Painting Perfection

‘Tis the season for home improvement projects! If one on your list is painting, we have some tips for doing it right.

A fresh coat of paint does a house wonders: it prolongs the life of its surface, adds value and boosts curb appeal. These are all especially important if you are considering selling your home. This is also assuming that the job of slathering on this magic lift is done right.

Professionals make it look easy, but that is only because they are well-practiced at it. You should not tackle painting your home unless you have the right expertise, tools and time to devote. When you do hire a professional painter, ask for recommendations from family, friends and coworkers whose opinions you trust. You also want to look for a qualified, licensed painter who has plenty of square feet of exterior painting experience. Home painters who work on the inside and outside of the home can be equally qualified.

Even when you hire a professional painter, you still need to be involved in the job. For tips on a solid house painting job, a recent Realty Times article turned to the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute and Jackie Craven, About.com’s resident architect:

• Choose the right paint. Oil-based paint is used for old oil-based paint, chalky surfaces or for painting in conditions below 50 degrees F. Otherwise, acrylic latex is suitable. You also need to consider the sheen of the paint: glossy, semi-gloss or flat. Glossy paints tend to show more imperfections, such as brush strokes and touch-ups, but the surfaces are easier to clean and are good for “wet” areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Many homeowners use flat paint for walls and semi-gloss or glossy paint for railings, window sashes and columns.
  
  
• Choose the right color scheme. Many homes are painted in three colors or shades of the same color: one for the siding or walls, another for the eaves, moldings and trim, and a third for railings, doors and window sashes. When you consider your home’s architecture, however, you may need to expand your palette. Georgian or Colonial styles are well-suited for two to three colors, but some elegant Victorian homes can suit five-to-six-color schemes.

A little bit more on color. Keep in mind that if you live in a historic neighborhood or a homeowner association community, there could be restrictions on what colors you can select. Before you paint, check for zoning, association and historic guidelines. You should also consider your surroundings. You don’t want your house to blend or clash with the house next door. You also don’t want to be the eyesore of the neighborhood.

A home’s materials may also help you choose a color. Wood, brick, masonry or aluminum siding can be painted pretty much any color. Vinyl siding, meanwhile, is best painted a similar color, unless you choose a paint specially formatted for vinyl. You should also understand how the colors you choose will blend with other colors on or near your home that won’t be painted, such as the roof, wood, masonry or stone components. Keep in mind that light colors will make your home appear larger, while dark siding or dark bands of trim will make your home appear smaller and draw a person’s eye to details.

Another thing to consider is how a color will last. Fading is more apparent with intense colors. Hot reds and vivid blues will become more sedate after a few years. Dark colors will also require extra maintenance and touch-ups, as they absorb more heat and suffer more moisture issues than lighter shades.

Finally, testing colors before you paint is extremely important, as colors can look completely different on a color swatch and on your wall. Colors appear lighter on large surfaces. Test your selected colors in a small area before committing to gallons of paint.

Once you or your professional contractor is ready to paint, you need to prepare the surface and the area. The former is especially important, since the primary reason for a bad paint job is a surface that wasn’t properly prepared. You or the professional should make sure the surface is dry and free of dirt, grease, oils, flaking and loose paint so your primer and new paint can bond with it. To prepare the area, make sure all landscaping, air conditioning units and other important items are protected. Turn off the power to your air conditioner and any other outdoor appliances, and use canvas, rather than plastic, drop cloths. Cover or pull vegetation away from the house as much as possible to avoid interfering with the job. You should also remove everything that is affixed to your home, such as light fixtures, address numbers, door knockers, etc. and mask anything you can’t remove.

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