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Exterior House Painting Tips

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Whether your home is siding, stucco, or even brick, a good paint job can transform the outward appearance of a home, add value, and even increase curb appeal. However, painting the exterior of a house is never an easy process. Painting companies often quote exterior painting jobs as premium services due to the difficulty and equipment required. However, a good exterior paint job done by a professional can withstand harsh weather conditions and last an average of ten years.

What are some useful exterior painting tips though? Whether you decide to hire out for exterior painting in Colorado or simply do it yourself, using the tips outlined below will make the process a lot easier.

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Tip 1: Use High-Quality Paint

One of the most useful exterior painting tips to always follow is utilizing high-quality paint. While it may be tempting to purchase the most inexpensive and affordable paint that you can find, your return on investment will be lacking. Most inexpensive paints are poorly made, and this can produce lackluster results, plus lead to deterioration after only two or three years.

If you purchase high-quality paint, however, it will remain on the exterior of your house for many years. There won’t be any need for you to repaint the exterior after only a few years have passed, and the paint will stay on for a long time.

However, one thing to remember is that it isn’t always easy to find the best paint for your house unless you know exactly what you’re looking for. It’s worth hiring a professional as they will have experience in identifying the best type of paint for your home’s exterior.

Tip 2: Wash Each Exterior Surface That Will Be Painted

One of the first items of business that professional Denver painters tackle is cleaning the area. When you’re painting any surface, it’s of the utmost importance that the surface is clean and dry. If there is dirt, dust, or grime on the exterior surface that you are going to paint, the paint won’t look right, and it may not stick to the surface evenly. Additionally, it can later cause blistering and paint peeling.

To wash each surface, you can use a pressure washer, which is very effective, or some trisodium phosphate and water. Pressure washers are great because they can quickly remove all of the grime and gunk that are on the soon-to-be-painted exterior surfaces. But, using them isn’t always easy, especially if you’ve never used one before. And, if there are a lot of boards that need to be cleaned, it’s often easier to hire someone else to do it, because that will take a lot of time.

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Tip 3: Scrape Off Old Paint

Another useful exterior painting tip is taking the needed time to strip old paint off your building. On the exterior surfaces of your house, there’s a good chance that a lot of the paint has decayed and fallen apart. This is quite common, especially with older houses, and the best thing to do is to scrape off all of the loose paint.

To scrape off the loose paint, you just need a basic scraper that you can purchase at your local hardware store. If there is a lot of loose paint, though, then the process will take a long time.

Tip 4: Be Mindful Of Lead In Old Paint

In 1978, lead paint was banned for residential use, due to health risks. If your home was built and painted before 1978, there’s a good chance that lead paint was used. If you aren’t sure, you can purchase a lead testing kit from your local paint store.

If lead paint was used, then you need to make sure that you clean the exterior surfaces very thoroughly, wear protective gear, and dispose of the paint scraps and your protective gear, when the process is finished.

Hiring a professional Colorado painting contractor is often the best choice in those situations because it’s safer, easier, and a lot less time-consuming. Similarly, professional painters like Colorado Painting are aware of how to tackle larger exterior projects that involve lead paint.

Tip 5: Sand Rough Pieces Of Wood

If the exterior surfaces you’re painting are rough, then you must sand them. Rough wood is unable to hold paint very well, and this can lead to a need for repairs later on.

There’s nothing complicated about the process, you just need a good sander and the right sand-paper. If you aren’t sure which sand-paper is ideal, and you have a lot of wood to sand, hiring a professional is a good choice.

how to paint exterior house

Tip 6:  Choose A Paint Color That Complements The Architecture Of Your Home

When you’re looking at different paint colors, consider the architectural style of your home. Certain colors go very well with certain architectural styles, while other colors go poorly with a certain style.

To figure out which paint color is ideal, you can go online and look at different home decor websites. These often have photos that showcase different colors and how they look at certain homes. Alternatively, you can hire a professional to help you with that.

