How to Choose the Right Exterior Paint for Your Home: The Dos and Don’ts Revealed
Friday, April 24th, 2015
If you are considering sprucing up the look of your home, these dos and don’ts will help you make the best decision when choosing exterior paint.
DO Be Mindful of Location
Exterior paint color is often determined by housing style and geographical location. As our director of design,
Ashley, put it: “You don’t want your house to look like it belongs on the beach if you live in the mountains.” So go outside, maybe even drive around, and get a good overview of your neighborhood. You should be able to detect several commonalities between homes that give your neighborhood its unique design. When you are ready to choose your paint, be careful to stay within these boundaries to make sure your home doesn’t look out of place when its finished.
DON’T Go Overboard with Color
After you take into account the overall look of your neighborhood, walk through each room and assess your interior color scheme. The exterior of a home should match its interior. Choosing a neutral color or one that is a muted version of the home’s interior color is the best way to stay current. What’s popular now, probably won’t be at the end of the year, so “don’t go too trendy on such a big investment.”
DO Consider Oil-Based vs. Water-Based
Ask yourself what qualities you find most important in an exterior paint and how you want the
finished product to look. Oil-based paints have a better flow and adhere well to slick or glossy surfaces, like enamel. Oil-based paints also penetrate deeper than water-based, so they require less prep time. On the other hand, although water-based paints do require light sanding and a coat of primer before application, the paint itself is easier to use. Water-based paints also retain gloss and color better than oil-based because they are more resistant to weather factors that cause fading, such as sunlight.
DON’T Buy Cheap Product
The grade of paint you choose can make or break your home’s new look, so buy the best exterior paint you can afford. An exterior paint that is too cheap will leave lap marks, peel or crack easily, and be more susceptible to mildew and dirt residue. Starting out with quality paint and asking your contractor for expert advice is the best way to avoid these complications. However, if you do notice these problems later down the road, this article can help you identify your exact exterior paint problem so you can discuss it with your contractor:
House Paint Tips: Fixing Exterior Paint Problems.
If you find other maintenance concerns as you look over your home’s exterior, check out our
McCamyCare maintenance program. We can perform a routine analysis of your home and prepare a customized schedule of tasks to complete every season, such as inspecting your roof for damage, insulating outdoor pipes, checking electrical systems, and replacing air filters. This service will save you time and money by helping you avoid early replacement costs, lower your utility bill, and keep your home safe and healthy throughout the year.
DO Count the Cost
Starting an exterior home painting project is a big commitment. The average homeowner will spend between $1,000-$1,500 on paint and other related supplies if he is DIY-minded and about twice that ($2,000-$3,000) if he chooses to contract the work out to a professional.
If freshening up your home’s exterior does fall within your budget, you’ll also want to factor in how long it could take to get the job done. A good exterior paint job can take anywhere from two days to a week or even longer, depending on how many people are doing the work, their skill level, any unexpected complications that arise, the weather’s unpredictability, etc. Make sure you allow yourself a flexible timeframe to complete the work. As a general rule, a rigid deadline is more stressful than helpful in the renovation world.
Quality exterior paint can typically last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. With all of the work that is involved in painting the outside of a home and the significant financial investment, make certain you are
confident when choosing your paint colors. You’ll want to choose a color you can see yourself living in for many years down the road.
DON’T Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Not everyone is a DIY handyman and that’s okay! An exterior paint project can be a headache, even for the most well-seasoned veterans. We are here to help. Although we don’t perform exterior paint jobs specifically, we would be glad to recommend a few painters we trust.
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to visit your local paint or home improvement store and do your research on how much paint your job should take, what kind of paint works best on which surfaces, and the paint colors to stay away from. By keeping yourself informed, you can have a better two-way conversation with your contractor.
It’s quite common for our clients to add exterior painting to a larger renovation project, and in many cases we require it! At McCamy Construction, our clients work with a
talented designer throughout the renovation process in order to achieve that perfect look. Many of our clients considering an exterior paint update are primarily interested in improving the overall outside experience of their home.
If you are thinking of adding a
screened-in porch or open patio to improve the asthetics of your home, we would love to share some ideas with you, so please feel free to
contact us.
Tags: Color, customization, exterior paint, trendy
Great advice for upkeep & a new look for home.