The first step to receiving a “Great” paint job is choosing a good and reputable painting contractor.  Do your homework and find out as much as you can about the company you choose to paint your home. Any reputable painting company should be able to provide references and answer any questions you may have.  Painting is like everything else, “you get what you pay for.” The cheapest quote rarely results in a Great Paint Job.

The process of painting the exterior of your home should begin with the Power washing of your home.  This will remove any pollutants or debris that can cause new paint to not adhere properly to surface.  TSP or Chlorine mix should be applied to any areas that are covered in mold or mildew.  These are good products that will not harm plants or animals around the home.  The power wash should never be used as a means to remove old paint because damage to existing surface can occur.

Choosing the correct paint color and sheen is essential for a Great Paint Job. Everybody’s color selection is different but there are some things to consider when choosing colors.  First make sure that your selection will pass any homeowner association regulations.  You do not want to pay for a paint job twice.  Take into consideration the accent colors around your home, Landscape, Brick, Neighbor’s home color, ect. You need to work with your contractor and ask for pictures of similar homes to yours.  You can often get a better idea of final look of your home by looking at before and after photo’s of homes similar to yours.  Always have sample colors applied to areas of home to get a visual reference of your new color.

When it comes to the final product applied to your home you should choose a great paint.  Always ask your contractor what paint they use and research it to make sure it is a quality coating.  There are several brands and price points when it comes to paint.  You want to make sure your paint will hold up to the elements your home will receive through the years.  The amount of coating that is applied is equally as important as the product used.  A great paint job should include at least two coats.  A great house painter will put two coats on a house.  This will insure all areas are covered and protected for years to come. Proper temperature and moisture level should always be considered when painting.  Most quality paints have been engineered to be applied during a wide range of conditions but these ranges should always be considered when being applied.Prep work is the key component to keeping your new paint job looking great for years.  Prep work includes scraping, sanding, caulking, wood replacement, and priming.  Any great paint job starts with properly preparing areas that are going to have new paint applied.  This includes identifying areas where wood rot exist.  New paint will always fail over rotten wood.  These areas should be repaired.  Also any areas where painting is flaking or failing should be scraped off.  All areas that have been scraped, sanded, or replaced should have primer applied.  Paint will only stick to paint.  Most latex paints will not adhere properly to bare wood.  Caulking is very important to keeping your home looking great.  Most wood rot occurs from caulk failure.  Any area where wood meets wood should have a good elastomeric caulk applied.  Elastomeric caulk will stay flexible and shrink and contract with your home’s exterior.  Moisture is the most detrimental element to your home’s exterior and proper caulk and paint is the key to keeping it out.

By John Francis

Quality Control Manager, Elite Pro Painting