10 Essential Tips from Professionals on Achieving Excellent Exterior Painting Results

Do you need a cheap makeover for your house’s exterior? Why not embark on an exterior painting project for your home?

A fresh coat of paint on your home’s exterior can improve its appearance and enhance its curb appeal. It will also remove the flaking or fading paint, and you can even change the colour scheme into more updated hues.

If you are thinking of doing the exterior painting job Sydney yourself, then expect it to be a long and tedious process. Painting the home’s exterior is a big job. It needs lots of effort and time, and if it is not done right, the result could be sloppy. Most painting contractors recommend hiring professional exterior painters Sydney for all your house painting needs.

But, if you want to do the exterior painting yourself, here are some tips that could help you achieve professional results.

1. Gather all your materials and tools

The last thing you want to do while in the middle of a painting job is to run to the paint store for tools or materials. Before you even start, make sure you have everything you need to complete the project from start to finish.

Some of the items you need are primer, paint, paint sprayer, brushes, rollers, pressure washer, drop cloths, ladder, epoxy filler, paint scraper, caulking and caulk gun. You must also ensure that you have enough for all the exterior walls that need painting.

2. Clean the surfaces

Paint can adhere better when the surfaces are cleaned. To thoroughly remove the debris, dust, and dirt use a pressure washer. Clean from top to bottom and dry the surface properly.

3. Repair the damages

Aside from cleaning, you also need to fill in any cracks and holes with an epoxy filler. You can apply this using the putty knife. Dry the epoxy properly and sand it to get an even surface.

4. Protect the surrounding area

Before starting your exterior painting works, make sure that you have covered the landscaping, outdoor furnishing and other things in the paint area with a drop cloth or plastic sheeting. For the doors, trim and windows, you need to use painter’s tape to keep your paint from getting on them.

5. Remove any loose paint

Remove any chipped paint using a paint scraper. You can also use a sander to sand down the scraped surfaces. The objective is to have a flat and smooth surface to get an excellent finish.

6. Fill in the cracks

Another step that you should not skip is caulking. Fill in the gaps on the surfaces, particularly around the windows and doors and between the siding and trim.

7. Use primer

Exterior painters in Sydney recommend not skipping the use of a primer. It is a necessity special on wood. The primer provides an excellent base for your topcoat and provides a uniform canvas for your exterior painting work.

8. Choose the right paint

Choosing the right type of paint for your exterior will lead to professional results. If your house already has an oil-based paint you better stick to it. You also need to choose your finishes carefully. Paint finishes with a higher sheen is better because it can block the damaging rays of the sun.

9. Apply your topcoat properly

Proper application of the topcoat can make or break your finishes. Applying a thicker layer of topcoat will result in flaking. Lighter hues usually require one coat while darker colours need two layers.

10. Clean Up

Once the exterior painting Sydney, you should clean up the area. Remove the drop cloths and clean the spills. You should also remove the tools on the site.

Conclusion

A One Korean Painting

Aside from these tips, you should also know that the key to extending the life of your exterior paint is through proper maintenance. Check for cracks and flaking regularly, remove mould and mildew, wash the stains and touch up the blisters. If you think that exterior painting work is not for you, don’t hesitate to call an exterior painter Sydney and see what he can do.