Common Exterior Painting Mistakes that Homeowners Make (And What We Recommend Instead)
Painting your home’s exterior might seem like an easy, straightforward project. However, there are many little aspects of painting projects that can be overlooked. To avoid the common exterior painting mistakes, we put together a list of the pitfalls and solutions to help homeowners have a successful exterior painting project!
Mistake #1: Poor Surface Preparation
If we had a dollar for every time a homeowner told us they didn’t prep a surface before their project…
Poor surface preparation comes in at number one because it is the most common exterior painting mistake that we see in projects. Before applying any primer or paint, take time to thoroughly inspect and prep your exterior! Cleaning a surface before painting is a vital step in ensuring good paint application and adherence. This initial step takes time, but it’s worth it for a beautiful result.
We recommend using a high-quality pressure washer as it will do the best job. If you don’t have a pressure washer, you can substitute with a cleaning brush and detergent. Before you start painting, double check that your exterior is completely dry. If there is even the smallest amount of moisture, it can cause issues going forward.
Ace Pro Tip: If you’ve never used a pressure washer, call a pro! Pressure washing can be tough to master on your first try. To avoid damaging your siding, it’s best to hire a professional.
Part two of surface prep is sanding, but this part can be optional. After you clean your exterior and it’s completely dry, check for flaking or loose paint. If you have paint that is chipping off, sand the surface to remove the excess paint. Sanding helps paint adhere to surfaces better, which will give you a smoother coat. Not every home will need to be sanded, so if you have questions about yours, we always recommend calling a painting contractor.
Our recommendation: Clean your exterior well with a pressure washer or brush and detergent before you start your painting project. Then, check for flaking/loose paint and sand if necessary.
Mistake #2: Not Repairing Damage
The second biggest exterior painting mistake (and the most costly one) homeowners make is not repairing damage before starting their projects. Repeat after us: Paint will not fix damage.
Unfortunately, many homeowners assume that paint will magically make the damage on their homes disappear. This is not the case, and these issues almost always need to be repaired by a professional contractor. Although it can mean more money on the front end, if the problems aren’t fixed before repainting, there will be more and likely bigger issues down the road.
It is common for homeowners to choose to repaint their exterior once a decade and most don’t continually check for issues! If you haven’t checked your home for problems, such as rot, peeling paint, or cracks, you’ll need to do that before you continue the rest of the process. These issues can get worse if they’re not remedied correctly before painting. Rot can spread to more areas of your home and leave your home vulnerable to the effects of severe water damage.
Merely painting over damaged siding can also lead to problems with the new paint. This usually results in a higher bill to get the issues fixed correctly post-paint project. It also means you’ll have to spend even more time and money redoing the paint job.
Our recommendation: Check your home for damage at the very beginning of your project (even before cleaning). If you see any issues, contact a professional contractor to get the fixed immediately. Once the damage is fixed, you can move forward with your painting project knowing that you have a good base to start with.
Mistake #3: Choosing the Wrong Paint
Choosing the right paint is as difficult as choosing the right color, but both make a huge difference in the result of the project. The third biggest exterior painting mistake homeowners make is choosing a low-quality paint.
Why is choosing low-quality paint a mistake? A paint of lower quality won’t adhere to surfaces as well as a high-quality one. This means that you’ll likely need more touch-ups to maintain your exterior and a repaint sooner. An investment in a high-quality paint at the start of your project will save you money in the future and likely give you more time before needing a new coat of paint.
If you’re not sure which paint is best for your project, contact your local painting contractor! We recommend Benjamin Moore paints for your exterior painting project because they have a fantastic selection of colors that deliver beautiful, lasting results.
Our recommendation: Invest in a high-quality paint, like Benjamin Moore, from the get-go so you can avoid a lot of touch-ups and repaints in the future.
At Ace Hardware Painting Services℠, we want to make it easy to enjoy every step of a painting project. We speed exterior painting jobs along by getting approval from your Homeowner’s Association (as needed), scheduling the work to fit your timeframe and schedule, and keeping you updated throughout the process. If you’re painting your home’s exterior, call 855-PAINT80 or book a free estimate on our website! We’d love to show you how we’re raising the bar for a great painting experience, one house at a time.
