If you are decorating your home, you must take your home exterior into consideration as well. Painting it can completely change your home’s look and enliven its kerb appeal. Besides that, applying a fresh coat of paint helps to protect the walls from getting damaged from rain, dust, heat etc. Further, it will increase the resale value of your house. If you are planning to paint your home exterior, here are a few do’s and don’ts you must know:
Do’s
01 of 06 You must choose the right paint for your exterior walls
Paints used in interiors and exteriors are different from each other. Since the exterior paint has to withstand harsh weather conditions, it is formulated differently. Moreover, exterior paint prevents mould growth as it dries off quickly. While selecting paint for your exterior walls, you must choose an option that is specifically made for the exterior. Otherwise, the paint will fade off very fast and the walls will not stay protected. Check the details very carefully before buying exterior paint. If you are buying from a store, consult with the seller before making any decision.
02 of 06 Make the right calculations
It is important to calculate the amount of paint required to paint the entire house. You do not want to run out of paint when you are halfway through the painting process. It will cost you a lot of time. Similarly, do not end up buying more paint than you need. It will be a waste of money. Research online to understand how much paint might be required. Many websites are available that can help you to make this decision. You can discuss this with experts as well to get a more accurate calculation.
03 of 06 Make sure you have the right tools
Painting is not an easy task and can consume a lot of time and energy. To make the task easier and more convenient, you can use various painting tools. For instance, you must only use paint brushes and rollers for this task that are meant for painting exterior walls. Compared to the options used for creating room paint designs, these feature longer bristles for holding more paint. You can easily apply paint on uneven surfaces using these brushes and rollers. As a result, you will be able to prevent delays and meet deadlines. Some of the tools that are absolutely necessary for painting are a ladder, paintbrushes, paint rollers, and work gloves.
04 of 06 Never compromise with safety
While performing this task, you must never compromise with safety. Accidents can happen at any time and hence, you must only use tools that are completely safe. For instance, you will require a ladder for painting high areas. If the ladder cannot sustain your weight, you might fall. To prevent such accidents, you have to invest in a good quality ladder. Similarly, many paints release toxic fumes that can be harmful to your health. Exposure to such toxic fumes over time can lead to various health conditions. You must only choose options that are completely safe.
05 of 06 Never forget to check the weather forecast
Although you can start creating room paint designs anytime, you must always check the weather forecast before getting started with the painting job. This is because rain can completely ruin all your efforts if it starts before the paint can get dry. Although exterior paints dry off quickly and are waterproof, at least 15 days are required for the paint to fully cure. Hence, painting the exterior walls is avoided during the rainy season.
06 of 06 Always stir before
Although many people forget it, you must stir paint thoroughly before getting started. You can use anything long to stir it and ensure that the paint is properly mixed. In many cases, the seller often provides you with a stirrer while buying paint. Stirring helps to ensure that the end result appears more appealing.
Don’ts
01 of 03 Start to paint without preparing the surface
Before you start painting the exterior walls, you have to ensure that the surface is ready. You can only get an excellent finish when you prepare the surface before painting. Wash it properly and remove dirt and any loose paint. Use a scraper to remove loose paint if washing it is not sufficient. Also, make sure you repair all damages on the walls before painting.
02 of 03 Dispose of paint anywhere
There are various chemicals present in paints that can be harmful to the environment. You should not dispose of the leftover paints anywhere after completing the task. Check the right process to dispose of paint correctly online.
03 of 03 Leave the paint brushes and rollers dirty
After using the paint brushes and rollers, do not leave them without cleaning. If the paint dries off, it will be impossible to get rid of it and you will not be able to use them again. Hence, clean them properly.