| |
Exterior House Painting: How To Get It Done Fast
Finally getting around to painting the exterior of your home? Once you have found a contractor, the process is pretty easy, but there are a few things you need to take care of before you unleash the rollers. Here are a few steps that will get you fully prepared for the job.
- Get inspired. Obviously, you have to pick a color you are absolutely comfortable with. It will likely have something to do with the exterior style of your home. If you own a Victorian home, for example, your hues will likely be very different from those of a colonial style home. For further ideas and inspiration, walk or drive around your neighborhood and see what others have done with their homes and to what effect. This is not to say you should try to copy your neighbors, but rather that you should see what works- and what doesn't. As you look for ideas, think about trim as well as the color of your door.
- Get advice. If you are still stumped--even about the smallest detail--seek out some advice. There is a wealth of it online, but you may want to speak with someone well-versed in the topic in person. A paint expert at your local hardware store may able to give you good advice. If you already have a paint contractor, try seeking advice from them, as they likely have years experience and know what works and what does not.
- Get down to the details. Having the exterior of your house painted involves more than changing the color of your home. You may need to think about pre-treatments, removal of old paint coats, and, as mentioned above, trim and door colors. You can find information on everything that needs to be done online, from an expert at a hardware store, or from your contractor.
- Test drive your colors. Once you have selected your colors, you will then need to test them out, since paint usually darkens as it dries. Before your contractor buys enough paint to cover your house, ask them to test it on a small, unseen area of your house. That way you can be sure that you are getting what you want. Of course, if you do not like the way it looks once it dries you can test another color or two.
- Get your home ready. Before your contractor starts the job, take a walk around your house to look for things that might get in the way during the job. This could be a swing set, a car stored long term near the structure, or even a basketball hoop. You will need to move these things before painters arrive. If any bushes or trees look like they are growing a little too close to your home for comfort, and may get in the way, you will need to trim them, or hire someone to do so. If not, your contractor may do it for you but the result may not be very aesthetically pleasing.
- Prepare your family. Having work done on your house always means commotion, and may limit the space in which you and your family can operate. If you have pets, make sure you have a way of restricting their access to areas where work is being done. The same goes for children too young to understand verbal warnings. You should also make sure the crew knows which water spigots and electrical outlets to use during the job.
Before your contractor breaks out the paintbrushes, make sure that you agree on every facet of the project. Check the written project estimate line by line, and make sure you understand each charge listed. Painting the exterior of your house is a great way to breathe new life into your home and express your individual style.
|
