The Ins and Outs of Painting Your House
Putting a fresh coat of paint on your home will prolong the life of its
skin, pump up the value, and revive its curb appeal, all important
additions, especially when it's time to sell.
The benefits you'll get assumes, of course, the job of slathering on the latex or oil-based paint is professionally performed.
The pros make it look easy, but that's because they've been at it for quite a while. Painting your home isn't a do-it-yourself job unless you've got the know how, the proper tools and enough time off from painting the town red.
When hiring a professional, ask relatives, friends, co-workers and others you trust -- and who've recently enjoyed a successful paint job on their home -- for references to qualified, licensed home painters in your area. A specialist in exterior painting has more square feet of exterior painting under his or her belt. A home painter who works inside and out, can be just as professional.
Even when you hire a licensed professional, however, you should still play a role in choosing the colors and making sure the job gets done right.
The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute and Jackie Craven, About.com's resident architect, offer these tips for a solid house painting job.
However, when you consider the architecture you may need a bigger palette. While Georgian or Colonial styles are better suited for two or three colors some grand Victorians can live with as many as five to six color schemes.
A historic property or a property in a homeowner association community could restrict what colors you can choose. Be sure to check for zoning and historic guidelines as well as association rules.
Likewise, consider your surroundings. You don't want the same colors as the house next door, but you also don't want your home to clash with it.
Your home's materials may also dictate the colors you choose. Wood, brick, masonry or aluminum siding can be painted virtually any color. Vinyl siding, however, is best painted a similar hue, unless you choose a color in a newer paint formulated for vinyl.
Finally, consider how the colors you choose will mesh -- or not -- with other colors on or near your home that won't be painted including the roof, wood, masonry, or stone components and other elements.
Fading is more obvious with intense colors. After a few years hot reds and vivid blues become more subdued. Dark colors will require extra maintenance and touch up work. They also absorb heat and suffer more moisture problems than lighter shades.
Don't be deceived by color swatches which look different in the store than in natural sunlight. Colors also appear lighter on large surfaces than on small samples. Test selected colors in an area before committing to gallons of paint.