Exterior Painting: What You Need to Know

Exterior Painting

A quality exterior paint job is both an advertisement for your building and a way to protect it from the elements. A fresh coat of paint provides curb appeal, improves visibility, offers an instant rebrand, and extends the life of a building by sealing out water, mold, and animal pests.

If the exterior paint job on your building is peeling, faded, or just plain outdated, it’s time to consider a touch-up or overhaul. Here’s what to know.

Choosing the Right Exterior Paint for Your Job

Your building’s size, location, style, and type will dictate the type of paint most suitable for your exterior paint job. While you might have some initial ideas about color, texture, and finish, your painter will be able to recommend specific paint types that will deliver the best results.

Here are a couple of the most common options:

  • Oil-based paints. These are common in commercial environments as they’re durable and weather-resistant, meaning they keep your building look great for longer. But fading can be a problem, and cleaning can be challenging – something to bear in mind in sunny, rainy, or polluted environments.
  • Latex paints. These dry quickly and are easy to apply and remove. But they don’t last as long as oil-based paints and aren’t ideal for extreme weather environments.
  • Enamel paints. These oil-based paints are bright, long-lasting, and resistant to scratching and staining. They take longer to dry but are a good option in hard-wearing environments.
  • Acrylic paints. Though more expensive than latex paints, they’re long-lasting and can deliver a solid bang for your buck when you consider the costs of repainting.
  • Specialty paints. Used for parking lots, metal features, signage, and over challenging surfaces, specialty paints are specially formulated to meet specific requirements and are usually sparingly and specifically applied.

As noted, there are many factors that influence which paint choice that’s best for you – exterior materials, existing paint or other finish, climate, sun exposure, and branding being just some of them. Your painter will be able to help guide you towards the best solution for your job.

Choosing a Painter for Your Exterior Paint Job

DIY painting can be an option in a small residential space. But for larger commercial buildings, it’s vital to enlist a team of professionals. Experienced, licensed, and bonded painters, such as the team at Manders, is a must. They’ll be able to recommend specific paint types to suit your building’s location, style, and needs and ensure that the site is properly prepped to ensure even application and a long-lasting finish. Additionally, they’ll have tips and solutions for handling challenging areas such as elevated or hard-to-reach spaces. When choosing your painter, ask:

  • Are you licensed and insured?
  • Have you painted a building like this before?
  • Can I see examples of your work?
  • Can you provide a materials and labor estimate?
  • Is any special equipment or paint required?
  • What prep work is involved for the job?
  • How long will the job take?
  • Can you work around my schedule?

Choosing a skilled, professional painter for your exterior paint job provides peace of mind along with great results. You’ll get the job done quickly and efficiently – and with better-looking, longer-lasting results that will save you money while maximizing your building’s curb appeal. If you need someone to help with an exterior paint job, talk to the painting pros at Manders today!

 

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