How to Prepare Your Home for Painting

If your home in Elk Grove needs to be refreshed, a new coat of paint is a quick, inexpensive way to improve its appearance. So if your house is looking shabby or if you’re simply ready for something different, consider repainting the outside of your house yourself or hire a professional painter to do the job for you.

Painting a home is a big project, but it isn’t an impossible job for some homeowners. You need to do your research to know how to prepare the surface by scheduling residential pressure washing, as well as what type of brushes and paints to use.

You can compromise with a professional painter by doing all the prep work by yourself, but then having their crew come in and do the actual painting with their tools, safety equipment and professionally selected paint.

Whichever direction is right for you, you’ll still want to know how to prepare your home for painting. Here are some of the most important things to consider.

6 House Painting Preparation Tips

1. Decide which parts to paint, gather the ladders and other safety equipment. If you are preparing to complete the painting yourself, you’ll be glad you did. Having a clear plan will help to make the actual painting project go much faster as soon as you begin. Organizing your materials ahead of time ensures that when you start painting, you shouldn’t have to stop and search for needed supplies, meaning you’ll be able to maintain a wet brush edge the entire time you are painting.
2. Choose paint and brushes. The most fun part of painting your house is choosing the color or color combination. You’ll also want to pick the right paint finishes for each part of the house. Latex is better than oil-based paint for home exteriors. It is less messy and easier to clean up. The flat surfaces require more of a flat, or matte, finish, versus semi-gloss for the trim. You’ll want to us synthetic fiber brushes for latex paint. Rollers and sprayers are also efficient options if possible.
3. Pressure wash. Finally, it’s time to start prepping the exterior of the house for its brand new paint! Invest time into pressure washing your house (or hiring a local pressure washing service) to loosen any cracked or peeling paint. The high pressure water is the most effective way to remove peeling paint, and it simultaneously cleans the outside of your house. Some areas of paint may peel off as you spray over them. That’s a sure sign that the paint was deteriorating and had to be replaced!
4. Remove peeling paint. Now that the original paint has been loosened, scrape it off with a plastic or metal straight edge, being careful not to dig deep into the wood. Then sand surfaces for a smooth finish. It isn’t important to sand every surface all the way down to the bare wood. Any sections where the paint is still adhered need to be cleaned and have the edges sanded so the new paint goes on smooth.
5. Prime. Do not skip the primer! Primer is a very important part of preparation because it conceals any previous paint (especially with dark colors), results in an even color for your new coat, and a smooth exterior with minimal imperfections throughout. Let the primer dry based on the directions so that the original layer of paint won’t mix with it or produce a rough patch on the surface.
6. Plan to paint on the best day. A professional painter is able to look at the forecast and find the most opportune day for painting a house. That’s why they’re experts! If you plan to do the painting yourself, wait for a day that is between 75 and 85 degrees, and with low humidity. This will lead to the best adhesion.

Why Painting Your Home is a Good Idea

Not only does a brand new paint job make your home look years newer, it also adds a layer of protection to the overall exterior of your house.

Paint can help prevent pests from eating or boring into your home’s exterior. It also prevents wear and tear from inclement weather. High quality paint stops wood from rotting and dirt won’t adhere to paint the way it does to wood.

Peeling paint is an obvious sign that it is time to be replaced. If your paint is peeling, you need to have it repainted to protect the wood beneath.

Deteriorating paint takes a toll on your home’s appearance. If you’re concerned about curb appeal, painting your house is one of the easiest things you can do.

Painting is also a good idea if your house doesn’t to “fit in” in the neighborhood. If your home’s color makes it stand out, or if it is the opposite and you want it to stand out, a different color can update its vibe.

Hiring a Local Professional Painter in Elk Grove

After prepping is done, you might want to turn the job over to a professional painter in Elk Grove (if you hadn’t already decided that from the start!). Hiring a painter is cost effective. It also ensures that the results will exceed your expectations with minimal effort on your part.

Hiring a local painter to paint your home has several obvious benefits:

• A professional painter will know the best way to complete the job, meaning the paint will look much better and the project will move a lot quicker.
• Pros don’t make a mess. Their results will be neater, without extra paint splattered or spilled around home.
• Because of their skill and knowledge, your new paint will last longer than if you did the job yourself.
• A professional painter will already have the safety equipment required to paint areas higher than ground level.

Depending on your DIY capabilities and desires, you can trust your painter to complete all the pre-painting preparation, too. Most companies are fully prepared to handle every part of the project, from removing old paint and cleaning the exterior to actually applying the paint.