Tip 7: Use Caulk To Fill In Any Gap

Essentially, caulk is just a sealant. It’s designed to prevent liquids from flowing into certain surfaces – in this case, the walls of your house.

If there are any gaps or cracks within the exterior surfaces that you’re going to be painting, then you should use caulk to fill them. By doing that, you’re protecting those surfaces from things like water damage and air leakage.

Tip 8: Apply Two Coats Of Paint

While a single coat of paint does work – usually if the exterior was painted just a few years ago – it’s always advisable to use two coats of paint.

Using two coats of paint, instead of just one, leads to greater durability. It’s very easy for a single coat of paint to decay and fall away, within just a few years. But, having that second coat of paint prevents that.

Plus, when you’re putting on the second coat of paint, you’ll have the opportunity to paint any small spots and spaces that you may have missed, when putting on the first coat.

Tip 9: Paint In Average Temperatures – Not Too High, Not Too Low

If the temperature is too low, or too high, then you can run into a lot of problems. When the temperature is too low, paint can freeze while it’s being applied, which then leads to the paint cracking and breaking apart. When the temperature is too high, the paint isn’t always able to stick to the surface.

Ideally, you’ll be painting in temperatures that are around sixty-to-ninety-degrees. But, this is also dependent on the type of paint that is being used, and the humidity levels.

easier way for exterior house painting

Tip 10: Remove Rotten Wood

Rotten wood is not only difficult to paint on, but it’s also a structural problem that will damage the exterior of your house.

Removing rotten wood is quite difficult, though, especially if you aren’t a professional. If you need to remove rotten wood from your house’s exterior, hiring a professional is the best way to go. You won’t have to struggle with the wood, and you won’t have to worry about weakening the structural integrity of your house.

Tip 11: Maintain The Exterior

When the exterior has been painted, you must then maintain that exterior. Make sure to check for mold and mildew at least every two months. And, if you see some, remove it.

Pay attention and look for gaps and cracks, as well. If those are present, you can use some caulk to fill those gaps and cracks up

Without performing the proper maintenance, it’s very easy for the exterior of your house to fall into a state of disarray. But, if you check the exterior on a regular basis, and perform maintenance when it’s needed, your exterior – and the paint on it – will last for a very long time.

Exterior Painting in Colorado

For more exterior house painting tips give us a call. If you’re looking for someone to help tackle your exterior painting for your Colorado home, contact us for a free estimate. We can provide additional tips and pointers for receiving high-quality exterior residential painting in Denver.

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Trevor Z Marshall

Owner & Managing Member at Colorado Painting

Originally from Texas, I’m now thrilled to call Colorado home! Life at our house is full of energy, with four kids, a dog, a cat, and a rotating cast of fish (turns out they’re not the easiest pets to keep alive). Thankfully, my wife Erin and I somehow manage to stay afloat. I’m a proud graduate of Vanderbilt University and have been fortunate to live and work across the country, gaining valuable experiences along the way. When I’m not working, I enjoy making the most of Colorado’s beautiful outdoors, catching up with friends and family, following sports, especially European football, and exploring Boulder’s fantastic craft beer scene. I’m passionate about supporting our team members, whom we proudly refer to as Partners, in delivering top-tier customer service and achieving outstanding results. Looking forward to the opportunity to work together!

