What You Need to Know About Repainting Your Home
Retouching Wear and Tear
When it comes to repainting your home, simply painting over current wear and tear is not a good idea, and will only lend for a short-term cover up.
For an exterior job, here are some maintenance tasks to complete before painting a fresh coat:
- Pressure-wash the dirt away from the wall’s surfaces
- Fix cracks and chips
- Replace rotting wood
A coat of primer might be necessary if the exterior is presenting stains or rust. If you see gaps between the house and the trim, a caulking gun is recommended for closing these gaps so the paint can lie on a smooth surface. Think of a fresh coat of paint as a new beginning rather than a cover-up.
For an interior job, first patch any cracks or holes using wall putty. Once that dries, make sure you sand it so the surface is flat and smooth. If your walls are textured, you will want to spray texture for the area to blend in. Move on to prime the walls. You can purchase paint that has primer mixed in, or buy them separately for a two-step process.
One Coat at a Time
Painting can be a long process because it requires drying time before moving on to the next task. Not only must you paint in sections, but several coats are usually necessary to completely cover the walls. All trim needs to be protected before painting the standing walls. Use painter’s tape to shield them from getting splashed or brushed. Wait for the paint on the wall to dry before moving on to the trim. Painting the trim can be difficult because you have to be more meticulous than you would typically be using a large roller brush on wide wall spaces. For small corners or nooks, smaller brushes and attention to detail are essential. You should consider repainting your home interior every five to ten years.
Adding Color
Are all of the walls in your home white? If so, it might be time to consider some color. Color can change our perceptions of the space we stand in. For example, certain colors on all four walls of a room might make the room appear smaller than it actually is (such is the case with darker colors). Selecting colors can take time in and of itself because you want to make sure you will love the end result. Do you want this room to feel restful with soft tones or bold and bright with accented walls? Consider bringing home small amounts of paint options to swatch on your walls to help visualize the change in color.
Painting Techniques
Finally, there are numerous techniques for painting both for the interior and exterior of your home. In early times before smooth rollers were invented, brushes would leave bristle marks on the wall. While some found this to be unattractive, decorative paint displays such as these have become more common. For example, you can make louder paint marks in shapes and patterns by using different brushes. Additionally, by using painter tape to divide blank spaces on the wall, you can create a framed color-block look or divide the wall with a darker lower half and lighter upper half. Let your walls be the statement of your home. Don’t be afraid to animate your living space with color and design.
Repainting your home is a feat, but it will make all the difference in the long run. If you’re not up for the task or need a little help, Sea Pointe Design & Remodel can assist in small painting jobs. Stop by our design showroom to consult one of our experts on making your Orange County home a stand-out.
© Casquenoir / Dollar Photo Club
