Common Mistakes to Avoid When Repainting Your Home's Exterior
Many people think that repainting the exteriors of their homes is an easy job. So they begin repainting without any prior experience in the job, and worse yet, they do not take the time to find out what the specific requirements of the job are. As expected, they end up making rookie mistakes that culminate in poor paint finishes.
If you are thinking about repainting your home's exteriors, and it will be your first time, here are a couple of potential pitfalls you should avoid.
Using the wrong paint
Using the wrong type of paint is one of the biggest blunders you can commit when you are repainting the outside of your house. If the old paint on the house is water-based, you must use water-based paint for your repainting. If the paint is solvent-based, you need solvent-based paint when you are repainting the structure. To determine which base the old paint is, simply rub the surface using a rag that is wetted with denatured alcohol. If it's water-based, some of the paint will soak onto the rag. Also, keep in mind that base paints on various areas, such as siding, windows, exterior doors, etc. may be different. Therefore, you should find out which base paints were used on these areas separately. Using the wrong kind of paint is a recipe for catastrophic paint failure.
Painting at the wrong time of the year
When it comes to exterior repainting projects, timing matters. This is because unlike interior environments, conditions outside the home cannot be controlled. Painting when it is too hot outdoors can cause paint to dry too quickly, making it difficult to apply and resulting in unsightly brush marks on the painted surface. Painting during cold weather, on the other hand, can cause poor adhesion of the paint onto the surface, resulting in cracking, flaking and peeling of the paint. The best time to repaint the exteriors of your house is in early fall, when temperatures outside are moderate – it is neither too hot nor too cold outside.
Applying just one coat of paint
Some people think that applying a single coat of paint on their house's exterior is a clever way to save on project costs and time. This is a bad idea. As the exterior of a home is constantly exposed to harsh weather elements, it is advisable to apply at least two coats of paint so that the first coat can primarily protect the surface, while the second can give the desired appearance but also extra protection from the elements.
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