Painting the exterior of your home seems easy, right? You just get the paint that you want and start putting it on. Well, it’s not as simple as that. There are many things you need to consider before you begin - and while you’re working on - an exterior painting project. Painting the exterior of your Jacksonville, FL home yourself can be a rewarding exercise. If you want to get the job done right, make sure you keep an eye out for these common exterior painting pitfalls.

Pay attention to the weather

There are certain weather conditions that you need to keep in mind before you begin any exterior painting project.

• Don’t paint in direct sunlight if you can help it. The heat from the sun can make the paint dry too quickly, and you’ll end up with unsightly lap marks. Too much heat can also cause blistering and peeling.
• You also shouldn’t paint on very windy days. The wind will also cause the paint to dry too fast. Additionally, wind can kick up dirt and debris and cause it to stick to the wet paint.
• This isn’t too much of a problem in Jacksonville, Florida, but don’t apply latex paint if the temperature outside is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• And, this should go without saying… Don’t paint the exterior of your home if there’s a chance of rain.

What are lap marks, anyway?

We just mentioned how painting in direct sunlight can lead to unsightly lap marks. But what are lap marks? Basically, lap marks are the areas of paint that look darker because you’ve painted over dried paint. When you’re painting the exterior of your home, you want the finish to be as uniform and professional as possible. After all, your home’s exterior is your house’s “face” to the world! So how do you avoid lap marks?

Lap marks are best avoided by working quickly and in small sections. You don’t want to paint the whole side of your house and then go back and do a second coat. You should paint in sections that are small enough so that the previously painted areas are still wet when you go for a second coat. If you do end up with lap marks, an additional coat on top will sometimes cover them. But it’s best to avoid lap marks altogether by working in small, manageable sections.

Brush marks: The other mark to avoid

Lap marks are one thing, but brush marks can also leave you with an uneven and unattractive exterior paint job. There are, of course, ways to avoid them, though. By effectively avoiding brush marks in your exterior paint, you can ensure a smooth and even finish. To avoid brush marks in your exterior paint, you should begin each brush stroke in either an unfinished area, at an edge, or right against a door or window trim. Then brush toward a finished area - sweeping the brush up and off all in the same movement. You need to do this in one fluid movement in order to avoid brush marks. If you top the brush and then lift it, that leaves extra paint - which will show up as either a brush mark or darker spot in your overall finish.

Drips, runs, and sags, oh my!

There are a few other painting pitfalls you can encounter that can leave you with a less-than-ideal exterior paint finish. Chief among these are drips, runs, and sags. In order to avoid these unsightly errors, you need to be vigilant when you’re painting. Keep checking back on your work as you go - be sure to pay attention to inside corners and edges, since that’s where the paint is most likely to build up and run. You can mitigate some runs if you catch them before the paint has begun to dry. Otherwise, you need to allow the run to dry completely, sand it off, and touch up the spot with a bit of fresh paint.

Time management is important

One of the major problems people run into when painting the exterior of their homes has to do with time management. Exterior painting can be a rather lengthy process, and you need to be mindful of when and how you’re doing certain things. By being judicious with your time, you can efficiently paint the exterior of your home.

• When using a paint can hold it as close as you can to the surface that you’re painting. This reduces arm movement, minimizes dripping, and saves you from having to go back and forth too often.
• It’s a good idea to learn to paint effectively with either hand. This is especially true if you’re working from a ladder. Painting with both hands essentially doubles your reach! You can paint twice as much before you need to climb back down.
• Do you need to paint doors or windows? You should paint them as early in the day as possible. That way, you’ll be able to close them at night without worrying about ruining the paint job.
• You may need to use your paint again, so stay organized with it! Write the date, location, and name of each paint color on the lid of the can and store it in a safe place.

Professional exterior painting for your home

These tips will help you achieve a professional look for the exterior of your home. It’s a large undertaking, but it’s something you can do as a DIY project if you do your research, pay attention to the details, and keep a watchful eye for these common pitfalls.

If you find yourself having a hard time painting the exterior of your Jacksonville home, get a quote for exterior painting from a New Leaf Painting in Jacksonville, FL today!

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