Seasons wreak havoc on a home's exterior. In fact, Americans spend over $4.8 billion annually on maintenance services. Spring is the ideal time for homeowners to plan the repainting of their homes. The exterior of your home is the first impression you give the outside world and a good paint job is critical to your home's appearance. Ed Waller, co-founder of Certa-Pro Painters, offers tips on painting the exterior of your home and ideas to make your job easier.
• First, evaluate the condition of your house. Look for bare wood, metal or masonry surfaces. That's where paint is worn and you need a new coat, or you have other problems such as moisture that a professional painter should assess for you.
• Use a cleaning solution to remove dirt on siding. Scrub well and rinse thoroughly.
• Prepare your house well if you are repainting it. Some loose paint is obvious, some is hard to find by just looking at it.
• Buy the best paint possible for the exterior of a house. The best paint will withstand the elements better than a cheaper type and in the long run may actually save money. The same goes for brushes and rollers.
• Be sure to paint in the shade on a bright day. Painting in the sun can cause the paint to dry too fast and blister.
• Brush first, then roll. Paint the trim last.