What You Need to Know About Interior and Exterior Residential Painting
When your home needs a fresh coat of paint, inside or out, you might not even know where to begin. Should you do it yourself or hire a contractor? Who can you trust? When’s the best time to invest in such a project? Is there a big difference between exterior and interior painting? If questions like these are dancing around your head, don’t fret – there’s plenty of help out there. All you have to do is take a deep breath and take some notes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about both interior and exterior residential painting.
What to Know About Interior and Exterior Residential Painting
DIY Isn’t Always Doable
Many people love getting things done on their own. Indeed, do-it-yourself (DIY) projects can be cost-effective and highly satisfying when properly pulled off, and the average person can certainly tackle a range of smaller to mid-sized painting projects with the right approach. That said, some projects call for a professional. Whether you decide to DIY or hire out will depend on a multitude of factors, including the size and scope of the project, your unique schedule, your budget, your confidence level, and the nature of the project (i.e., interior vs. exterior). Generally speaking, the larger and more complex the project, the less tenable it is for DIY-ers. Additionally, exterior painting projects are inherently more complicated than interior projects due to environmental concerns. So, when in doubt, don’t be afraid to outsource your residential painting needs.
Do Your Homework Before Hiring
If you do decide to hire a residential painting contractor, a brand new slew of questions will come to mind, the main one being: how do you determine who to hire? After all, there is no shortage of painting companies out there, especially in an area like Raleigh, NC. As such, you’ll have to do some research on several candidates before making your choice. This research includes browsing online reviews, listening to word-of-mouth, gathering and comparing multiple estimates, and checking a contractor’s qualifications and certifications (if a contractor isn’t licensed and insured, look elsewhere). Making this effort will help you find a company that can best work with your budget and schedule while delivering the best results possible.
Timing Is Everything
Landing the best results and right price for your residential painting project isn’t just about finding the right contractor – it’s also about choosing the optimal time to invest in these services. While interior painting projects can occur year-round, the viability of residential exterior painting services is contingent on environmental conditions. Extreme temperatures, precipitation, and high winds get in the way of proper outdoor painting, so weather and seasonality are major factors for exterior paint jobs. This is why painting contractors won’t offer exterior work during the winter in colder regions. Of course, waiting too long to plan your exterior painting project can run you into problems, too, as you might struggle to reserve your place in a contractor’s calendar. Painting prices often go up during the spring and summer as well thanks to this increase in demand.
You’ll Want to Paint Your Home’s Exterior More Often than its Interior
You don’t want to fall behind on residential interior painting or exterior painting. That said, your home’s exterior will typically need refreshing more frequently than its interior spaces. Environmental wear and tear is to blame for this. Pressure washing your home twice a year will help maintain your home’s outward paint job, but most homes could still use a fresh coat about every 5-10 years. Some interiors can go as long as 20 years without needing repainting, though minor touch-ups may be required in between.
Preparation Is Just as Important as Painting
Proper surface prep is essential for the best residential painting outcomes. This preparation includes room prep (clearing the room, laying down drop cloths, applying tape, etc.), cleaning, sanding, scraping/paint removal (in some cases), repairing, caulking, and priming. Taking these steps minimizes messes, reduces the number of necessary coats, aids with paint adhesion, and yields a more durable and beautiful finish overall.
Have More Questions about Home Painting Projects?
We’ve covered the basics of residential painting, but there’s always more ground to cover. The experts at Anderson Painting are happy to answer any more questions you may have regarding interior and exterior painting, along with related matters such as carpentry, flooring, deck staining, and more. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
