Choosing a Painting Contractor

How to prepare a house for painting?

How to prepare a house for painting? Prepping the exterior of your home before you begin painting is essential to smoothing out the process, yielding the most attractive result, and extending the life of your new paint. Once you’re sure your current paint doesn’t contain lead, it’s time to thoroughly clean the exterior of your home and remove any flaking paint. Using a pressure-washer with only water is totally acceptable, but if you have any mold or rot you’ll have to treat those areas differently.

Once the surface is clean, repair damage and fill voids with caulk to create a smooth surface. Some repairs may require a handy-man, so always call a professional if you’re unsure of how to remedy an issue on your own. Once your home’s exterior is clean, smooth, and ready for primer, a professional painting contractor can help you with the next steps! Some painters may also offer pressure-washing and surface prep before exterior paint, so it’s always a good idea to get in touch with a local expert before you take those first steps.

How to prepare interior walls for painting?

Just like with exterior painting, you’ll yield the finest result if you thoroughly clean walls and remove any flaking paint before priming. To clean interior walls, run a vacuum cleaner around the perimeters (careful not to cause any dents or damage) and wipe down walls with a sponge or towel, using a mixture of gentle dish soap and water. Tape off trim, sconces, fixtures, window framing, and other areas that you do not wish to paint with strong painter’s tape, carefully pressing the tape against trim and securing with a putty knife. This step is crucial to ensuring clean lines, so watching tutorial videos or asking experienced painters for tips is always helpful. Once your walls are prepped, prepare the rest of your room by removing as many pieces of furniture possible and adding a drop-cloth to protect the floor from paint. Now, you’re ready to paint and prime! Connect with a well-reviewed local painting pro via HomePro Match to get started.

What color should I paint my home to sell it?

Considering putting your home on the market? Sometimes this means making choices that may not fit your exact taste, but instead align with the market trends for buyers. Recently, the market’s been favoring interior floor plans with open spaces, hardwood flooring, energy-efficient appliances, and granite elements - but what kind of exteriors are buyers looking for? Unsurprisingly, neutral paint colors appeal most to house hunters. It’s a safe bet to go with an exterior paint color in the white, gray, brown, or beige family. If you do want color, a muted, easy-on-the-eyes green or blue will also work. Another good rule of thumb is to pay attention to other homes in your neighborhood that have recently sold. If their exterior paint colors are all in a similar family, you might be able to mirror that for your sale.