Helpful Exterior House Painting Tips

Exterior paint is very important in making a home look presentable. Paint peeling off is the first sign of neglect and the more you neglect it, the worse it gets. That is why you should keep the exterior house painting in your home maintenance budget every few years. How long the paint will last depends primarily on the weather of the place. The more rain, dust and sun it bears, the sooner the paint is likely to wear off. That is why you need to set your painting schedule based on how long the paint generally lasts in your area. The thing about exterior house painting is that it is an exhaustive process and very few try the DIY route. However, if you are planning to do so, here are a few house painting ideas that might come handy.

Choosing the Right Base

You may have heard the oil vs. water debate for years now. The debate has still not found a definite winner and isn’t likely to do so very soon. Let’s make it easier for you to choose:

Water based latex paints dry easily, can be cleaned with soap and water and have no VOC. Oil-based alkyds on the other hand, take longer to dry, but are more durable. However, since they are not as flexible as latex paints, they are more likely to crack. It is a silly misconception that water based paints dissolve with the rain. Once the paint dries, it can very well withstand rains, which is a definite requirement for exterior house colors.

Choosing the Right Tools

Tools are making life easier in every arena, why should painting be left behind. Brushes are indeed important in painting but when painting large areas, roller comes in particularly handy. Just dip it in the paint and roll it on the walls. Professional exterior color ideas state that you should always start at the top and work your way down. That way, you do not smudge the paint on your way up. For the trims, nooks and corners use paint brush, while the roller helps covering large areas. This will not only ensure that more work gets done in less time but it also ensures that the paint goes on much more uniformly.

Preparing the Ground

Once you have selected your color and your tools, it is time to prep the walls for the paint. First you need to scrape off the old paints from the wall. Here another thing should be taken into consideration. If you have always had oil based exterior house colors, then you should continue with oil based paints. Water based paints do not stick on an oil-painted surface. Even if you scrape the walls, the oil residue remains and prevents the water paint to adhere to the walls. Another thing that you must do is apply a primer before the paint; it will last for years.