How often should I repaint the exterior of my home?

This is a question we get asked a lot, and the answer is, it depends, on 2 basic things:

1. Your homes location
2. The materials used

Some homes could need to repaint the exterior in as little as every 4 to 6 years to keep it looking good. Others homes can go as much as 15 years before any repainting work needs to be done.

How often you need to repaint the exterior of your home depends on a few variables: where you live, the type of materials your house is made with, and the quality of the materials used for the project.

Location

Here in West Michigan, we can get temperature extremes – brutally cold winters, and hot humid stretches in the summer. These can do a number on not just your exterior paint, but whatever is underneath it on the side of your home. Especially if your home is in the open, the sun’s ultraviolet rays cause the chemical compounds in paint to degrade. This is especially true if you prefer dark paints, which will appear to lighten more quickly than white or light colors in the sun. The weather can also cause paint harden, blister, crack, and mildew can form as well in damp and shady locations.

Materials

Older paints, in particular oil-based paints, can also degrade much faster than todays much improved paints, like acrylic latex paints. They come in glossy, semi-gloss, and satin finishes, with great choices for any home exterior.

Also whatever your home is using for siding, is a big factor. Todays siding choices help paints last longer, while older materials tend to require more paint upkeep.

If you are interested in a free quote for your home exterior paint job here in the Grand Rapids area, give us a call at (616) 682-6944

 

So you have decided to repaint some rooms in your home or business, Regardless if you do it yourself, or hire a professional team like Service Pro, there are a few steps you have to take to get the rooms ready.

• Get everything out of the way. Painting around furniture makes a job much more difficult than it should be. Get all the smaller stuff out of the room, and bigger items like couches and beds, move to the center of the room. Find something to cover any items left in the room, you don’t want any paint splatter or dust on your valuable furniture.
• Remove any switch plates and electrical outlet covers. You want to get the paint in behind those areas as well.
• Put something over your floors, tarps, plastic, something to protect the surface underneath.
• Dust and clean the walls. A clean surface is essential for a good finish. Using a vaccuum or towel should do the trick for dust. Any grease or grime needs to be removed as well.
• Scrape and remove any cracked or flaked paint. Now is also a good time to fill in any holes or sand down any imperfections
• If you are not sure what color you want to use, most quality paint shops will also allow you to get little sample paints. Take a few samples, and paint a couple of small test areas on your wall. It is amazing how different a paint can look in the light of your room, as opposed to just a color swatch in the store.
• And before you paint, protect any wall sconces or adjoining surfaces with painters tape.

Taking the time to properly prepare a room, will lead to much better end results!

Secrets of Pro Painters

aka what you didn’t know before that DIY paint disaster…

We live in a DIY age, where with the help of a few Youtube videos, we can all be brain surgeons… When it comes to painting a house, whether it is the interior or exterior, sometimes you can do it yourself, but sometimes, you should probably leave it to the pros…

Some of the most common mistakes we run into:

• Not moving everything out of the room
  • Some of the bigger items, like couches and beds can sometimes be worked around if they are properly covered and moved away from the surfaces to be painted. But everything else must go! Especially if any sanding will be involved, as the dust can get into everything
• Not preparing the surfaces properly
  • You have to find, and then fix, cracks and dents. A new paint surface, especially if you use any glossy paints, will highlight those imperfections you missed…
  • Sanding the old surface. Sometimes you need to “scratch” the old surface, to give the new paint something to bond to. If you just paint over  an old surface, you risk the new paint just peeling off easily. Know when and how this must be done.
  • Wash the surface to be painted. If you did sand, you can’t apply the new paint to the dust you just created…
  • Properly caulk and seal cracks. again, these will really show up after the new paint job, if not taken care of properly
• Use the right primers and paints. Every surface is different, and interior paints and exterior paints are different as well. Make sure you use the right paint for the right environment. And that “bargain” paint you saw on sale… might not be a good choice long term. Use quality paint.
• Use the right equipment. Good brushes, good rollers, good ladders. This is not a good time to skimp on the equipment you use

And it goes without saying, but practice and repetition go a long way to making a paint job look good. Some people are naturals, and do a great job of painting. Other people, should probably just leave it to us!

We are ready to help you get your home looking great this summer! Call for a free exterior paint quote today at (616) 295-3885

Many homeowners love to tackle as many home improvement projects as they can around the home. However, it is usually best to leave exterior painting to the professionals to ensure a quality end result, and the safety of you and anyone you may have helping.

Here are 3 reasons to hire a professional to tackle your exterior painting job

1. They Have The Right Equipment And Skills
   Experienced and licensed painting contractors have learned the right methods. Experienced professionals have invested in the best tools, so they can tackle any job, as painting the exterior of a house, requires a lot more than just paintbrushes. You need to be equipped with safety gear, caulk and patching tools. Sometimes, for specific tasks you may even require painting applicators, long ladders, and spraying tools.
2. Efficient, Quality Work
   Your time is valuable, and if you don’t have the practice, it can take a long time to paint the outside of a home. There are a lot of things to do before you even start painting. You need to prep the walls, fill up the holes, and tackle any surprises that may pop up. Professional painters can also dedicate full days to the work at hand, something few homeowners can put aside.
3. Insured
   Hiring professionals means that they are licensed to do the job. This can save you a lot of trouble because it means that you will be insured. Make sure you only hire insured professionals.When you want the exterior painting on your home done right, call the professionals at Service Pro Painting and Improvements, serving the Grand Rapids and West Michigan region. With more than 12 years of experience, Service Pro Painting and Improvements provides their clients with top-quality repairs, protective coatings, and 2-Year No-Chip, No-Peal Warranty. To schedule an estimate for your home or business, call us today at (616) 295-3885.