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DIY-Exterior House Painting

With the rising price of oil, it seems everything is more expensive.  The trickle down effect of transporting goods is now eating away more of our hard earned dollars.  So saving where we can has become a way of life. 

Many, who never dreamed of attempting a do-it-yourself project, are investigating simply for the sake of saving money.  Painting their home’s exterior, is one of those cost effective ways of saving a bundle.  With all the online paint stores, it is easier than ever to tackle this project even if you’ve never held a paint brush. 

Before you run out and buy the paraphernalia for this task, do your homework.  Below are some guidelines to follow before you start.

1. Time and Difficulty—If you work full time, that leaves you the weekends to complete this project.  Estimate the amount of time to do the job and decide if you’re willing to devote those precious weekends or your vacation to painting.  Having a lot of areas that need to be repaired, scraped, etc., may be more than you want to tackle, but are imperative for an overall good, professional looking job.  To speed things up, consider hiring out just the prep work and get some prices.

2. Quality and Amount of Paint—All paints are not created equal.  Most paint stores will sell a good, better and best version.  Spending more money for paint initially and having it last twice as long will be well worth it when the job is completed.  Make sure to inquire about the color fastnesses; some paints will hold their color better than others.  This is especially important in a climate with a lot of sun.  Do some basic measurements of your home (don’t guess) and go online and use their calculators or talk to the professional at the paint store.  The coverage amounts on the can are not always accurate for every surface that may be painted. 

3. Color—Once you’ve decided on the quality of the paint, it’s time to select the color.  This is the fun part but it can also be the most nerve wracking.  Seeing a color in a small paint chip and looking at it on your entire house can be two totally different versions.  If in doubt, do a large test area, or several before deciding on the final color. 

4. Prep Work—The prep work is the necessary evil before you begin painting.  Cracks, peeling paint, warped or loose boards, etc. need to be addressed before you start.  Talk to the pro’s and let them guide you as to the type of surface, the problem and the best product for the job.  Taking some photos of any areas in question and showing the staff at the paint store could save you time and money in the long run.

5. Proper Tools—There are many tools out there to get the job done.  Painting can be done by renting or buying a sprayer, or you can choose to do it simply with roller and brush.  Obviously the sprayer will cover more area in a shorter amount of time but will require additional preparation and clean up. If you choose to rent a sprayer, make sure to get instructions on how to apply the paint and clean the device.  Plastic or fabric drop cloths are also necessary especially if you’re painting around patio areas.  If you decide to go the sprayer route, you’ll need additional plastic sheeting and tape to protect windows and doors. 

By following these steps and picking the paint professional’s brains, you’re on your way to doing a great job.  The satisfaction of doing the job yourself plus saving money is well worth the time investment and elbow grease.