Whether you are a professional or DIY painter, painting the exterior is not an easy feat. It is a process that demands precision and some level of professionalism to ensure the best results. When proper work is done, the desired curb appeal will be easy to achieve.
When a painter applies exterior paint perfectly, there is always some pride in the results. If it is a residential house, it gets a new look and that much needed special “pop” to stand out in the neighborhood. However, achieving such results is not an easy process and needs one to be vigilant enough to avoid the following most common mistakes.
1. Rushing the Prep Phase
Due to the need to save money and time, most people tend to rush the preparation process. Normally, for most people, this phase should not take much time as would the main process. However, the more you rush the preparation, the faster you will finish, but the sooner weaknesses like paint peeling will start manifesting.
2. Using Cheap Paint
Almost everyone has had experience with cheap paint on a building. If the quality, composition, and mixing are weak, the paint finds it hard to withstand the impacts of adverse weather conditions.
A paint that is cheap and not strong enough, for instance, cannot hold on when it rains heavily. It will be eroded down the wall, and ugly patches will be left behind. Also, the paint may not hold more when the sun is too scorching. However, you can mitigate against such issues by ensuring you only invest in the best paint options.
3. Painting Bare Substrate
Whether you have a stucco, wood, brick or aluminum siding, painting on a bare substrate will almost always lead to paint failure. Always apply an appropriate primer before following with the actual paint. A primer makes it easier for the paint to adhere to any surface.
4. Applying Paint on Cracked or Split Wood
While this might sound like common knowledge, you will be surprised how many DIY painters paint over cracked wooden surfaces. Cracks in the wood or any other surface will invite in moisture to sip under your paint system and cause bubbling and peeling sooner than later.
5. Painting during the Wrong Weather
In recent years, the production of paints has developed a notch higher. As such, most of the paint options can withstand colder temperatures, and there won’t be an issue applying them during such times. However, most of the paint options have formulas that cannot withstand hot summer days as well as moisture.
To ensure your paint will have a longer life span, you should never apply it in between rain storms. Also, you should avoid applying the paint under direct sunlight. Failure to follow these simple tips will not only make you frustrated when your paint starts to wear out but will be a waste of time and money.
6. Poor Ladder Safety
Among the mistakes most people make is disregarding their safety. When a ladder is mounted poorly, it becomes hard to avoid accidents. If you are reaching too far, working in the bushes, or standing on the top rung, there’re high chances you will hurt yourself. Professional painting contractors have the right type of ladders with safety features to minimize accidents. They also have experience working in difficult-to-reach areas so they won’t have trouble painting high multistory buildings.
Bottom Line
Exterior painting is quite an involving task that requires the right training, skills, tools and a considerable level of experience. If you don’t have those, it’s likely that you will make one or two of the above mistakes. Hiring a professional painting contractor is probably the safest, most convenient and reliable way of having your exterior repainting.
If you need professional assistance in painting your commercial or home’s exterior in Horsham, Ambler, Dresher, Ft. Washington, or Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, contact us today and we will be more than happy to help.
Ray is an inspiring leader with a strong work ethic stemming from his exemplary upbringing in a caring and loving family environment. His parents modeled the importance of integrity and hard work to him and his siblings, values which Ray now instills in his teenage daughter. As the owner of Aspen Painting & Wallcovering, Inc., he leads by example by expecting nothing but the best from himself and his employees. His primary goal is to provide superior service and quality craftsmanship to each of his clients so that they become enthusiastic ambassadors for the company. Ray is a passionate team player who always strives to exceed expectations.