for your entire surface.
- Gloss Finish – you can also consider using a gloss finish, these paints are more resistant to damages than flat paints.
- Flat Finish – this finish is also great for your exterior walls; it has a very elegant look. However, this finish isn’t meant for metallic or wooden surfaces, so we recommend not using it for your door handles, windowpanes etc. But, the durability and longevity of this finish is great.
- Textured – applying a textured finish gives a stronger and thicker coating to the walls. It will also help if you use different brushes to create much better textures.
Whatever paint you choose you can always make your home look stunning with the right paint finish.
8. Track the Weather Forecast
The weather is one of the most common enemies of your home’s exterior. The most worrying conditions are extreme heat, cold and even moisture, which can all destroy your home exterior paint.
Your wall also needs to be solidly built and rough to protect your home from the dust, heat, wind etc.
If you ignore the environment your first coat of paint might be ruined, so it’s a good idea to check your local weather forecast before you do the job.
Important things to note regarding weather and painting include:
- Paint during mild temperatures.
- Paint in low humidity. Avoid extreme humidity which can cause cracking.
- Painting in direct sunlight will cause the paint to dry out quicker.
- Paint when there’s less chance of rain.
- Ideal painting time is when it’s 15-20°C and less than 70% humidity with a cool wind.
Always remember to check your local forecasts as well as the schedule for painting before starting the project.
6 Steps to Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
Now let’s get into the fun part: choosing colors!
Choosing a good color paint for your home exterior can be a bit more difficult and time consuming than you’d think.
As a homeowner, choosing the right color for your home exterior is very important. However, if you’re not being careful about what paint you buy, you’ll be in trouble.
So, are you ready to begin? Let’s take a look at some options you might consider using for your home’s exterior.
Step 1: Dark or Light Colors
Dark colors can absorb energy from the sun and can also make the whole building seem smaller but it can also attract more attention.
Darker colors aren’t good for hotter places. In fact, some colder places actually use darker paint to keep their houses warmer rather than using an electric heater.
On the flip side, lighter colors will make the house visually flimsy and more open.
Step 2: Tools to Help You Choose Exterior Paint Color
There are many ways that you can find your ideal colors for the outside of your home.
If you’re pretty good at drawing, then you can draw your home exterior and play with several colored pencils.
Another option is to look on the internet where there are many different pictures and colors to choose from. However, if nothing strikes your fancy, then look for professional painters like Tera Painting to get some better ideas.
Step 3: Take a look at Nearby Houses
Have you decided yet on which color you want? You should take a look at your neighbor’s house color and see if you like it. Or ask your home association for suggestions before deciding on your paint color.
Step 4: Number of Colors
Choosing 3-4 colors can have a dramatic effect and some people use up to 8 colors because they enjoy the variation. In fact, some homeowners’ houses can have as many colors as they want, if their houses are built for it.
So, if you want more colors, then professional painters can help you decide which additional colors would most suit your home exterior.
Step 5: Building Architecture Color
If your home was already built before you moved in, then you can always ask about the original colors. The original color was likely the right color for your home exterior design. You might find out if you ask for help from your nearest painting service.
Step 6: Do Accent
Choose a color scheme for the exterior of your home and highlight the architectural details. Give your home exterior a new look with a colorful accent that creates a beautiful look. But you don’t want to overdo it because it will create a visual mess.
Preparation for the Best Results
It’s very important to make the right preparations for the best results with your home exterior paint. To have great results you must follow these steps.
1. Make Repairs
Repair any damaged surfaces such as stucco, wood, metal, etc. All of these repairs must be done. A professional painting company will do these for you to avoid any rotten spots.
2. Use a Primer
Everyone should know that using a primer is important for a surface. But, before you begin the painting job, it needs to be clean. Wash all the surfaces to remove the dirt, mildew and mold and then, let it dry.
The next step is to apply the primer and follow up with the sand. And of course, your last step is to apply the best quality paints to finish your painting job. A professional painting company will do the same to ensure the best results possible.
3. Start from the Top Down
To begin your painting job, always start from the top and follow your work straight down. The reason for this is gravity.
4. Protecting the Landscape
As you know, painting is a very complex job to deal with. So, make sure you clean up all of the equipment, including hoses, grills, and even outdoor furnishings before they get paint on them.
5. Cover with Grit
A professional painting company like Tera Painting will ensure this is done correctly. Make sure to add grit and sand to your surfaces before you start to paint. This will ensure that the texture does not become too slick, so that you can avoid any accidents.
7. Mix all the Paints
This method is an extremely smart idea. All you have to do is get a large container and blend different paints of the same color, that way the results are equal. Professional painters often do this to get a nice blended color.
8. Caulking
It is important that you have caulking tools to seal any damages to your home. It will protect your open joints or prevent damages building up from water.
9. Power Washing
Pressure water is the best equipment for your home’s exterior. Start by washing out all the dirt from the surfaces such as loose paint, mud, dust, etc. After you’re completely finished, let it dry.
10. Maintain Your Home’s Exterior
To keep up proper maintenance, you should check your exterior paint every year. To ensure that you can have a longer lasting exterior paint, you must follow these additional steps:
- Remove mildew or mold
- Wash pollen stains
- Inspect caulk every year
Conclusion
Remember that without the proper exterior painting of your home, its value will decrease. Always choose the best quality exterior paint. Make sure you know what color you want before buying any paint product.
On the other hand, it’s also a good decision to save money, time and effort by hiring a professional painting company such as Tera Painting.
