Paint doesn’t only make your home look good and boost its curb appeal. It also protects it from damage caused by various weather elements. If you have to hire painters near me, you must understand that this is an investment, so you will want to make the best out of it by hiring a qualified painter.

Your paint will last up to a decade if you do it right. If the paint job isn’t done right, you have to repeat the process, which may eat up your time and money. You don’t want that to happen.

A paint – especially an exterior paint – that lasts long will mean less maintenance, saving you time, effort, and money from repeated paint jobs. These tips below will show you how to make your paint job last longer:

Prep the surface properly.

Proper preparation is key to a successful and long-lasting paint job. It is an essential step in every painting process, which means there’s no way you should skip it. If you’re doing the job yourself, follow the steps below. If you’re hiring a painting contractor, ask them questions to make sure that they’ve followed the steps:

• Clean the surface – Wash the surface with a regular garden hose or power washer. For areas with mold and mildew, remove them with a bleach solution or mildewcide. Let the surface dry, and scrape rough spots with sandpaper.
• Repair the siding – The paint will have difficulty sticking to a damaged siding, causing it to chip and flake. Repair or replace any rotted boards (depending on the extent of the damage) and use caulk to seal them thoroughly.
• Prime the surface – Use a high-quality primer before you proceed to paint. A primer forms a binding layer between the surface and the topcoat, sealing the surfaces and allowing the topcoat to stick better. A primer also prevents the paint from being absorbed into the surface, resulting in a solid and uniform finish.

A primer is not always necessary for every painting project. But in this case, you need to use a primer after you’ve repaired or patched the siding. It’s essential to use the best primer for your paint. Using acrylic latex paint for your topcoat, use either a water-based (latex) or oil-based primer. Using oil paint for your topcoat, you will want to use only an oil-based primer.

Use the correct type of paint.

When making the paint job last longer, there’s no sacrificing quality. You’ll want to use high-quality paint so that the exterior surfaces will give adequate protection to your home. With its thick coating and solid pigmentation, quality paint will make your home look more beautiful. The paint job will hold up for a longer time.

You should also consider the type of paint finish since you’re dealing with exterior surfaces. Paints with an eggshell or satin finish are the most preferable for exterior surfaces. They can repel dust and moisture while giving your home a pleasant appearance.

Make sure the paint is applied properly.

The application of paint also matters. When the paint is improperly applied or applied under bad weather or climate conditions, it won’t last long on the surface. Here are the following steps and tips to ensure a durable finish and a long-lasting paint job:

• Apply thorough coats – After priming the surface, apply two coats of high-quality paint to ensure that the surfaces are protected against the weather elements. Make sure that the bottoms and sides of the exterior are thoroughly covered.
• Don’t paint under direct heat and sunlight – Although heat would undoubtedly speed up the drying of paint, heat and direct sunlight won’t give the paint enough time to dry properly, resulting in an uneven finish and visible, ugly brush strokes. It’s better to paint during the morning or in the late afternoon to avoid painting outside during the hottest hours of the day. Or, paint the side of the house opposite the sun, or in any shaded part of the house, so it won’t be too hot to paint.
• Don’t paint on wet surfaces – Paint cannot stick to damp surfaces, so avoid painting outside during heavy rain. After the shower, wait for a day or two until the exterior surface becomes completely dry. Check your local weather forecast to ensure it doesn’t call for rain during your planned painting or drying hours.

Keep your exterior surfaces clean.

Dust, dirt, soot, mildew, and other debris aren’t just eyesores. When left unattended, their build-up won’t be washed away by mere rainwater, causing some areas of your siding to look discolored or faded.

The solution to this problem is simple: conduct regular cleaning at least once a year. Hose down or pressure-wash the sidings, patios, and undersides of overhangs. While a traditional detergent and bleach can do, there are also products specifically made for cleaning siding and mildewcides that kill and prevent mildew from growing on exterior surfaces. 

You can seek professional advice from your paint contractor. Check out other painting and home improvement tips when you visit painters near me and be inspired!