You know those do-it-yourself (DIY) home painting projects that turn out absolutely perfect every single time? Yeah, we don’t either. In reality, exterior painting is a veritable nightmare of peeling paint, flaking walls, and unpredictable weather. “Fun in the sun” this is not.
So, if you’re ready for a fresh look for your home and feel tempted to DIY, let me stop you right there. Exterior painting isn’t as easy as it looks. Let’s go through the steps in the exterior painting process and the potential challenges you might encounter.
A Brush With Reality: Understanding the Herculean Effort Behind Exterior Painting
Imagine your house as a blank canvas. In your head, it might look pretty pristine. But your actual canvas is covered in dirt, peeling paint, and mildew.
Exterior house painting requires a ton of work before picking up a paintbrush. First, you must prep the area—this means a thorough cleaning. Pressure wash the entire outside to remove flaky paint and grime. While you’re at it, make any necessary repairs to the house’s exterior so you can start fresh.
Once the siding is prepped, you can finally begin with your house clean and your optimal painting time scheduled it’s time to paint. Or at least, it’s time to decide when to paint. Exterior painting can only be done in certain conditions, so you’ll need to check the weather forecast before popping open paint cans.
Rain is obviously a no-go, but even the sun can be too much. You have to plan the best times of day to paint each side of your house. For example, paint the west side in the morning and the east side in the evening. To add to your frustration, certain types of paint only cure correctly in certain temperatures. Bet you didn’t know that exterior painting is season-dependent, too.
Okay, Can I Paint Now?
With your house clean and your optimal painting time scheduled, you can finally begin. Start at the top and work your way down. Paint your siding first, followed by windows and trim. Oh, and remember: Don’t close those freshly painted windows completely. You need to leave some breathing room for the paint to dry without sticking.
This isn’t the only tip to keep in mind; you also have to manage the ladder. Moving the ladder regularly turns a chore into actual exercise. Your trainer might be proud of your extra lifting, but your arms and shoulders will burn out fast.
Whew—who’s worn out? There’s a reason painting is a profession.
The DIY Delusion: Where Dreams Meet Drips
Look, if you want nothing more than to scale the exterior of your home and spend days painting, we won’t stop you. We’ll even cheer you on! But we’ve found that when it comes to exterior painting, whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
Even the best-laid plans can lead to a series of mishaps. So, before you embark on your next DIY painting adventure, remember: it’s not just about slapping some color on your walls. Let’s go into this DIY dream with realistic expectations.
Is Your House Dry?
When was the last time it rained? If only the surface of your exterior walls is wet, then you can wait about a day before painting. But if you’ve had consistent storms, then give your house a few sunny or windy days to dry out.
And don’t forget about humidity. High humidity can wreak havoc on your paint job, causing solvents to evaporate faster than ice cream melts on a hot day. This means your paint will cure with water trapped inside.
Did You Prep Your Walls?
Here’s a common DIY blunder: skipping the prep work. Cleaning, priming, caulking, masking and repairing are as essential as your trusty paintbrush. Imagine painting over grime, cracks, and peeling paint without addressing them first. It’s like trying to cover up your messy room by throwing a rug over the clutter.
Take the time to sand unfinished wood. Also, power wash or clean your walls with detergent and a stiff bristle or brass brush. The paint will go on much smoother.
Did You Choose the Wrong Color?
Choosing a paint color is a bit like surprise dating—it may seem perfect on paper, but reality has a way of surprising you. That soft pastel blue you fell in love with at the store? You’ll end up with a house that looks like the ice castle from Frozen. And that vibrant red you thought would add some spice? Get ready for an overbearing eyesore!
Our commitment to helping you find the perfect colors for your painting projects runs deep. We even offer a free one-hour color consultation where you can meet with a professional from our team who can assist you in making sure that your painting project follows the correct path.
Test cans of paint are your friend. By painting a small section of the exterior, you can see how the color will look when it’s dry, at different times of day, and in various weather conditions.
Professional Exterior Painting Services: The Brushstrokes of Brilliance
Your home’s exterior paint job isn’t just a fresh coat of color; it’s the first impression your house makes on the world. There’s a lot of pressure to get it just right.
Don’t stress. Instead, turn to professional painters like Procoat Painting-Athens. We’ve seen it all and saved even the worst exterior painting jobs with our unmatched Procoat process. Here are a few reasons to bring in the pros:
Exterior painting is an art and a science. Achieving that professional and clean finish on your home’s exterior requires experience, something that Procoat Athens proudly brings to every project. What’s more, we can advise you on the right colors and finishes to take your vision to the next level.
The right tools make all the difference. Professional painters come armed with the right equipment—and we know how to use it. We’re talking brushes, rollers, drop cloths, extension ladders, even scaffolding if needed.
Safety is a top priority. Paint fumes, wobbly ladders, electrical outlets—exterior painting comes with plenty of hazards. Professional painters ensure safety. We also carry the necessary licenses and insurance to cover any accidents that might occur during the job, including damage to your home.
Reclaim your time. We know you have better things to do with your weekends, evenings, and vacation days than wrestle with a paintbrush. When you leave painting to the experts, you have more time to spend worrying about other things, like what’s for dinner.
Putting the “Fun” Back in Exterior Painting
Has exterior painting ever been fun? Well, for us, absolutely. So, if this is one project you can’t seem to cross off your DIY to-do list, maybe replace it with “Call Procoat Athens.”
A professional paint job is more affordable than you think. Plus, you’ll get peace of mind knowing it was done right the first time. Our contact info is at the bottom of the page, or you can fill out our quote request form. See how easy that was?
Something to take with you: We took our broken scaffolding to therapy. It was feeling a bit unstable.