Have you ever tried to paint a large room? If so, think about how your arms felt after doing it for a few hours. Now imagine doing that for days.
Giving your home a fresh coat of paint can entirely change its looks. It can make an older home look new, increase the value of the house, and can make you happier when you’re driving up the driveway. After all, who doesn’t want their home to look nicer? If you’re not happy with the outside of your home, maybe it’s time to think about hiring a professional.
Some people believe that they can paint the outside of their home in just a few days. Well, because all you have to do is grab some paint, a roller, and a brush, right? No. Painting your house’s exterior is hard work, time-consuming, and can be dangerous, especially if you have multiple stories. Plus, it’s easy to tell if your home was a DIY project or done by a professional. Click here to learn more.
Reasons to Hire A Professional to Paint Your Homes Exterior
House exterior painting is much more challenging than painting a room and it poses more risks. Homeowners choose to hire professionals because they know it’ll get done right the first time, and they can finish quickly. Take a look at the reasons below for why you should hire a pro when it’s time to paint the exterior of your home.
Experience
Experience comes from doing the same thing over and over until you perfect your work. Professional painters have years of experience and know how to paint your house’s exterior and can get it done quickly. When painting a home, unexpected issues arise that you’re not prepared for. Perhaps a gutter needs to be repaired, or a tree is too close to your home, which may leave you unsure of what to do and frustrated. However, an experienced painter knows how to deal with unexpected issues that may arise.
Cost
Believe it or not, hiring a professional may actually save you money. There are many costs you may not think of when figuring out the cost. Sure, you’ll save money on labor, but it will take you much longer than a professional.
There are many things required to paint the home that you may not consider, such as ladders or lifts to reach areas of your home, tarps, or a power washer which are added costs you may not have considered. Professional painters already have these items or can get them at discounted rates.
Insurance
Professional painters are licensed and insured. This gives homeowners peace of mind knowing that if anything happens, they are covered. Licensed pros provide expert workmanship, and if their work does not meet your satisfaction, they are obligated to make the requested repairs. Also, if the unthinkable happens and something gets damaged, their insurance covers the cost.
Safety and Efficient Work
Professional painters are skilled at their job, allowing them to do it quickly and avoid mistakes without sacrificing quality. Another benefit of hiring a professional is they know how to do their job safely. There are times when ladders or lifts are needed, and if you’re not used to using them correctly, they can be unsafe. Some jobs require scaffolding, which can be hazardous if not properly trained. Exterior painters know how to use the equipment, and if they have an accident, they are insured.
Proper Prep
Before your house can be painted, it has to be repaired appropriately. This means cleaning it with a pressure washer to remove dirt or loose paint, then scraping loose paint off the house. This step requires a wire brush or scraping tool for areas the washer couldn’t reach. Repair any areas that need it: Recaulk, repair, and re-putty windows. Place down drop cloths to protect your landscaping, then finally prime areas where repairs were made.
Takes Time
Some people think they can paint their house in 2-3 days like the professionals. This isn’t the case. If you are considering painting the exterior of your home yourself, you can expect it to take roughly 2 to 3 weeks. The 2 to 3 weeks doesn’t even count if you have to go to the hardware store multiple times or if you make mistakes, you’ll have to go back to redo them because when you paint the outside of your home, even minor errors are apparent. Then when you are finally done, you have to do the cleanup.
A professional painter knows what they are doing and can get the job done much quicker. Normally a team of 2 can do the typical home in 2 to 3 days. That means you get your home done quicker, get the mess out of your yard sooner, and your life can get back to normal.
Clean Up
House exterior painting means a lot of clean-up. All used materials have to be stored or returned to the place you rented them from. If the paint can is empty, it can go in the trash; however, if there is paint left, it will need to be disposed of properly.
Questions To Ask Yourself Before Attempting To Paint Your Home
If you’re still unsure if you should paint the exterior of your home or have a professional to it, ask yourself the following questions.
Have you painted before?
People without the proper amount of experience tend to overbrush, meaning that they extend the paint too far and the coat is too thin. While paint sprayers can paint a home quickly, it requires a certain amount of skill to use.
Do you know your paint needs?
Estimating the amount of paint you need, what tools you need, and how to properly stain and prime an area can be difficult. Paint retailers can often help answer these questions or help you find an experienced pro to help you out.
Can you physically handle the job?
Being able to handle the job physically is another consideration. Painting an entire house is exhausting, and hard physical work going up and down ladders and using your arms for hours at a time takes a lot of upper and lower body strength.
Making the Final Decision
If you feel confident you’ll be able to do it after reading this, then exterior painting your home can be a rewarding experience. However, if you want to hire a professional, make sure you hire the right one. Do this by asking them if they are licensed and insured for references and follow up on them.
