A nicely painted house exterior looks so nice!
If there is one thing you can do to completely transform your house, it’s to paint the outside of the house! It’s the first thing that visitors see, so there is no excuse for it to be grey, stained and dirty. A fresh coat of paint will completely revamp your house from the outside.
However, it can be a little overwhelming when you are considering how to go about this task, especially if you have a fear of heights, but anybody can do it – it’s just a matter of thinking it through first. It’s a complex job, so some people opt to get a professional in to do it for them. But if you don’t have that sort of money then you’re just going to have to learn how to do it by yourself!
Here are some common questions that are asked:
How Do I Reach The Top?!
If your house is multi-storey then you will need to think about how you are going to reach the high places. Some brave souls use a ladder, but this should be done with extreme caution – always get somebody to hold the ladder for you. Other people have scaffolding erected. This is a much safer option, but it comes at a price. However you choose to do it, make sure safety is your primary concern, and never climb a ladder in strong winds.
How Do I Avoid Paint Drying Unevenly?
Heather feels that the purple paint on her kitchen wall looks uneven – Photo Courtesy: Heather Kennedy
Paint that dries unevenly is a common problem. However, once a few coats have been applied, it normally evens out. Wait a couple of days between coats just to make sure each one is completely dry first. Start in the morning so that you have plenty of sunlight to get a whole coat finished – that will help it not get too patchy. Make sure the walls are dry and clean before you start – as dirt seeping through is another common problem.
How Do I Prevent Peeling?
In order to make sure the paint that you so carefully apply doesn’t end up peeling straight off again, you are best off preparing the surface first. Clean the walls thoroughly and wait for them to dry. You may even need to sand particularly problematic areas. Always start with a base coat of primer – this will help the paint to adhere properly. Sometimes excess moisture is the problem – in this case you will need to consult with a builder to find out why your brickwork is too wet.
How do I Avoid Paint Drips?
Don’t apply your paint in a gung-ho fashion! Take it nice and steadily and only apply a thin layer each time. You may need to add more coats but it is the only way to make sure you avoid paint dripping. It’s really important that you leave every coat to dry properly first before you go on to the next coat. Catch any paint drips quickly by carefully dabbing them with a cloth, before painting over it.
Done right, a few coats of paint on the outside of your house will make it look sparkling new!
Jim Powell is an interior designer based in Canada. He is a passionate about his work and is one of the leading painting contractors in Toronto.
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