Ok, so here it is, the promised post on house painting! I’ve decided to divide it in two posts though since it’s such a huge topic. This first post will deal with the issues that might arise before the painting starts. I will try to give you a few tips that might be helpful and maybe you can fill in if you’ve got some good tips to share as well?

First of all, remember that house painting is a big project. You will probably not be able to finish today, maybe not even this week. Make sure you’ve got time!

Next thing to keep in mind is that you can’t start painting right away. You need to clean the surface and you need to do some preparation. Never paint on a dirty surface and don’t paint on wet wood! You will regret doing this since these are some of the most common reasons of painting failure.

So what do you actually need to do before you start painting? Well, you should clean the house thoroughly with warm, soapy water and a brush and make sure to scrape off the old paint where needed. You will need a wire brush to do this. You might need to use some sandpaper too in order to make the edges smoother for a better result. This isn’t a very fun part of the painting project but it will definitely help you get a better result in the end.

Next thing to remember is to pick the right day to start the project. Early spring is actually a good choice. The sun shouldn’t be too strong but it can’t be too cold either since cold temperatures can damage the paint. It’s also obvious that you shouldn’t pick a rainy day. A dry day with mild temperatures is the best choice.

When it comes to the choice of paint it’s important to remember that it’s actually worth paying some extra to get high quality. A high-quality paint is worth every penny since it will dry quickly and it will look much better. You won’t have to wait as long before you start painting the next layer. One thing to keep in mind when you buy paint is to buy a few extra gallons, at least if you have decided to use custom-colored paint. It’s definitely better to buy some extra because it can be difficult, not to say impossible, to get more of this paint later.

Have you got any more tips to share? In my next painting post I will tell you a little bit more about the painting process. I promise that there are plenty of things to keep in mind if you want a perfect result and hopefully I’ll be able to help you a little on the way. Hopefully you’ll end up with a great result, maybe just as nice as these places?

Photo: Nordsjö Idé & Design

Photo: Beckers

Photo: Nordsjö Idé & Design