Exterior home painting is a process that you want to be sure of what you are doing before getting started. Since the exterior of your home is visible to anyone who passes by, you want to be sure to do a great job with it. We will discuss different paint types, precautionary measures, color selections and other factors that go into the exterior home painting process.
When it comes to choosing a paint type, the main two options are oil based and latex based paints. We won’t go into detail about this, but in general latex paints tend to last longer and are less hazardous to the environment. If the material you are painting on calls for oil based paint, then you will still be able to accomplish the same goals, but should probably wear a mask and cover exposed skin when painting, as it is much more difficult to remove.
If you need to choose a paint color for the exterior home painting, there are several factors you will want to take into consideration. If the roof tiles of your home are a bright color, then you will want to choose a color that does not clash with that. If you house has shutters and you do not plan on repainting them, then create a color scheme that works and will not require more work from you later on.
You should also decide if you want to use dark or light colors for your exterior home painting procedure. The color of a home is similar to colors in fashion. Black tends to show a slimmer side and may make your house appear smaller than it actually is, especially at nighttime. Lighter houses accentuate the details, but are also more likely to show any dirtiness on the façade. So if you want to go lighter, be sure to keep the front of your house clean. Regardless of what color you choose for exterior home painting, you should plan on repainting every five years to keep your house looking fresh. The frequency with which you will need to repeat the exterior home painting process depends on other factors, such as climate, but in general, five years is a good benchmark.
You should also look at all the homes in the immediate vicinity of yours. If all of the houses in your neighborhood are a homogenous color, or similar in color schemes, such as all light colored or all dark in color, then you may want to stick to that pattern. If you choose a bold color when houses that are all similar in color surround you, then you may be asking for trouble with your neighbors.
The other major decision you will have to make when weighing your exterior home painting options is what gloss level you want. High gloss paints are shiny and reflective in nature, and are best for wooden doors and trims. Semi-gloss paints are a better option if you want to display the finer details of your home’s exterior, however they can also point out the home’s external flaws. Paints with no gloss give off no shine and have a traditional flat matte finish. There are several levels of paint glosses so find one in between these three that works for you.
Some of the best places to find external paint include any major paint store, such as Benjamin Moore, Janovic and Sherwin-Williams. You can also find various exterior home painting supplies, such as paintbrushes, paint rollers, and cleaning supplies at the aforementioned stores, or at any local hardware store.