Exterior paintwork is problematic for a number of reasons, not least among them the cost of the tools and materials you will need. Doing a great job of painting your interior walls may have given you the idea that you are ready to graduate to the exterior of the property. However, that’s the equivalent of going from mastering a poached egg to making the perfect soufflé. You should likely hire professionals to paint the exterior of your home.
Exterior Painting Tools
The first difference you will notice when it comes to painting exterior walls is the number of additional tools you will need, depending on the size of the project. The following list is just a sampling of tools that are used for exterior projects:
- Paint brushes, sprayers, and rollers
- Pressure washer
- Ladders
- Drop cloths
- Buckets
- Caulk
- Painter’s tape
- Cleaning chemicals
- Sandpaper
- Putty knife
- Paint
The size and shape of your home may also dictate the need for other tools before you even put paint to brush. Many of the tools used for exterior painting projects only serve one purpose, which means you won’t use them again for a number of years. A professional painting company will come with tools in hand, so you won’t need to worry about spending the money on tools you may never use again.
Preparing the Area
There is a large amount of preparation involved in exterior painting before the painting part even gets underway. It is important to make sure all of your structures are covered; that includes windows, doors, flowerbeds, sheds and more.
Exterior walls need a complete cleaning before you begin painting. Depending on the condition of your walls, this process may include power washing or scrubbing down surfaces. When you hire the experts, the needs of your exterior walls are determined by the company and all necessary prep work is carried out by the team.
Shutters and similar features are an impediment to painting, so they will need to be removed before you can begin work. It is not a good idea to paint over cracks or holes in exterior walls, which means carrying out repairs as part of your preparation.
Weather is the worst enemy of a DIY painter. The professionals can take care of all the prep work in a much shorter time, ensuring that deadlines for the project are met. The alternative is getting halfway through your prep work only for the project to end up rained out.
There is also a potential health risk associated with painting older homes. Prior to 1978, lead paint was used in many homes throughout the United States. This practice was discovered to pose a potential health risk – especially to small children, the elderly, pregnant women, and pets. Disturbing lead paint can cause the release of hazardous particles into the air.
Job Size
Unless you live in a single dwelling property, there is no avoiding the fact that you are dealing with a large project. The shape of your home and the type of brickwork is another consideration when painting the exterior of a property. Both time and technique are impacted by these factors, so it’s difficult for an experienced do-it-yourselfer to appreciate just how much work is involved. You will need to use a ladder to reach areas that are higher up, which is an additional safety risk if you do not know exactly what you are doing.
There is the option of using a sprayer for larger properties; however, this in itself requires a level of skill that isn’t possible to pick up as you go. A professional team of painters can handle using the tools of the trade while safely negotiating a ladder.
With all these considerations in mind, you have to weigh the risk versus the reward at the end of the project. Are you confident that after all is said and done, you will have achieved the same quality results as a team of professional painters? Remember, you are spending a considerable amount of money to improve the appearance of your home. With all the potential mistakes you could make, is it really worth the effort?
Hiring professional painters for exterior projects is a much more sensible approach when it comes to cost, safety and the quality of work produced. When it comes to DIY, it is better to start off small and build up your skills.
If you need a professional exterior painting project completed, you can rely on the experts from MC Painting. Call Amy today to find out more about the services we offer and how to get a free, no obligation estimate.