Your house’s exterior paint job is what serves to make it look good and protects it from the harsh weather conditions year-round. Applying the suitable coating correctly can make the difference between needing to reapply it every couple of years or potentially lasting up to 10+ years. The cost to paint a house isn’t cheap either, by any means, so it’s essential to avoid critical mistakes in the process that might see you breaking the bank by the end of the decade. Cutting corners is not an option in that case. That multiplies the problems you have to deal with over time and makes it a thousand times more of a hassle than the effort saved initially. So keep your exterior painting costs low, by paying attention to these exterior house painting mistakes:
Intercoat peeling
It’s when the paint doesn’t stick to the surface right, causing you to have to scrape it off entirely if it happens. It happens most often when done by novice painters, who don’t prepare the surface before applying paint by cleaning the exterior and letting it dry off, or don’t even consider using a primer. Avoiding it can be done either by taking care that the conditions are right and checking that your painting tools match your needs or by enlisting professionals’ help. Painting contractors can be of excellent use, especially when starting. You can learn what the key things to consider are, by observing the process.
Poor technique
In a similar vein, an often-overlooked aspect of an exterior painting by new painters is the exact method of applying it. Whether it’s over-brushing, not waiting between coatings, or fully dunking the brush, there’s too much paint to be useful. There are several mistakes you could make at this point. The best way to treat this issue here is to hire the services of experts. Residential painting services in Newton, MA, are the perfect way of doing things right. You can get answers and guidance in the process, to apply correctly down the line.
Avoiding paint bubbles
Paint tends to bubble up when applied to scorching surfaces, as the water underneath the upper part of the coating gets released. Here the fix is rather simple – don’t paint when the surface is above 90 degrees. Additionally, moisture from an interior wall can seep through and affect the exterior, causing the bubbles to appear. You need to make sure there’s no moisture on the other side, either. Here, again, a house painter can help you look for the sources of moisture. If you’re having trouble with it – make sure to ask the experts if you’re confused!
Appropriate preparations
To make the most out of your painting job, and avoid re-doing it in a couple of weeks once you notice peeling, prepare the surface well. Your exterior home painting preparations should include scraping away old paint and cleaning the surface of debris and trimming any bushes or branches that might get in the way. Additionally, make sure the cover itself is suitable for painting – if it’s wood, take care that it’s not rotten or weathered. If it is, replace the rotten parts or sand it before applying a primer. This step is best done by an expert that knows what to take care of, but if not, you can try to look up your material and what conditions make it unsuitable for painting.