Residential Exterior Painting Specifications: What Exactly Do You Need for Your Project?
The exterior painting process is more involved than it might seem at first. While the goal is ultimately to refresh your home’s appearance with new, high-quality paint, plenty of other tasks must be considered and performed beforehand to achieve the best-looking, longest-lasting outcomes for the optimal price. Indeed, there are a number of residential exterior painting specifications to consider before you begin your project – let’s go over what you’ll need to ensure the best results.
What You Need for the Best Residential Exterior Painting Results
The Right Materials
If you plan on painting your home without the help of a residential exterior painting company, your first order of business is determining what you’ll need, how much of it you’ll need, and where to get it all. It’s no secret that you’ll require exterior house paint and applicators (e.g., brushes, rollers, sprayers), but these items are far from the only things you’ll need for a successful project. Most exterior paint jobs necessitate a much longer list of tools and gear beyond the obvious, including:
Drop cloths
Ladders
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Pressure washer
Scraper
Painter’s tape
Caulk and caulking gun
Sanding tool
Primer
Utility knife
Plastic sheeting
…and more
The more you know about your home’s painting and preparation needs, the easier it will be to put together a list of materials right for the job.
Proper Preparation
Preparation is at least half the battle when it comes to exterior painting. If you simply apply new paint to old or worn-down surfaces, the fresh coatings will have a hard time adhering properly, leaving you with a less-than-optimal paint job. Moreover, your home’s exterior most likely could use some repair work around the time that it needs a new paint job. Conducting these repairs prior to painting will improve outcomes and save you plenty of headaches. At the very least, you’ll want to power wash your home’s exterior prior to painting. From there, fix up any siding or trim that needs attention, re-caulk gaps, and protect the surrounding areas of your property to keep them safe from falling debris and paint via drop cloths and plastic sheeting.
Enough Time
Exterior painting takes time, especially if your home is relatively large and features multiple stories. Whether you do it yourself or hire professional painters, it’s important to schedule this project according to your needs. Also, keep in mind that the weather will partially dictate this schedule – if it’s windy, rainy, obscenely hot or cold, or otherwise nasty outdoors, you’ll have to hold off on exterior painting until the climate moderates. Keeping a close eye on the local forecast as your project approaches will help you anticipate any last-minute changes.
A Big Enough Budget
You must also be prepared for what your home painting project will cost. The total cost of such a project depends on many factors, including your home exterior’s surface area, the quality of materials used, how long the project takes (labor hours), whether you DIY or hire professionals, where you live, and so on. To avoid being completely in the dark on these matters, seek a residential exterior painting estimate from multiple sources and compare them. You might be tempted to hire a company that offers the lowest price, but know that some painters undercut the competition while also cutting corners when it comes to quality, guarantees, and other key aspects. Make sure whoever you hire is transparent in their quoting and delivers high-quality results that match the project’s true cost.
Necessary Permissions
If you live in a homeowner’s association (HOA) or a property deemed “historic” by your state or municipality, you may have some additional hoops to jump through before you can paint your home’s exterior. Most of these regulations have to do with color choices, scheduling, and additional renovations, but they might also dictate who you can hire. Make sure you’re well-versed in these various rules to remain compliant, avoid fees and penalties, and keep your project on track.
An Experienced Residential Painting Contractor
With so many things to think about before your exterior painting project, having someone who has your back from the very beginning can make all the difference. The best residential exterior painting services don’t just paint your home and pack up – they provide detailed estimates, communicate clearly to determine specifications and scheduling, provide high-quality materials and labor, thoroughly prepare your surfaces before painting, and help you manage any difficulties along the way. Anderson Painting has become the go-to residential painting provider for countless Raleigh, NC, residents for our integrity and efficiency.
To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
