A coat of paint is one of the most affordable ways of adding appeal and character to a property, especially if you want to sell your home, but it does need refreshing every 5-10 years, depending on the climate and the quality of the paint. Here are some tips to help make this project easier, from our cash for houses Dallas team.
Step One: A Thorough Cleaning
Wash your home’s exterior thoroughly, focusing on the siding as this is where mold and mildew tend to gather. Once your home is clean, it’s ready for minor repairs and painting.
The best way to wash your home’s exterior is with a pressure washer, which you can hire for minimal cost from a local DIY store. When using a pressure washer, stand at least 10 feet away and work your way closer as needed. These are powerful sprayers that can damage a property if the pressure is too high, so use the lowest settings for windows, garage doors and any more delicate features.
First, spray down your home to remove loose debris and dirt. Then, follow up by scrubbing any stubborn dirt with a stiff bristled brush and a bucket of soapy water.
Step Two: Repairs
Once the exterior of your home is clean and dry, it’s time to make repairs. This should only take a weekend or two if it is not an extensive job.
Use a sanding block to remove any protruding chips and old paint drips (if there are a lot, use a power sander).
Patch and fill holes and cracks with the appropriately matched filler product. For example, holes in fiber cement siding need a cement patch, while cracks in wood can be filled with a wood filler.
Replace old calking by scraping the old product out and replacing it with a slow, even bead of new calking. Excess can be wiped away with a damp cloth.
Any rotten trim should be fully removed and replaced.
Once your patches and repairs are dry, apply a primer so that paint will adhere properly to the new surface.
Step Three: Let the Painting Begin!
Spend some time planning out your paint colors for your walls, trim, accents and doors. Choose a high quality exterior house paint that performs well in your climate, as this will deliver the best results and last the longest.
Start with your siding, tackling it in sections during the afternoon and evening, as the paint will dry too quickly in the heat of the day. First, use masking tape to mask any light fixtures, window frames and doorbells where you are going to pain. Shake or stir the paint to mix it fully, and don’t overload your brush or roller. Use a roller for the bigger spaces and fill in the narrow spaces with a small, angled brush, working from the top of the section to the bottom. Complete a second coat once the first coat is dry, and remove all masking tape while the second coat is still damp.
Once the main exterior walls are complete, start painting the trim. Always do a second or even a third coat of paint if you are using a new color to the base color, to ensure you get full coverage.
Step Four: Add the Details
Now that the painting is done, you can add any aesthetic extras you want to your home. This includes window flower boxes, shutters, crown molding, doorbells, light fixtures, a new front door or a new house number.
There’s no denying that painting your home’s exterior is a demanding DIY job, but it is one you can tackle with relatively minimal expense and equipment – and it delivers a beautiful result.
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