Painting your home’s exterior is an excellent way to boost your curbside value – not to mention that it’s simply exciting to transform your home and show off your preferences. That said, you may be eager to kick the project off; the sooner, the better right? Not always – especially when it comes to painting. In fact, there are a few preparations you’ll want to be sure you take care of before breaking out the paint cans and rollers. Here are four steps you shouldn’t neglect.
1. Pressure Wash Your Walls
You’re going to want to pressure wash your walls to remove any dust, cobwebs, dirt, or other forms of debris that your home might have accumulated – paint will not adhere properly to dirty walls! Try to keep the water pressure level between 1500 and 1800 psi. You can also increase the psi to help remove any loose paint you may have.
2. Repair Your Walls
After washing your walls, you will need to closely inspect them for any signs of damage. There is no sense in painting over this damage – if the foundation is always compromised, the paint cannot protect it as intended. Whether it be some cracks in your foundation, rotting wood, or broken panels, don’t glance over anything to set your paint up for success. Also be sure to caulk trim your boards, windows, and other areas of siding.
3. Remove Failing Paint
If you have loose, peeling, bubbling, or flakey paint, it cannot be painted over, as it would prevent the new paint from properly adhering. As mentioned above, you can use your power washer to remove loose paint, or you can use handheld paint scrappers and carefully work section by section.
4. Protect Your Home
You need to cover up anything that you don’t want to get any paint on, using sheets, tarps, tape, etc. This includes windows, doors, landscaping and plants, brick, handrails, cars – pretty much everything aside from the actual walls. Don’t forget about power boxes and light sources, either – paint can permanently ruin some of these crucial utilities if you aren’t careful.
Whether you’re planning to paint yourself or hire a team of professionals, none of this prep work should be skipped – it ensures beautiful lasting results. Most teams will also include some or all of this prep in their services package, so don’t hesitate to ask about it during your initial estimate!
About Platinum Painting
Our team here at Platinum Painting of Flower Mound has been helping homeowners all around the DFW metroplex for over 15 years, offering a wide range of interior and exterior painting services for commercial and residential projects. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to set up a FREE in-home estimate, please feel free to reach out online or call today for assistance. Telephone: (214) 304-7133.