The exterior of your house needs a paint job, and you’ve decided to conquer it yourself. After all, how hard can the painting be, right? It looks like a relatively straightforward process, and it’s significantly cheaper to do it yourself, rather than paying the professionals. However, before you undertake this, realize that painting a house is actually not as easy as it sounds, and these mistakes can lead to a catastrophic failure of the paint on your home.
The Weather Isn’t Just Right
The weather is an enormous factor in whether the paint job looks good or is a dismal failure. If it’s too hot or too cool, too humid, or too much full-on sunlight, a good, quality paint job might be impossible. Ideally, the air temperature should be in the range of 10 to 30 degrees Celsius (50 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), and the optimal humidity is less than 50%. However, you can still paint your house with higher humidity levels, but be aware that it will take much longer to dry.
Obviously, if it’s raining, forget about painting for at least a day. Some sunny and dry weather is needed, to allow the surface to dry thoroughly. On the other hand, painting in a blazing hot sun isn’t a good idea, either, as the paint won’t adhere properly.
The Surface Hasn’t Been Properly Prepared
A good portion of the work involved in painting a house is making sure the wood, siding, or masonry has been properly prepared for a new coat of paint. First and foremost, make sure the surface is completely, totally dry. A wet surface, particularly wet wood, will prevent the paint from adhering properly, and the paint will peel or bubble.
The surface also needs to be cleaned thoroughly before being painted. Power washing is the easiest way to remove dirt, but you may have to scrub some areas and even remove rust or sand an area. Again, this is done so that the paint will go on smoothly and adhere to the surface. Any mildew should be removed, or it will eventually show through the new paint. Bare wood must be primed, and porous surfaces should be sealed. Any masonry should be fully cured before painting it. Any wood that is decayed should be repaired before being painted.
You’re a Terrible Painter
Painting isn’t as easy as it seems, and there are a number of mistakes a do-it-yourselfer might make. The biggest novice mistake is using a low-quality paint. You get what you pay for, and it’s definitely worth spending a little more to get a good quality paint that will last for years. Choosing the wrong paint is another issue. For example, you shouldn’t use a gloss or semi-gloss paint on a porous surface, and you shouldn’t use different types of paint as different coats. If you’ve started with latex paint, stay with latex paint for additional coats.
Bad technique is another way to create a paint failure, and it starts with stirring the paint. Always stir paint properly and smoothly, rather than shaking it, to prevent bubbles. Don’t attempt to thin out the paint to make it cover a greater area. Also, coats of paint that are too heavy or too thin will lead to imperfections. A heavy coat is likely to drip or run, and a too-thin coat will look uneven. Applying the second coat too soon, before the first coat or primer has dried, will also result in uneven coverage.
The House Itself Has Issues
Believe it or not, leaks in a roof, with flashing or gutters, or within the walls can affect the exterior paint of the house. Particularly near the top of the walls, even small leaks can cause the paint to bubble and crack, and the entire area will eventually have to be repainted. Housing siding that has been exposed to strong sunlight may require special preparation to ensure it can be painted properly. A lack of direct sunlight can also cause problems with paint, because it will take much longer to dry completely.
There’s a reason that most people advise leaving house painting to the professionals. It’s difficult and time-consuming, and while doing it yourself may be less expensive, most people don’t have the knowledge or skills to do a proper job of painting a house. Leave it to the professionals, like roof painting Sydney.
Leila Dorari
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- 4 Reasons Your DIY House Paint May Fail - July 9, 2017
