No one wants to be that house on the block that brings down the curb appeal. If your house isn't shining as it used to in your neighborhood, you might be ready for a change.

Landscaping is always nice, but it's a tough type of labor and can really tear up your yard for a while. Resealing your driveway is nice but does nothing for your house's appearance.

If you're looking for a quick and simple change that makes a huge difference, exterior house painting is the way to go. If you take a closer look, you might even realize your exterior is really in need of new paint, anyway.

Take advice from expert exterior home painters and read this guide for everything from paint colors to painting professionals. 

How to Know Your House Needs Painting

An itch for new colors isn't the only reason you'll need to repaint your home exterior. There are many signs of wear that could be cries for help. Painting and sealing your home can protect the materials from the elements, so it's important to pay attention to the signs of distress.

You should consider repainting your home exterior if you see:

• Faded colors
• Flaking and cracking
• Bubbling
• Hardened caulking

The above signs all mean that your paint is old and weathered. Your house's exterior is beginning to be damaged by the elements. It might also mean that you have mold or rot and will need repairs.

If your home is fairly new, it's possible you might need to consider painting your home. Often, new construction homes were only given their first, preliminary round of primer and paint, but are not painted sufficiently to last.

What Does It Cost to Have Your House Painted

When it comes to pricing for exterior house painting, you should expect to spend at least $500. The cost, however, will depend on the size of your home and the complexity of the job.

Painting professionals need to factor in the length of the project to pay for hours of labor. They'll also have to factor in the cost of supplies and the level of skill required for your project.

If your house has multiple levels, there is added risk and difficulty in getting the job done, which will raise the price. If there are areas of your home that are difficult to access for any reason, whether it is landscaping or tight spaces, that will also raise the price.

In Venice, FL, it's likely your home is a Spanish-style stucco home. If your home is stucco, your project could easily add 20% more to your quote and can be over $10,000.

It's tempting to find the cheapest offer, but being cheap now could mean a costly do-over later. Not painting and sealing your house exterior properly could not only mean you need to pay someone to come back and fix it. It could also mean expensive damages to your home due to a lack of protection from the elements.

The cost of a house painting project could easily climb into the thousands of dollars, so make sure you are hiring someone you trust to do a great job. An average job nationally lands around $1,700-4,300.

Exterior House Painting Process

How do you know if a painting professional knows what they're doing? Educate yourself on the correct process for painting the exterior of your home!

There are many resources out there with a wealth of information about house painting, but we've made it simple by compiling it all right here. House painting is simply a process of choosing the right paint and colors and using the right techniques for prepping, painting, and sealing.

Choosing a Paint

When it comes to home exteriors, you can't buy just any paint. Paints are sold with a variety of chemical compounds that make them perfect for specific jobs. Since house exteriors are exposed to the elements around the clock, you will need to pick durable and protective paint that will last for years.

Choosing the right type of paint includes knowing which paint will work best with your home exterior's materials. Not all houses are made of the same material; there's vinyl, wood, brick, and more.

Exterior house paint is made up of solvents, pigments, binders, and additives. The solvents are there to keep the binders and pigments as a liquid solution in the can before it's applied to your home.

Binders are resins that create the paint film once the solvents have evaporated, and the pigments are the man-made colors that are left to create the color of your home.

Additives are included to control how long it takes the paint to dry and what will protect your home from damage like mildew.

One of the best binders for house exterior paint is acrylic, but you can also find oil-based paint on the market. Oil-based paint has lessened in popularity but is great for achieving a glossy smooth look that resists dirt. This makes oil paint great for trim, porches, and doors. 

There are other paints that have been put on the market as step-savers or problem solvers. No-fade paint and self-priming paint are available, but they either require professionals or take extra coats to achieve the desired effect. 

When you hire a painter, speak with them about choices of paint to see how knowledgeable they are and find the right one for your project.

Choosing a Look

Painting your home isn't just for protection. Paint will seriously change the look and feel of your home and affect your curb appeal.

If you want to stick to the same colors, that's easy enough, but you'll be turning down the opportunity to update the look of your home. Try flipping through magazines or browsing online for ideas. Remember, this is an expensive change you'll want to live with for a while, so be sure about your choices.

If you're hesitant, you can ask for help from a professional to get advice about color choices they've seen work well for your area and style of home. You can even drive around your neighborhood to find houses you really like and use them as inspiration.

