Tag: exterior

10 easy tips to help you paint your house

E D Painting interior house painting
House painted by E D Painitng

1 Choose the color

Making sure you have the color you like is very important. The best way to know before you actually buy all the necessary paint is to buy a small sample first and apply it on the wall.

2 Choose the sheen

Generally walls and ceilings look best in flat. An eggshell is also a good choice for the walls depending on your taste. Trim is usually done in semi-gloss. If outside the best combination would be flat on walls and satin/low luster on trim.

3 Calculate how much paint you are going to need

Usually it takes one gallon to cover around 350-400 sf.

4 Make a list of tools

Finding out you don’t have the right tool at the last moment will cost you time and money. Make a list of all the tools you will need.

5 Prepare the working area

Make sure that the area where you are going to be working is easily accessible. This will prevent any accidents caused by tight spaces or objects on your working area.
Cover any furniture or other items with plastic and use drop clothes for the floor.

6 Prep

Prepping is very important for a paint job to look good and to last. Fill holes and cracks with spackle, compound or caulk as needed.

7 Use a brush to cut

There are many different devices marketed for cutting corners with paint but the brush has been around for thousands of years and is still the best. It might take you a little time to get used to it but it will be well worth it. Here is a trick, put the brush against the corner you are trying to cut, and then drag it across, even if it doesn’t cover the first time it’s OK go over it again and you will have a straight edge.

8 Use a roller for larger surfaces

Unless it’s a very big surface you are trying to cover, a 9 inch roller is always the best for regular rooms. Start at one corner and work your way across the wall.

9 One wall at a time

Be it inside or outside the best way for achieving a smooth finish is to take it one wall at a time. Cut first and then roll, it is best that you roll while the edges are still wet. Flat paints are easier to work with. If working outside on a clapboard wall, take 4 boards and paint them all the way to the end without letting the edges dry.

10 Clean up

If there are a few drops on the floor don’t freak out. Try to remove it by rubbing it with a wet rag and if that doesn’t work use some paint remover. Be careful when using paint remover on the carpet because it might discolor it, tiles and hardwood floor is fine.

How long does an exterior paint job last?

One of the most asked question is how long does an exterior paint job last. Like in most cases there is no one answer fits all, but here are some factors that will determine the longevity of a paint job. I’ve broken it down in surface where the paint is applied, type of product and weather condition.

Type of surface.

The most used materials for exterior walls are: wood, aluminum, vinyl, stucco, brick, hardie-plank.

Type of paint or stain.

Common products for outside are paint, solid color stain, transparent or semi-transparent stains.

Weather conditions

This is a huge topic in itself but I just took the factors that have the biggest impact here in Connecticut.

This table will give you an idea of what to expect, however many other factors not indicated here are important as well.

Wood
Alminum/Vinyl
Stucco
Fiber-Cement
Hardieplank
Paint All Sides
4-10 Years
20 + Years
7-10 Years
15 + Years
Sunny Side
3-5 Years
3-6 Years
Shore
1-3 Years
Solid
Color
Stain
All Sides
5-9 Years
7-10 Years
7-9 Years
Sunny Side
4-7 Years
Shore
2-4 Years
Transparent
&
Semi –
Transparent
Stains
All Sides
2-5 Years



Sunny Side
1-3 Years



Shore
1-3 Years



Other factors like:

When was the very first paint job on the house done; over time paint loses elasticity and when that happens it starts cracking and then peeling is unavoidable.
Humidity, following proper procedures and doing the right prep, pressure washing and many other factors make a big difference as well

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E D Painting, CT Painting Contractor, Interior and Exterior, Residential and Commercial, Painters in CT, House Painting
1245 Farmington Ave. #355 West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: 860-989-6517