Exterior House Painting – What You Need to Know
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Last year the exterior of my house underwent a transformation with a lot of paint. The year before, I had a few estimates to get it painted but unfortunately ran out of time before it could get done. So, I decided to tackle it myself (with the help of my son). Are you wanting to transform your house exterior? Read on for tips on paint selection to do-it-yourself or hire a professional painter.
Do you want to hire a professional?
You may not be up to the task of doing the exterior painting yourself. You may not have the time, tools, knowledge or be physically able to do it yourself. Having a fear of heights may also prevent you from tackling this project. What do you need to consider when hiring someone?
For most jobs it is recommended that you get at least three estimates, preferably with references. The cheapest price isn’t always the best. Many professional painters have photos of previous jobs so you can see examples of their work. If you can’t find someone through word of mouth, there are online referral sites like Home Stars.
- Be sure to compare apples to apples though.
- Make a detailed list of prep-work and what exactly is to be painted with what colour and type of paint.
- Are they going to be supplying the paint, or are you?
- How much paint will you need?
- Most professional painters supply their own brushes, rollers, etc. but you may want to clarify any extra costs.
Paint Sheens...
There are five basic sheens of paint – flat (also called matte), satin or eggshell, semi-gloss and gloss. Flat or matte is the most forgiving at hiding imperfections and is also best for stucco and most siding. The satin or eggshell sheens are a little more durable for areas that will have more abuse. Semi-gloss is best for trim and gloss for fine detailed areas that you want to stand out.
What kind of exterior paint do you need?
The type of paint that is best for your house will depend on the type of surface, your climate, the use (or abuse) it will get, and the skill level of the painter. If you are having a professional painter you don’t have to worry about the ease of application, because they will know how to do a good job. Last year I had a professional painter paint the exterior of my rental property and they were very helpful on advising me on the type of paint. They also used a good primer so the paint would adhere better, but there were still a few spots I had to touch up.
Water or Oil based?
Acrylic and latex(water-based) paints are the most common and more eco-friendly, but not as durable as oil-based paints. The oil-based paints that use a lot of chemical solvents may be best used for fine details, if at all.
Essential tools...
The most important tool I found when painting my house was a good, sturdy, adjustable ladder. My son made a special support for it for the sides where the ground was sloped.
Other essentials you will need:
- paint trays
- good roller & refills
- paint brush for edging
- roller extension pole
- rags
- plastic bags for trays, roller and brush to prevent drying out for a day, if not finished.
Help with high places...
Fortunately, I have tall sons that aren’t afraid of heights to help reach the places I couldn’t get to.
Window trim...
All my windows were trimmed with a yellowy off-white so they had to be changed to white. It was a bit of a process. First I had to tape off the windows, covering them with plastic or newspapers. Then I lightly sanded them and sprayed a primer on before spraying the white paint on.
With the siding and trim painted, it looks like a different house. Next on the list… new fascia, soffit and eavestroughs.
You can watch the video below...
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