Take note of trim and roof colors, however, as they are meant to contrast rather than blend into your home. You'll want to make sure your colors compliment each other while still adding contrast. The right colors will highlight your home architecture.

Florida is known for being full of neighborhoods that have HOAs. If you are part of an HOA, you will need to consider your neighborhood's rules for colors. Reference the handbook, and remember to ask permission if your neighborhood requires approval for paint colors.

Test it Out

Pick a few colors and paint large swatches to test out the paint. You'll want to set them against your house and check on them throughout the day. The paint will look different in different types of light.

You can even choose to paint samples directly onto your house to see how the paint will look on your material. Try out the different combinations of colors together to make sure they work with each other.

It's best to always pick a darker shade than you think you'll want, especially in Florida. Florida experiences severely high levels of UV and sun exposure, so the paint will fade faster here than in other areas of the world.

High levels of moisture will also make paint fade, and in Florida, we have high humidity. On the other hand, vibrant shades will fade faster than muted tones.

If you're looking for a pop of color, consider painting your door or trim with the color rather than the whole house. It will be quicker and cheaper to maintain the color there.

For Florida houses, we recommend high-sheen paints because they reflect the sun better. They also are great for areas of high traffic.

Determine if You Have Lead Paint

Before you go any further, it's important to make sure you don't have lead paint. If your house is older than 1978, it's likely your house has lead paint.

In the case that you have lead paint, it will all have to be stripped off. Unfortunately, this is a huge and dangerous task. We recommend hiring professionals who are equipped to handle the hazards safely.

Professionals will have to use sanders, chemical strippers, or heated paint remover, all of which are dangerous to handle and result in particles and fumes you shouldn't be breathing.

Prepping Your House for Painting

Once your colors are chosen and approved, and you know you don't have lead paint, you should take time to prep your home for painting. It's not as simple as putting a layer of paint on top of what exists. Paint needs to go over a clean, smooth surface that is ready for binding.

Take the time to clear away the surrounding area so that you are safe and can easily reach all areas of the house. Get rid of branches and limbs on the property, and trim back plants. Then, cover any surrounding landscaping with cloths or tarps so that they aren't damaged by paint.

You'll also need to turn off your HVAC and cover it with plastic so that paint cannot damage it.

Take care of any issues you noticed when you took a closer look at your house exterior. Peeling paint and mildew will need to go before you move on.

Pressure wash your house to remove dirt, mildew, and other debris from the exterior. You'll need to caulk any cracks and sand them down, and you'll need to seal your joints. You should wait around two days for your house to dry before going any further.

If there are any places that you're not painting, you need to protect, or you need to remove permanently, do it now.

While you're paying so much attention to your house exterior, it's also a good time to check your windows. If they need cleaning and repair, it's time to do it.

Reglaze any old putty that has dried out and cracked before you start painting. If you've done that, though, you'll need to wait a few days for it to dry.

Using Primer

Primers come in colors, too, so make sure to consider what colors you'll be putting on top of them when you choose. Generally, there are gray, white, and tinted ones that give a base coat. 

You'll also need to consider whether you need latex or oil primer. Sanded-down wood and existing latex paint will need a latex primer, but oil-based primers should go over oil-based paint.

Primer can help bring to light cracks in the joints that you didn't notice. Take this opportunity to fill in any spots you missed on your first round with caulk.

Painting Properly

We recommend using paint rollers for large surfaces, especially for brick and stucco, and using smaller brushes for detail work. Keep in mind that you want the paint to go on evenly and dry quickly.

To achieve even coats without visible flaws, remember these three tips:

1. Work quickly in small sections that keep the previous area wet while you move on so that you are never painting over dried paint
2. Start every brush stroke in an untouched area and brush towards a finished area to avoid leaving extra paint
3. Constantly check finished areas for paint drips and runs to keep them from drying like that

A good strategy for painting is to work from the top down and paint large areas first. Always allow for areas with a different color to dry before you paint close to them to avoid blending.

Using a Top Coat

When it comes to topcoats, don't overdo it. You want your paint to be able to bond to the lower layers. If you use too much, you could cause flaking and chipping. Only use one coat unless you're making a drastic change that will need a little extra help.

Hire a Painter for Your Venice Home

Now that you know the ins and outs of the exterior house painting process, you'll be able to properly vet a professional to paint your home for you. You'll also be able to better care for your home and find the signs of damage.

If you're ready for a new look for your home, contact us today!