Key Considerations When Painting Siding & Exterior Trim

Painting siding and trim can be an extremely cost-effective means of contemporizing a home’s exterior – whether through a refresh in similar shades, or a wholesale colour change to bring about an entirely new look. A fresh coat of paint can also protect your Etobicoke home’s exterior from the elements, including the often rough winters. Following are some things to consider if you’re planning to paint your siding, trim, or both:

Which Elements?

The first question you might need to consider is, what are your goals? Do you want to address a certain aspect, such as faded siding or peeling paint on the eavestroughs, or update things with a more comprehensive approach? If the latter, note that the elements listed below are commonly painted in any number of combinations, and depending upon your home’s design and a few other factors, it may not add much to the cost of your project to expand the scope beyond what you currently have in mind – discuss the details with your painting company representative.

• Eavestroughs
• Soffits
• Siding
• Fascia and related elements (such as shutters or pillars)
• Windows and Window Frames
• Doors and Door Frames
• Porch Railings

Which Colours?

If you’re thinking about painting multiple elements, consider using primary and accent colours, where the primary colour might be used for siding, and the accent for eavestroughs and soffits, as an example.

If you’re planning to paint vinyl siding or trim in a colour darker than current, speak with your painting company representative – they may recommend you select from a “vinyl safe” palette or help you with a custom-mixed colour to avoid the risk of warpage, which can occur when dark paint absorbs infrared radiation from sunlight, causing the underlying vinyl to heat up and buckle.

If you’re having difficulty visualizing new colours on your home and how they may work with any elements you plan to leave unpainted, you’re not alone. Your preferred painting company should be able to assist with the following:

• Virtual colour consultation – expert insights into current trends and colour complementarity, with input tailored to your tastes and home design.
• Colour visualizer – these online tools can be helpful in providing an overall view and enable you to save different scenarios for side-by-side comparison.
• Paint sampling – can be used as a final check when you want assurance as to how multiple specific colours will work together on your home.

Which Products?

Two-coat application of a quality exterior latex paint is ideal in most cases – however, a prime coat may be required if the surface is particularly slick (as in the case of newer vinyl windows and doors) or currently coated in oil-based paint, and when transitioning from a dark colour to a lighter one. Specialized products may be desirable in certain instances, such as when seeking improved rust-inhibition and finish durability for metal railings, or high-build, gap filling properties when dealing with aged wood. Your painting company representative can answer any questions you may have and recommend specific coatings as appropriate.

A Word Regarding Window Painting

The painting of opening (as opposed to fixed) windows and their frames can create a specific risk situation wherein the narrow gap between the window and frame is insufficiently wide, forcing the new paint film on each surface into direct contact with the other, causing peeling in these areas. The likelihood of this occurring is difficult to predict and correcting it can be imperfect and time-consuming, so if you intend to paint your windows, it’s best to discuss the ideal approach for your home during the initial meeting with your painting company representative.

Most would agree that siding and trim painting can represent excellent value in terms of quickly and dramatically improving a home’s curb appeal. Speak with top-rated painting companies in your area to get a full picture of the possibilities – and once you’ve found someone you want to work with, be sure to get on their schedule. A service-oriented business will happily allow you to reschedule or cancel without penalty if necessary, so why not cross the planning of this high-impact project off your home improvement list?