Finally thinking about upgrading the appearance of your home? When it comes to the exterior painting Austin homes need, you may want to think twice before handling your own project. The dry, hot weather may seem like it’s just right for an easy application and quick drying, but there are several things you need to consider before you do it yourself.
Check for Water Damage
There isn’t a lot of rainfall in Austin, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about water damage. Wood becomes dry in this type of climate, and even with the protection of exterior paints, it has an increased likelihood of swelling.
Imagine a sponge that hasn’t gotten wet for weeks and compare it to one that remains consistently moist. Which do you think will undergo more shrinking and swelling with a little bit of water? Of course it’s the dry sponge, and your wood is no different.
Even though it doesn’t rain that often, there’s still a big chance that your exterior could be suffering from water damage. Make sure you find and repair any before you start stripping and reapplying paint.
Considerations for Exterior Painting Austin Residents Must Make
In addition to checking for water damage, you have to make sure you have the right equipment. Purchasing and maintain paint guns, multiple rollers, ladders, and scaffolding can be very expensive. Are you planning on repainting your exterior every season, or just once every couple of years?
Unless you are going to make painting the outside of your home a regular part of your home maintenance routine, it might be cheaper to rent the equipment – or to hire someone else to do it for you.
Don’t forget to consider your skill level, too. If you’re not a very good painter or handyman you could end up with a job that’s so shoddy that you end up having to hire someone to do it, anyway.
What Kind of Paint Should You Buy?
Exterior paint comes in several different grades. Your best bet is using an exterior paint with a high-glossy finish. These paints are more resistant to peeling, cracking, and bubbling up due to changes in the weather.
Since it can be dreadfully dry in Austin one minute, and horribly humid the next, you want to find the most rugged paint possible. It isn’t exactly cheap, but it will save you money in the long run since it will hold up a lot longer.
There are a number of other things to consider, too. Consider asking someone at the local remodeling supply store for advice and tips to get you started on the right track with the exterior painting Austin homes need.
Exterior Painting Austin – For the exterior painting in Austin hiring a professional, like Ja-Mar exteriors, to do it for you while you enjoy a refreshing lemonade on the back porch would be the hassle free way of decorating the outside of your home.
