With the purchase of a home also comes a great deal of responsibility to the homeowner. In addition to being a huge investment financially, a home also represents the foundation where your loved ones are and is therefore an asset that is truly priceless. Due to both the financial and familial significance that a home holds, many homeowners find it necessary to make ongoing improvements as the need arises. However, most types of home renovations do not come cheap, which is why finding the least expensive way to achieve an updated look is so important. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to both increase the value of a home, and give it an entirely new look is through interior painting.
The practice of house painting has, and continues to be a very common method of home remodeling. This is because interior painting allows every room in your home to have its own personality and style with the use of unique color pallets. House painting is also a home improvement project that can typically be tackled on your own, if you’re up to the challenge! If not, you can also consult with professional house painting companies or freelance house painters who can get the job done for you.
Tips for “Do it Yourself” Interior Painting
If you decide to take on the task of painting the interior of your home on your own, there are a few things you should know before rolling up your sleeves and getting your paint brush wet! Although it’s not exactly rocket science, interior painting does require a great deal of preparation if you want the end to justify the means. After making color and theme selections for each of the rooms you will be working on, it’s important to prepare them before you actually begin painting.
In addition to dusting and vacuuming the rooms thoroughly, all of the switch plates from the walls should also be removed. Additionally, any cracks or holes that are found in the wall surfaces should be repaired immediately. Another important preparation task you will have to perform before house painting is washing your walls. For the harder to reach places, including pesky corners and high-rise areas, you can use a mop to really get them clean. Once your walls are completely dried off, you can start your interior painting project. Keep in mind however, that if you want to avoid unsightly bumps on your walls and achieve a clean, smooth surface, make sure you don’t skip any of the preparation steps mentioned above.
Along with the preparation, there are also some practical tips and guidelines you should follow when it comes to the actual painting of your home.
- Wash your brush before you start painting
- Keep your hands clean while painting by applying lotion or wearing latex gloves
- Purchase quality paint brushes and/or rollers to avoid a faulty finish
- Paint in the same direction – from top to bottom
- Organize a tool station in the middle of the work area
Coordinating Colors with Experts
One of the challenges associated with interior painting is having the ability to provide each room in your home with its own identity. Some people know exactly what they want, while others are just clueless. Depending on how large scale of a job your house painting project is, it may be helpful and beneficial to consult with experts, such as house painting companies or professional painters in order to get the job done right.
This is because they are knowledgeable when it comes to selecting specific colors that can make a room appear smaller, more intimate and cozy or those that have the opposite effect, making a room look larger and more spacious. They can basically help you coordinate the right colors for every room in your house, which can make a world of difference when it comes to the finished product.
Exterior Painting
Homes, like people, benefit from a makeover every now and then. A fresh coat of paint on a property's exterior can work magic and significantly boost its curb appeal. Experts recommend that homeowners perform house painting every 5 to 7 years. Investing a little time and money on a paint job pays dividends. First, the periodic exterior painting of a residence prevents a degradation of its external siding and aesthetic features, as well as its structural components. Secondly, painting can accentuate and highlight a property's architectural aspects and improve a home's appearance. Exterior painting also serves the purpose of substantially contributing to a home's real estate appreciation.
Whether layperson or professional, a painter must follow a few guidelines and the following process:
- Preparation of the surface - This is a critical element of any painting project. Surface preparation consists of 1) inspecting the property in detail, 2) identifying signs of chalking, peeling, or blistering on the paint, as well as noting any water damage, and 3) proceeding with repairs.
- Pressure washing - A power wash eliminates algae, mildew, dirt, mold, and chalking that accumulates over the years and restores a clean surface to the home. Pressure washing is usually performed 10-14 days preceding the house painting.
- Scraping - The next step, which is typically completed in a period ranging from a few hours to a couple of days, involves scraping loose paint and/or stain that is peeling off the surface.
- Sanding - House painters then prepare for the siding's priming by smoothing out the paint's borders.
- Priming - Prior to applying the top coat, house painting companies or the homeowner sprays, rolls or brushes a high-end primer to the wood, metal, steel, aluminum or other surface. Priming ensures that the paint will adhere to the areas in need of being re-touched.
- Caulking - Caulking is then applied to potential areas of water leaks, around windows, between joints, among other places. House painters also proceed to mask any nooks and crannies that they wish to protect from paint.
- Painting - When it comes to choosing the most flattering hues for their property, homeowners should consider the following tips:
- Selecting one color for accents such as railings and doors, another color for trim such as moldings and eaves, and a third color for the siding
- Contrasting the accent and trim color in order to mask design defects and underline architectural details
- Utilizing fewer colors on simple homes and four to six colors on elaborate homes
- Coordinating the color of the paint with that of neighboring homes to maintain a sense of uniformity
- Harmonizing the new paint with the residence's current colors
- Applying an accent color along the contour that contrasts with the home's background in order to highlight architectural aspects
- Steering clear of extreme contrasts
- Choosing colors from the same color family
- Balancing shades over the entire home
- Harmonizing the exterior paint with the home's interior colors
- Complementing the colors of the masonry and roof with those of the trim or siding
- Choosing accent colors for columns, shutters, and other details, as well as the trim
- Applying light colors to make the residence appear larger and darker shades to make it seem smaller
- Keeping in mind that intense colors tend to fade quicker, and that dark colors are more difficult to maintain than light colors
- Reserving glossy or semi-glossy paint for railings and columns since this type of coating tends to show brush strokes and flaws (even though it is also easier to maintain)
- Consulting historic color charts or applying a modern, bright shade to highlight architectural aspects when painting an older home
- Testing a selected color by applying a patch of paint on the back of the home and observing it under various weather conditions and at different hours of the day prior to purchasing an entire quantity of the product
- Matching the new hue to the property's landscaping
- Consulting online color charts and samples prior to buying buckets of paint
Homeowners may also make use of free digital painting software and tools that enable them to visualize a variety of color combinations on different styles of homes and surfaces such as concrete and stucco. They can then purchase the color mix from a local painting supply store. The advantage of hiring a painting contractor is that the job is completed in a shorter time frame. House painting companies offer a multitude of services, including the following:
- Repairs of plaster
- Pressure washes
- Window washing
- Consultations concerning paint color
- Painting of aluminum siding
- Repair and replacement of wood
- Clear and polyurethane coating
- Sealing and staining
Finally, most professional house painters provide a free online estimate or in-person quote for an exterior painting project.