Prepare for Winter with Paint

Posted by cjs727 on Oct 15th, 2011 | 8 comments

Many of us have started or are considering some home maintenance to winterize our homes in preparation for the upcoming winter. One thing you may want to do is to slap a fresh coat of paint on your house. If you are going about this the Do-It-Yourself way, here are a few pointers.

In my opinion and probably the most important tip I can offer is to make sure you use quality products. By using professional quality exterior paint you will increase the time till you will need to repeat the process. By doing this you will save time and also a great deal of money. Using high quality interior paint is also highly recommended.  You may want to choose an eggshell or sheen finish as they hold up better when washing without removing the paint itself.

Needless to say, using top quality tools and accessories is also important. There are many styles of brushes and paint rollers available, if you are not sure which to purchase, you can ask for assistance at any paint or hardware store. The right brush can save hours of frustration and prevent the need to redo the job. There are many different brands of high quality paints and supplies available. Visit a hardware store or paint supplier for advice and have fun planning and shopping.

PREPARATION 

Planning and preparation are crucial to a successful project. The type of material and its condition will determine what preparation is necessary, whether new timber, timber with old flaking paint, steel, plastic, painted or unpainted brick work or an already painted wall. Preparing the surface will extend the life span of the paint thereby saving time and money.

Patching nail holes, removing switch plate covers, covering furniture and carpets with drop cloths, covering and taping off areas not to be painted should all be done before any painting is begun. Should your existing surface be flaking you will need to scrape off the flaking paint. Then lightly sand and clean to prepare for painting. Once this is done you can apply the base coat also known as undercoat or primer.

Most suppliers of paint are able to assist you in these steps. If you find one that can’t, you may want to consider choosing another one.

PRIMER

Using primer on an unpainted surface helps to seal it, creates a bonding surface for the final coat of paint and also extends the life of the job. Should you be painting over an existing darker color with a lighter color you should also use primer. It helps to hide and neutralize the existing darker color so the new color will cover easily.

FINAL COAT

It may seem as though you have been at this project forever. But, you are finally at the best part of the job … You can now apply your selected final paint. It will go quite quickly since you did the preparation work first. More importantly, the end result will have a more professional look and last much longer.

Tip: Your painting supplies; like brushes, rollers and paint trays, do not need to be cleaned each time you take a break. They can be kept moist if wrapped in plastic. Remember to allow each coat of paint to dry before applying the next. These tips will save you time and money.

Whether for maintenance, to prepare for selling or merely because you need a change, painting your home is an excellent way to revitalize it. Happy painting!