Top Tips For Painting The Exterior of Your House

Are you interested in painting the exterior of your house? This is a big undertaking, and it can be difficult to get started. Many questions need to be answered before you start: 

• what type of paint should I use? 
• how much would it cost?
• do I need one or two coats? 

Let's answer these common questions so you can feel confident about starting this project and have the best possible result!
 
How much should exterior painting cost?
The going rate for exterior house painting varies depending on where you live and the size of your home, the amount of paint needed, materials and scaffolding costs. If you have a small home, it might be as low as £350-£750. The average cost to paint a house is between £450 - £1500. For an entire house, it can get into the thousands of ££s!
 
What is the best temperature for exterior house painting?
It's important to find out what temperature makes paint dry fast so that there isn't any excess time in which it will chip or peel off. While this does vary with different paints, most experts recommend between 14 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius. Higher temperatures allow water-based paints to dry faster while oil-based ones prefer cooler weather more.
 
You should always maintain the temperature of the air around 14 degrees Celsius to protect the exterior from cracking or peeling prematurely due to extreme weather conditions such as high heat or cold. If painting during these times is unavoidable, make sure that you are aware of what specific type of paints protects against either hot or cold temperatures for optimal protection. 
 
It's best not to work on an exterior house painting job when you are expecting rain (or even worse snow) because this could introduce moisture into your newly painted surface which will cause damage over time.
 
There are also many factors involved here such as whether you will use water-based paint which requires lower temperatures than oil-based paints (although both types require dry weather). But if money isn't an issue maybe just go with whichever type of paint will make your home look best!
 
Do houses need two coats of paint? 
It's always best to apply at least one coat but if you are using high-quality exterior paint, it may not be necessary. The main goal is longevity so make sure the type of paint you use has good UV protection and will resist fading from exposure to sunlight over time.
 
If your house needs more than one coat, this can take some additional time depending on how many days in between each coat required by the manufacturer instructions. 
 
One way to save time is if multiple people are working together - only having to do half as much work per day. Also, they might have been able to get started sooner since their supplies would last for twice as long.
 
How long does an exterior house painting job last?
Our studies show that a good exterior house painting job should last roughly between 5 to 10 years. This will however depend on many variables which may be different from one location to another. 
 
For instance, the type of paint and how much you apply can determine how long it will last. Additionally, different climates can affect the lifespan too. This question can only be answered in a case by case situation. We however suggest that you ask lots of questions whether you are going down the DIY route or you are hiring a professional painting contractor. 
 
If you are going down the DIY route, then ask your exterior paint supplier for advice on the best solution. Your professional painter can answer all your questions when you discuss your project.
 
Is it better to spray or brush paint a house?
There is no quick answer because of what you may want to consider before deciding on the most optimal method for your needs. Spray painting is generally more time-efficient and can be cheaper in some cases but it does not provide as good of coverage, so if this is an important factor then brushed might be better suited for you.
 
Exterior house painting and caulking

• The hard part is deciding which paint to use. There are many options out there so make sure that whichever product you choose will last at least three years outside before needing another coat otherwise all the hours and money invested may not have been worth it after all.
• If the house needs caulking, this should be done first and then as much of the old paint removed with a scraper or chemical remover since any new coatings applied over them won't adhere properly (and might even peel off). Once free from old paints and other substances, ensure surfaces are dry - either by wiping down damp areas with a cloth or waiting for everything to air dry if necessary. Then apply fresh coats of primer where they're needed to be followed by two topcoats of paint.
• When it comes to exterior house painting, one or two coats are usually sufficient and you may not even need a second coat unless the surface is particularly rough or uneven (not just on a couple of spots). A good quality primer will cover up most irregularities before getting down to the actual finish so if your walls are bumpy there's no point in putting any more work into them than that. 
• But what about those colours? Well, when deciding what shade of paint for outside as well as interior room people often choose lighter shades because they're easier to maintain and don't fade easily but darker ones can create a nice contrast with natural light during different times of the day.

 
How long will it take to complete an exterior house painting job? 
It all depends on the size of your home and how much work needs to be done but there's a general rule that you can expect around 250 square feet per day, which means if you have more than one storey in your property then you'll need to hire more painters as they can't move between stories for each room or else risk causing damage by carrying too much weight up those stairs.
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