Jeff K.Jeff K. ★★★★★ Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting did a great job and would highly recommend them.Rodgrick M.Rodgrick M. ★★★★★ Excellent service!!TravisTravis ★★★★★ Colorado Painting was super easy to work with and they did an excellent job. The project was completed quickly and with no issues. I would highly recommend Colorado Painting.zoe R.zoe R. ★★★★★ Could not be happier with my experience!! The crew was kind, professional, and very punctual. not to mention the attention to detail, which was fabulous. The salesman and project manager were very knowledgeable and helpful, and I love the way my house turned out! I'll be recommending Colorado Painting to my friends and family for sure.Lois R.Lois R. ★★★★★ The Colorado Painting team was amazing! Quick, clean, professional, and friendly. They helped pick colors and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. Highly recommend these guys.Michael H.Michael H. ★★★★★ We recently had the interior of our home painted and couldn’t be happier with the results. The crew was professional and paid great attention to detail. The whole process was easy and I would highly recommend them!Katie F.Katie F. ★★★★★ Their price was comparable to other companies but the service & results were above and beyond. Love the painting job on our house years later!Kelly F.Kelly F. ★★★★★ Painted our odd shaped vaulted ceiling entryway and bathroom! We were extremely pleased with the results. They repaired weathered trim around skylight and vaulted shelf. Looks amazing. Quick, efficient, professional job! Love these guys!Paul F.Paul F. ★★★★★ Everybody we worked with was extremely qualified, knowledgeable and helpful. They went above and beyond! We highly recommend this company and will definitely use them again!Kelly F.Kelly F. ★★★★★ Honest prices, great service and good quality work!Malak D.Malak D. ★★★★★ I had an amazing experience with this painting company from start to finish. The team was professional, punctual, and extremely detail-oriented. They took the time to properly prep the space, protect my furniture, and ensure everything was neat and clean throughout the job. The quality of their work is outstanding smooth finishes, sharp lines, and even coverage that completely transformed the look of my home. What really stood out was their communication. They explained the process clearly, answered all of my questions, and kept me updated each step of the way. The crew was respectful, friendly, and finished the project on schedule. I couldn’t be happier with the results the rooms look brand new! I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for reliable painters who truly care about their craft and their customers.Faith KFaith K ★★★★★ This place is the real deal! They know everything when it comes to paint and are professional through it all. If you’re around Denver DEFINITELY reach outHanna A.Hanna A. ★★★★★ I don’t often leave reviews, but these guys are out of this world. All the guys were incredibly professional and nice. They quoted me a good price and made sure I was 100% happy with the job when they were done. I know that if I wasn’t, they would have done anything to fix it, luckily I was more than pleased! I recommend them to everyone!GANDOFF0030GANDOFF0030 ★★★★★ Commercial team was on top of it! Amazing people and understood what I asked of them. Very well done and will recommend every single time!Allison P.Allison P. ★★★★★ The staff was great at communicating. The painting team was very fast and did a great job. They painted our whole house and back porch and it looks so good!Danny F.Danny F. ★★★★★ WOW!Osman & his team are incredible, they all work together to get the job done. Bedroom #1 - Popcorn ceiling removed, retextured & entire room painted. Bedroom #2 and bathroom painted. Entire job completed in 2 days! It was amazing to see the pride these guys put into their work! Thanks also goes to the project manager, Ben, for keeping us informed along the way.Eric HEric H ★★★★★ Had a wonderful experience with the Colorado Residential Painting team, from sales, painting execution, to final walk through, and payment process!Sales:The team worked diligently on getting me the best price with top quality paint materials. The quoting process was prompt, professional, and with clear communication. In addition to painting the entire home exterior, we had exterior trim that needed replaced, and we even included a custom solid wood front door that needed careful attention to sand, stain, and reseal. Our sales rep (Eric) was a pleasure to work with and helped us through the up front analysis and evaluation of options to choose from.Painting Process:Communication and attention to detail was extraordinary! Greatly appreciate the level of expertise and professionalism! The lead painter (Leo) and his team were superhuman in their details, work ethic, and commitment to making the customer satisfied! The project lead (Ben) was onsite everyday making sure the team had everything they needed to work efficiently and get the job done on time without any delay.The ENTIRE team was friendly, communicated clearly, and simply amazing!Highly recommended and phenomenal job!Peter M.Peter M. ★★★★★ Fantastic service all around. Great people. I cannot say enough of good things about them. i would definitely recommend them.pam F.pam F. ★★★★★ Excellent service, attention to detail, great crew and companyCharlie A.Charlie A. ★★★★★ Eric and the team were nothing short of exceptional. They were very professional and courteous. They asked a bunch of questions for my preferences and provided their expert opinion when asked for it. They have problem solving skills when it comes to siding repair and made it look seemless. Top notch group overall and I would hire them again not for exterior painting.js_loader
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