Outdoor painting can be a genuine pain in the back owing to the plethora of knick-knacks lying around understanding this Gharpedia shares some exterior house painting hacks to ease and hasten this arduous task.
In today’s times when everyone is a tad wary of having outsiders step into the safe sanctity of one’s house there are multiple householders striving to do a lot of tasks (which were earlier commissioned to labourers or professional agencies) on their own with the internet being their source of reference. Painting one’s house too falls under this segment of DIY projects.
This blog focuses on the home exterior wall paint. For those readers who are wondering – Why the heck should we paint the outdoors? – We have a simple one line answer borrowed from ‘Tom Silva’ (a member of the home improvement team on the television program ‘This Old House’): “A good paint job protects the outside of your house like a thin waterproof raincoat.”
Your house may be in shipshape condition internally but remember – first impression is the last impression. And unfortunately this first impression is created when someone passes by your house and casts a cursory look at the walls, the gate, the swing, the deck et al. If these are fading, chipped and shoddy then sorry to say folks the inevitable assumption is that the house looks the same from inside which speaks volumes for the householder too!
Let’s look at some home exterior painting projects to make your job easier. Just stay here and keep reading.
HACKS – PAINTING HOUSE EXTERIOR OBJECTS/STRUCTURES
When it comes to the painting of interiors of a house there’s a lot that has been written about the dos and don’ts; moreover pointers for painting exterior walls too have been well-covered by blogs and videos. But unfortunately there are hardly any hacks available with regards to the painting of the exterior objects of the house like gates, decks, stair railings, wrought-iron furniture et al. And the intricate structure of these bits and pieces along with their broad expanse (in case of gates and staircases) pose a challenge for professional painters leave alone amateur painters!
Understanding this, Gharpedia, through this blog, tries to plug this loophole by sharing some to ease painting of these objects and ensuring that the job is done efficiently –
01. Painting a Deck:
It has been reported to us that it’s best to paint a deck using a broom that has nylon bristles with ‘flagged tips’ (these are essentially split ends which is a good thing for broom or brush bristles to have). Using the broom is easier and more efficient than using a paintbrush.
02. Prepping Metal Surfaces:
To reduce the possibility of paint peeling-off a wipe metal surface, wipe the clean, to-be-painted metal with a mixture of one part distilled white vinegar to five parts plain water. Let it air-dry and then paint.
03. Painting Wrought-Iron Furniture:
Dab paint on wrought-iron furniture with a regular kitchen sponge. You will be able to get the job done faster.
04. Painting Odd-Shaped Things:
In case you take up the task of painting a typical structures say for instance – elaborate stair rails or wrought-iron gates, then how about replacing your paintbrush with your hand? Surprised…eh? We’re not joking…trust us it will ease your job. Just remember to don a plastic or latex glove; cover your hand with an old towel; and keep the same in place with rubber bands. The modus operandi here is quite simple – just plunge your fingertips in the paint, distribute it over the rest of your palm and then massage/paint the odd-shaped object or structure.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME EXTERIOR PAINTING
01. How long should a good paint job last?
Well at least for 5 -10 years based on the location of the house and how well it is protected from the elements of nature such as sun, wind and rain.
02. What are the basic principles of exterior painting?
When it comes to painting exterior objects and surfaces there are two simple rules that need to be adhered to – prepare the surface well; and buy the best paint you can afford.
03. When is the best time to apply the brush for the exterior painting project?
The best time of the day for painting house exteriors is in the early afternoon hours, post evaporation of the morning dew.
04. How does one repel insects?
Unlike human beings, bugs can’t read a ‘wet paint’ sign and we definitely don’t want flies and mosquitoes sticking to our newly painted gate or swing do we? So here’s sharing a hack to ascertain that insects are repelled from your painted surfaces or objects – add one tablespoon of oil of citronella (available at health food and hardware stores) to each gallon of paint and stir it well. Citronella will ensure that your paint job remains bug-free.
05. What is Handy Paint Pail?
One wonders why it took so long to come up with something so useful for the DIY painter! Jokes apart, this is a pail that holds up to one quart of paint and it’s USP is that it can be secured on a belt for hands-free use. So no messy spilling and it makes the task less cumbersome too!
06. What are the benefits of a DIY Exterior Painting Project?
Agreed that fitting-in a tedious painting job amidst the humungous list of tasks already on our to-do list seems grossly unfair; so let’s cast a glance at the pluses –
- Nothing can match the satisfaction that you get upon viewing the fruits of your labour.
- Painting up the exteriors (objects and surfaces) of your house on your own is one sure-shot way of keeping your family and yourself safe during the turbulent times of the pandemic … when every stranger stepping into your premises brings with him an element of risk.
- When you do the task on your own your involvement is from A-Z; leaving no place for doubting the quality of the equipment, paints etc. and also the superiority of the task.
- You can save on your gym membership as this task will suffice to burn-up your calories!
- You can proudly say that you’ve imbibed the DIY Culture in the truest sense of the term!
Hope the above hacks ease your Home Exterior Painting Project…Do write in to Gharpedia sharing your experience!In a final note, Painting a house is mainly for two purposes i.e. decoration and protection of the surfaces. A good paint job can also turn a functional space into your dream home. Before you start painting, familiarize yourself with the following painting tips to make your job easier –
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.
