Exterior Residential House Painting Process

houseReady to spruce up your home with a new coat of paint? 

When searching around for “residential exterior painters,” you’ll find that there’s more than one way to paint your home. From prepping the house to watching the weather, it can be more than you expect.

Though it may seem like a daunting endeavor, painting your home’s exterior is rewarding. Plus, it will pay off when you reappraise your home or sell in the future.

So, what’s the best way to go about it? Hiring an exterior painter. Here, how to find the best one in your area.

Know Your Home

Before you can have someone else paint your home, you must do an evaluation yourself. To guide your examination, begin by thinking of the scale, or size, of your home. This will help you know how much to expect to pay and what the painters can realistically accomplish in a certain time frame.

Then, look around your home’s exterior for any mold or damage. Though you probably have a good idea of what your home’s front looks like, examine each side carefully. This helps narrows down surprise findings from the painters later in the process.

When evaluating your home, also think about the texture of the siding. If the walls are smooth and even, the preparation time for the paint job shrinks significantly. But, if your house has old paint, mold, or damage, expect a longer completion time.

Reach out to Exterior Painters

First, do a quick search of “exterior house painting services” or “residential exterior painters near me.” Be sure to look through each company’s portfolio and customer reviews. This will help you determine if they’re the quality you’re looking for.

You’ll also want to check the licenses and permits required in your state for exterior painters. Then, look to see if the painter has these listed on their website.

After evaluating several painters, reach out for a detailed estimate. The estimate should include a timeline, cost of materials, cost of labor, and paint details.

When you reach out, you’ll also want to ask any questions you have about the painters. Some of these questions may include:

• Are there any tools or materials I’m expected to provide?
• Do you charge for travel time or mileage?
• What is your policy on additional costs?
• Do you have a network of professionals to contact if any issues come up?

You’ll also want to ask them for references at this time.

Before signing a contract, ensure you are comfortable with the price presented. Then, set up a payment plan and avoid any contractors that ask you to pay full price upfront.

Residential Home Painting Process

Before getting started on the painting, the contractors must do their prep work. Each painting service has its own method and timeline of the process. But, this is a rough outline of what to expect from your painters.

Cleaning

The first thing they’ll do is wash the siding. Pressure washing ensures that all dirt, mildew, and buildup are off the house.

Then, they’ll scrape the old paint from the siding. This gives the painters a clean slate when they prime and paint your home. Removing peeling or old paint ensures that the new paint sticks to the siding and stays longer.

Preparation

Next, the painters will prepare the home for painting.

This includes taping off or masking, any parts of the house that are not going to be painted in the first round. They will mask trim, window frames, gutters, and hardware to help them keep their color and shine.

After masking the home, the contractors caulk the home. This means they’ll fill in any holes or cracks that may allow moisture into your home. Caulking not only helps keep your home insulated but ensures the longevity of the paint.

When the siding and paint are both airtight, they’ll help one another repel moisture.

Priming and Painting

Next, you’ll see progress on your residential house painting. When all the prep work is done, it’s time to get to business.

The contractor will begin priming your home for the paint. Primer evens the surface of your siding so the top paint goes on evenly. The primer may also fill in any cracks that were too small for the caulk.

Priming your home is one of the most important steps in the painting process. Without primer, the paint would seep into the siding, losing vibrance and wasting your money. But, keep in mind, this is the most time-consuming step as well.

When your home is primed, it’s ready to paint. Each residential exterior painting group will have its own method and timeline for this part of the process. Be sure to discuss these details with them at each stage of the project.

The “Aftermath”

After painting your home, the painters may also offer to touch up any trim, windows, or gutters affected by the painting.

When the contractors are done with everything, they’ll need to clean up their mess. They’ll take care of hauling off any large pieces of debris and small equipment.

Then, expect an inspection. The foreman of the painting company should do a final lookover of the home to make sure it is up to company and state standards. They should also take time to go over the work with you to ensure that you are satisfied.

In Search of “Residential Exterior Painters” Nearby?

Are you ready to find professional exterior painters?

A good residential exterior painter will keep you up-to-date with every detail of the process. When finding someone to paint your home, you need to be on the same page.

Be sure to find contractors with reliable estimates to get started! Some companies (like us!) even offer free quotes to make the process even easier.

When nothing but the best exterior painting contractor in San Diego will do, call on us and request your no-cost, no-obligation consultation and cost estimate. Call us today to schedule your free estimate for your exterior paint project at 619-WE PAINT.