4 Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Successful Painting Job

A new coat of paint can make you fall in love with your home all over again. Changing the colors of your exterior will allow you to change the mood of your home and make it look more appealing. By choosing your colors correctly, you can make the beautiful parts of your home stand out while minimizing its flaws. Handyman Connection of Mountain View explains a few ways to prepare your home before a paint job:

1. Identify Paint Problems and Fix Them – The quality of the painting job depends on the quality of the surface. You need to clean and prepare your home’s exterior. Look for common problems like peeling, blistering, and wrinkling. You can fix peeling by scraping off all loose paint flakes and sanding to smooth the sharp edges. Be sure to prime any bare spots. For blistering, you need to scrape off the blisters as well. To fix wrinkling, you can sand the wrinkled area smooth or remove the paint.

2. Use the Right Tools – There are many ways to remove old paint. You can scrape it off with a wire brush and a wide-blade putty knife. For extensive paint removal, invest in a sharp pull scraper. You can sand the surface you are painting using a piece of sandpaper around a wood block or by using an electric orbital sander. For heavy deposits of paint, you can use an electric paint remover. Make sure to use heavy gloves when using this device.

3. Don’t Forget These Tasks – You need to remove rust stains on your foundation, siding, and overhangs. You also need to repair leaks in your gutters and the cracks in your siding. Replace any loose caulking, scrub off any mildew, and prevent it from coming back. You also need to remove awnings, wall-mounted light fixtures, storm windows, shutters, the street address number, and the mailbox. Clean and paint them separately.

4. Wash Your Exterior – This will provide a dirt-free foundation for your new coating. It can also reveal any surface flaws you need to fix before painting. If you have a typical house, you can use a garden hose with a car wash brush attachment to wash the big areas. If there is any caked-on dirt, you can use a scrub brush, a pail of warm water, and household detergent. If your home is large, or if you want a quicker job, then you can rent a high-pressure spray cleaner. Make sure to wear protective clothing and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using this device.

These tips can help ensure a successful painting job if you are skilled and experienced in painting. If you want to rely on the services of a professional, then Handyman Connection of Mountain View will be glad to help. Our experienced craftsmen will walk you through the process every step of the way for a quick and convenient experience. They have the specialized skills to perform prep, painting, and cleanup. Give us a call for more tips about painting or to ask for a free estimate.