House Painters, Seattle: Spring House Painting Tips

You might have emerged outdoors for the first time this spring and found that your house is a bit worse for wear this season. Since the mercury is rising, the sun is peeking through the clouds and humidity is bearable, this is the perfect time to inspect your home. You could be in need of a paint job to repair winter damage. Your local house painters in Seattle share best practices.

First Step, Clean Your Surfaces

The paint jobs that last the longest are applied to a clean wall. This allows the paint to adhere better to the previous layers. Rent or purchase (or hire) a pressure washer to clean the building. Taking care not to over use the pressure, set the psi to remove dirt. Too much pressure on particular surfaces like wood can damage the wood with divots. Also avoid detergents.

If you find areas of mold, mildew, algae or other growth, you’ll want to scrub these areas with a trisodium phosphate detergent. Once the stains have been removed, clean the walls again with clean water until the detergent is removed. You’ll want to get all residue off of the surface.

Don’t Shy Away From Sanding

Once the walls are dry, sand the entire surface to be painted. It’s a tedious job but the new tooth will give the paint a place to adhere to. Once you have successfully scuffed the surface, use a blower to remove dust and debris from the area. Be thorough since dust can clump in paint and cause imperfections in your final project.

How Your Color Choice Can Make Or Break Your Neighborhood

Color choice for your house can be cumbersome. With research, you can be sure you’ll come up with a color you love. First, check in with governing bodies like HOAs and city ordinances that could limit color choices. From there, look at homes in your neighborhood for those that appeal to you and work in your geographic area.

A well chosen color in a poor location can be just as bad as a poorly chosen color. For example, a rich navy in the lush Pacific Northwest is a win. Put that same color in Phoenix and it will fade and look dingy quickly. A perfectly paired light blue on the coast looks out of place in a suburb.

For the most part, classic colors are classics for a reason. They look good in nearly any landscape and suit any style home. Think colors in the families of blue, yellow, gray and white. Add a complimentary pop of something vibrant or deep for a stylish look that is sure to work.

Use Paint Samples First

Never commit before testing, ever. Get a test can of paint and put it on a large patch of your house, preferable more out of sight. Check on it during different lights and against flowers or architectural items of other colors. Feel free to put several blocks up. If your association or governing body isn’t keen on testing on the wall, paint a large poster board. It’s a good way to look at the color larger and on different parts of the house before you start painting.

Prime, Paint, and Seal

Some manufacturers include sealant in their paint, while others do not. Ask the pro mixing your color if yours has it. If not, you may want to consider adding it or putting a separate layer of sealant. It will provide protection against fading and chipping. This means your paint will look better for longer while protecting your house.

Other Architecture To Consider

Since you’re updating your exterior now, take a look at the other elements on your property. Do you have trellises, decks or other areas that could benefit from a new stain or paint coating? Now is the time to refinish these elements too.

Let Our Professionals Help

If you have read the tips and still don’t feel confident in painting your home, your local house painters, Seattle are happy to schedule a free, in-home estimate with you. They can also help with color selections and paint options.