There are no disadvantages to painting your place of residence. Not only does a good house paint job adds character and personality to your home, but it also serves as its front line of defense against pests, and harsh weather conditions. Moreover, if you ever have any plans of changing the look of either a specific part of your house or its overall entirety but you lack the necessary budget and workforce to do so, simply changing the paint color can do wonders.

Depending on the homeowner’s personality, the color of your house is a great way to express yourself. You can paint a specific wall in one full color, or if you are an artist who enjoys art, or painting in general, a wall can also be your canvas where you can freely display your creativity. In addition, painting your house according to your preference can give you a wide array of positive feelings. However, if you are overwhelmed and at a loss on where exactly to start, we have listed below a couple of tips on how to paint the exterior and interior of your home the right way.

One crucial thing to remember if you are painting any part of your house is to prepare the landscape. It is easy to forget how messy painting can be. If you are already settled in your home, covering the flooring, carpet, pieces of furniture, appliances, and other belongings is a must. However, if you have not yet moved in, all you need to cover would be the parts where you do not want any paint on like doorknobs, faucets, or just the entire floor.

EXTERIOR

Consider the current weather condition

If you are in that part of construction where it is time to paint, it is essential to plan and consider the situation outside. Ideally, the best time to paint is when there is minimal to zero rain and a low level of humidity. Painting during the cold and rainy season is not advisable because most paints will not dry properly, which can cause problems like poor color uniformity, and even paint sticking to you and your belongings.

Sand and wash

Paint will not adhere very well to dirty and rough surfaces. Even if they stick, the entire paint job will look disastrous. For paint to properly adhere, sand, or even scrape (if need be), any peeling paint to create a solid surface.

Paint does not stick to anything rotten

It is useless and an enormous waste of resources to paint on rotten materials such as wood and siding material because it may look painted adequately on, but it will only continue to deteriorate. To save you hundreds of dollars later on, replace the entire wood and siding material. If in any case that some elements are starting to rot, use prep, sand, and use a wood hardener or a wood filler.

Quality over price

With paint serving as your primary defense against the outside weather, it is necessary to invest in a high-quality product. It may be tempting to use a cheaper paint brand or hire inexperienced laborers, but you will actually save time, money, and effort by investing in the highest quality paints provider, who can help you choose paints for different types of surface, select color appropriate for any purpose, at the least possible cost.

Don't skip the primer

Applying a good coat of primer ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface of your house. It increases the paint’s durability and provides added protection for the material painted on. With paint technologies improving over time, manufacturers have combined primer and paint into one, which they also assert to cut down costs and the number of coats to apply. This newer kind of paint is on a higher price point but can be comparable to the purchase of separate primer and paint. Please do your research on which is better, and ask for other people’s opinions regarding their experience with the said newer product.

INTERIOR

Keep a wet edge by rolling on the full height of the wall to avoid lap marks

With uneven layers of paint buildup in one’s room, those ugly stripes are called lap marks and can be annoying to look at. It happens when you roll over paint that is already partly dry. To avoid lap marks, maintain a wet edge, so each stroke of roller overlaps the previous one before the color begins to dry.

Mix cans of the same paint color in a larger bucket for consistency purposes

Paint color may slightly vary from one can to the next. To eliminate this problem, mix the same cans of paint in a 5-gallon bucket, or a larger container. Having more paint is always better than lacking it because you can always pour the remaining ones back into the can.

Wall stencils

Designer wallpapers are expensive and can put a hole in anyone’s pockets. Wall stenciling is an excellent alternative if you want a touch of elegance in your home that will meet your budget. They are an excellent substitute for vinyl decals and costly wallpapers that can end up torn up over time.

For a perfect edge, wait for the paint to dry before cutting tape loose

Pulling the tape off the trim while the color is still gummy can make the paint job look sloppy. Because paint forms a thin film between the wall and the tape, it will be noticeable if you just pull the entire thing off, and is a guaranteed way to ruin and have an uneven paint job. Wait for 24-48 hours before using a sharp cutter or utility knife before slicing through the film, then pull the tape at a 45-degree angle.

To avoid a blotchy finish, prime and texture wall patches

If there are holes and cracks you patched on with a filler or drywall compound, the porous fillers absorb the paint, which dulls the surface, and when the light hits these flat spots, they stick out, get noticed for looking uneven. For texture problems, a smooth patch also stands out in contrast to the textured wall. The easiest way can be to find a paint sprayer for your wall. The color may be uniform, but the sheen is not consistent. To fix the flashing, coat it with primer. For concerns about the texture, use a roller to prime because it feathers out the edges. Choose a nap thickness to match the feel of your walls. For smooth walls, use a 3/8 inches nap roller, and for textured, use the 1/2 inch one.

*Piece of advice:

Do-it-yourself (DIY) can be tricky, especially when you do not have any experience or prior knowledge on how to properly paint your own home. If you are ever in doubt of your capability, it is always best to seek a professional. It may be expensive at some point, but it can save you hundreds and thousands of dollars in the long run because these professionals will help you save time from unnecessary, costly repairs and unwanted headaches.