Tips for Choosing Exterior Paint Colors for Your House
Picking house paint colors isn’t just difficult; it can be terrifying! If you choose colors that are boring and blah, your house will seem flat and featureless, but if the paint colors are too bold, they can overwhelm the architecture or might even infuriate the neighbors. The potential rewards are substantial, though. Getting it just right by choosing the perfect exterior house color and trim combinations can change your life.
As you consider paint colors for you home’s exterior, keep in mind that the best paint colors are those that highlight the most beautiful features of your home. That’s one reason to know a little bit about residential architecture since history can tell you a lot about what colors have worked for various house styles over the years. Also remember that skillful use of color can sometimes disguise design flaws, boosting the curb appeal and market value of your home
Choose Your Shade First
The first thing you will want to do when deciding what color you want to paint the exterior of your home is to choose the shade of a color first. When I say “shade”, I mean do you want a light, mid-tone or dark color on the body of your home? At this point, you don’t have to consider anything else except to make a decision if you want a light or white color, a mid-tone or medium shade, or do you want a dark color.
For most of you, choosing a shade is an instant easy decision and you immediately know that you want a light or dark colored home. However, some of you may not be sure and are open to any shade and need a little help making that decision. It will help if you search Pinterest for exterior homes for inspiration to determine what shade would look best for your home. For example, if you have a ranch style home, search “ranch style home exteriors” in Pinterest search to see all the different color options to inspire you
Not All Exterior Paints Are Equal
I have learned so much over the years about exterior paint products from my own projects, client projects and also working with paint companies. Unfortunately, I have also learned the hard way that not all exterior paints are created equal. Nothing is more frustrating than spending a fortune to have your house painted and you have to repaint within 2-3 years!
DURABILITY
The most important factor when choosing an exterior paint is durability. You may be surprise to know that a highly durable exterior paint finish should last at least 5-10 years. Yes! You read that right! The best exterior paint that is applied properly can last up to 10 years! It is possible!
PAINT AND PRIMER (ALL-IN-ONE)
In my opinion, nothing is more important than using an exterior paint product that has primer in it. This is absolutely non-negotiable for me and the most important requirement that I have when it comes to choosing an exterior paint. The reason it’s so important to me is that unlike traditional paints, primer paint contains binding properties (fancy word for glues), which means the primer will act as a sealant. Primer creates a binding layer (or) sealed layer on the material being painted that will increase durability making it more water and mold-resistance. Not too mention that you will have better coverage because primer will mask underlying color and imperfections better! That’s exactly what we need to have from an exterior paint.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Even if you apply all these steps there are still some traps that you need to avoid:
Wait for the right weather conditions
It might sound obvious not to paint exterior surfaces whilst it is raining, very windy or particularly dusty. However, even smaller changes in weather can affect your work. Hot weather and direct sunlight can cause your paint to dry too quickly. Cooler temperature can stop the paint from sticking to the surface as it should. The best temperature is between 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Drips
Drips are common, look bad but are completely avoidable. How can you remove drip marks? If you notice a drip when your paint is still wet, then simply brush it into the surrounding paint. If the paint has dried, leave until the surrounding is completely dry and then carefully sand the area before touching it up with new paint
Protect your home by following these tips:
- Cover air conditioning units, landscaping and other surfaces close to the work area with drop cloths, old sheets or blankets.
- Tape windows and doors.
- Remove accessories such as light fixtures, doorbells, shutters, mailboxes and other detailed features. You can put them back on after the job is done.
- If bushes or other plants are close to the surface area to be painted, trim them back or tie them with twine to allow space to work and to keep them from touching the paint while it’s wet.