Secrets to Painting Your Home Exterior More Effectively
Sam Lutz • May 27, 2014
We know painting the exterior of a house is a huge, time consuming job. If you’re like most people, you want to tackle this project as quickly and effectively as possible. We’re providing these tips to help guide you through the process, to make your painting project painless and efficient.
Buy Quality Paint
First and foremost, always buy the best quality paint. Inexpensive paints may seem like a good deal at the check out line, but the savings quickly disappear with all the additional coats of paint required to achieve an even finish. It may sound like a contradiction, but quality paints can save time and money.
Check the Weather Report
It’s the worst thing that could happen to a brand new paint job: rain! Always remember to check the weather report before embarking on a big project like this one. Paint only on days when the weather forecast
is good, and give yourself a day or two of buffer time before the next expected rain storm. Remember, latex (water based) paint dries within hours, but oil based paints need at least 24 rain-free hours to cure.
Use Paint Conditioner
Latex paints can dry annoyingly quickly, especially on hot, dry days. The result of this can be an uneven application of paint. It can also cause other issues like the formation of a skin on the surface of the canned paint or dry patches of paint on the brush. All these problems can slow you down and waste paint.
Add paint conditioner to the paint to slow down the drying time and prevent these problems from occurring. Check the label to be sure that the paint conditioner you choose is compatible with the type of paint you’re using. Incidentally, paint conditioner is also very helpful if you’re using an air brush.
Clean Before You Paint
It may not sound essential, but it is: clean the surface of the house with a power washer
before you paint. If you’re painting the eaves and gutters, clean those thoroughly as well. Painting without cleaning can affect paint adhesion and may result in the need to repaint before the job is finished.
Brush Storage
Don’t waste time washing your paint brushes every night. If you plan to continue painting the following morning, wrap up your paint brushes
in a plastic bag. Paint dries very slowly in cold temperatures, and should last until the morning when you start painting again.
Watch the Sun
Painting in direct sunlight can be hot and uncomfortable, but there are other negative consequences you may not be aware of. The Sun can cause paint to blister, and can increase the speed at which paint dries, making lap marks on the painting surface. Whenever possible, paint in the shade. Move with the sun so that you’re always painting on a shady side of the house.
Also keep in mind that it’s not a good idea to paint if the temperature is less than 50 degrees. Cold weather can slow drying times and negatively affect paint adhesion.
Looking for more helpful tips and tricks? The Benjamin Moore website has an excellent article on the subject, and tutorials for exterior painting. Good luck, and if you have questions, feel free to drop in at Ace Paints. We’re happy to help!
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