How to Keep Paint Looking Beautiful in Your Outdoor Space
With all the activity that might go on indoors, it’s difficult enough to maintain your home’s interior paint job. But what about your home’s exterior paint? These surfaces are subject to far greater risk from wind, rain, extreme temperatures, and wildlife. Try as we might, we can’t control the weather or account for every possible occurrence outdoors. The best we can do, then, is take preventative measures to protect our outdoor paint and address any issues as they come up. Here are some ways to keep your paint looking beautiful in your outdoor spaces.
Use High-Quality Paint From the Start
As tempting as it might be to save some money on paint, you might kick yourself in the future for cutting corners in this regard. Cheaper paint is lower quality paint, meaning it won’t hold up as well against the elements. It will take less time for cheap paint to show signs of wear, such as peeling, chipping, or fading.
In the long run, you’ll actually save more money by investing in high-quality paint to begin with, as it will be more durable and last much longer. If you’re painting a large portion of your home’s exterior, you’ll probably hire a Raleigh painting service anyway. The best services only use the best paint, so be sure to ask them what paint they prefer and how durable it is.
Apply a Third Coat of Paint or Seal
When painting interior spaces, most surfaces only need two coats of paint to get the job done. Exterior painting is a different story. Because outside paint is more susceptible to damage, it’s wise to go the extra mile and add an additional coat just in case. Yes, this will cost more, but it’s worth the extra protection. It also means that your paint job will look better longer
The same principle applies for applying deck stain. After staining your deck or other wooden features, be sure to go over it again with sealant. This provides a barrier that protects the stain and wood from moisture and other environmental damage. Think of these additional layers like sunscreen or jackets. We often cover our skin with some sort of shield, and our homes benefit from it as well.
Stay On Top of Touch Ups
No matter how much high-quality paint you apply, some of it will deteriorate eventually. Fortunately, this often occurs in isolated areas. If so, it’s fairly easy to touch up the spot to make it look as good as new. You just need the matching paint. The key here is to stay on top of this maintenance. A small area of damage can quickly turn into a bigger issue. It’s best to address these problems as they occur so you don’t have to handle a huge project all at once later on or hire a Raleigh house painting company to paint over everything once again.
Pressure Wash Twice a Year
Perhaps the best way to keep your outdoor paint looking fresh is to keep your home clean. After all, if your home is looking dull, it might not be the paint, but rather layers of dirt and dust. This is why it’s a good idea to pressure wash your home a couple times a year (about every six months). Doing so will keep your home clean and safe, remove any mold or mildew that may be forming, and allow your exterior paint to shine once again.
If you’re planning on pressure washing your home yourself, just make sure you know what you’re doing. Also, be mindful of which nozzles, cleaning solutions, and heat settings you’re using so that you don’t damage the paint or surfaces you’re washing.
Keeping your exterior paint looking beautiful takes effort, but far less effort than it takes to completely repaint everything after neglecting it for so long. All of the tips above can be accomplished with or without the help of a painting company. But if you’re in doubt, contact Anderson Painting contractors. We specialize in painting, pressure washing, and so much more. If your home needs an entirely new coat of exterior paint, or just some touch ups and cleaning, we have you covered.
To learn more about our us and all our services, call Anderson Painting today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
