10 Common Exterior Painting Mistakes Everyone Makes
When it comes to painting the exterior of your home, there are a few common mistakes that everyone seems to make. By learning what these mistakes are and avoiding them, you can save yourself time, money, and frustration.
1. Not Preparing the Surface
One of the most common mistakes people make when painting the exterior of their home is not preparing the surface properly. If you don’t take the time to do old paint removal, patch up any cracks or rough edges, and remove any dirt or debris, your new house exterior paint job is not going to look its best. You need to take the time to do some prep work before you start exterior house painting. In preparation for painting, you should:
- Scrape off any old or loose paint
- Patch up any cracks or holes
- Remove any dirt or debris
2. Not Using the Right Paint
Another common mistake is not using the right paint leads to early paint failure. You need to make sure that you use paint that is designed for the exterior of your home. If you use paint that is meant for the interior paint project, it is not going to hold up well to the elements and will start to peel and fade very quickly. You need to use high-quality exterior paint if you want your paint job to last. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a home’s exterior paint:
- Choose a paint that is designed for the exterior of your home
- Choose a high-quality paint
- Latex paint or lead paint
- Oil-based paint or Glossy paint
- Choosing paint colors from actual paint samples
3. Not Using a Primer
Another common mistake is not using a primer. A primer helps the paint to adhere to the surface better and also provides a nice, even base for your paint color. Without a primer, your paint job is more likely to be patchy and uneven. You can usually find primer at your local hardware store.
4. Not Taking Weather Conditions into Account
When you are painting the exterior of your home, you need to take the weather conditions into account. If it’s too hot, the paint will dry too quickly and will be more likely to crack and peel. It’s too cold, the paint won’t dry properly, and will be more likely to chip and flake. The best time to paint the exterior of your home is in the spring or fall when the weather is cooler.
5. Not Hiring a Professional
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are not hiring a professional for home exterior painting services. If you don’t have an experience with a painting project, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. They have the knowledge and experience to get the job done right, and they will be able to do it much faster than you could. You can save money by working with a painting contractor.
Hiring a professional painter is one of the best ways to ensure that your paint job turns out to look its best. Professional painters have the experience and knowledge to know what kind of paint to use, how to prep the surface, and how to apply the paint so that it looks its best.
6. Not Cleaning Up Properly
Once you are done exterior home painting process, it is important to clean up properly. If you leave paint brushes and other supplies lying around, they can become ruined and you will have to replace them. Also, if you don’t clean up your painting job properly, it will start to look sloppy and unprofessional.
To clean up your paint job, you should:
- Wash all of your paintbrushes
- Clean up any spilled paint
- Put all of the lids back on the paint cans
- Throw away any old paint cans
7. Not Inspecting the Paint Job Regularly
Once you have painted the exterior of your home, you need to inspect the paint job regularly. This will help you to catch any problems early on so that you can fix them before they become big issues. You should check the paint job every few months to make sure that it is still in good condition.
8. Not Touching Up the Paint Job
Another mistake people make is not touching up the paint job when it starts to get worn. Once the paint starts to fade, chip, or peel, you need to touch it up as soon as possible. The longer you wait to touch up the paint, the more damage will be done and the more difficult it will be to fix.
9. Not Being Careful with Ladder
When you are painting the exterior of your home, you need to be very careful with the ladder. If you are not careful, you could end up falling and injuring yourself. Make sure that the ladder is placed on a stable surface and that it is not wobbling before you start to climb it. Also, make sure that you have someone holding the ladder for you so that it doesn’t fall over.
10. Not Covered Up
Another mistake that people make when painting the exterior of their home is not covering it up properly. You need to cover up any areas that you don’t want to get paint on. This includes windows, doors, and any other areas where paint could get on and ruin the surface.
Avoiding these common mistakes will help you to create a beautiful, long-lasting paint job on the exterior of your home. If you take your time and do it right, you’ll be able to enjoy your new paint job for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Painting the exterior of your home is a big job, but it is one that you can do yourself if you are careful and follow these tips. If you are not sure about something, it is always best to hire a professional to do the job for you. They will be able to get it done quickly and efficiently and will make sure that it looks its best.
