It’s time to freshen up that color

As summer rolls around and the weather begins to warm up, it’s time to consider taking account of those home improvement tasks that can’t be done in the cold, wet Northwest winters. The first thing that probably stands out when you survey your home, interior or exterior, is the color.

Our paint expert John Shearer of Shearer Painting says, “When you are choosing a color for your home, always make sure to look at the color in natural daylight. Color has a way of changing in artificial light and what you thought you like may not turn out as you planned after you have completed your paint job.”

In fact, this is also what most other people notice as well, so why not take the opportunity to improve on old and cracking exterior surfaces or dreary interior walls, and paint.

Painting the home may sound easier than it actually is, and as with most home improvement projects it requires careful planning of time, effort, and budget.

A lot of people elect to forgo all the headache of time and effort and hire a contractor if they have the money. As we say a lot, you get what you pay for, so for those with the means, hiring a reputable contractor to paint your home is a sound option. But what about those of us who don’t?

There are a few things we can consider to make painting easier whether it is indoors or out.

1) Choose the correct paint:
For most people this means the correct color, but more importantly is the appropriate type of paint depending on the surface to be covered (i.e. oil based vs. latex or high gloss vs. flat). Oil based paints are slower drying and can take upwards of a day to dry completely as compared to more quickly drying latex based paints. There is some concern with latex that it is not ideal in very hot weather environments, but luckily we’re not in Arizona!

2) Make sure to prep your surface:
A lot of people forget that if you simply try to slap some paint on the wall, it’s not going to last. After the furniture is removed, the flooring is covered, and everything is masked off, there is still work to be done.

If you want the sharpest and cleanest looking paint job, switch plates need to be removed, overhead light fixtures loosened, so that a roller can fit underneath. Drywall holes have to be mudded, taped, textured, and sanded. Lastly, all surfaces should be washed with soap and water; including baseboards, windows, molding.

Also, prime! John says, “Priming your surface with a good primer gives your paint good adhesion to the surface your painting.” Priming with KILZ&#174 or another primer will increase the lifetime and enhance the look of the topcoat tenfold.

3) Have a method to your madness:
Even after everything is prepped and the paint is ready, there are ways to go about painting (interior in particular) that will make your life easier.

First, paint the ceiling! Getting the hardest part out of the way first will benefit you in the long run.

Next, paint trim and molding; it makes painting the bulk easier, and less likely you will leave blank spots.

Also, if you are using a roller, try painting a large “M” on the wall and follow by filling the blank spaces- this will cover the most area in an efficient manner and create a uniform coat.

4) Exterior:
Decidedly the more involved of the two surfaces to paint; with exterior you can’t forget to account for additional costs including caulking, putty knives, extension ladder, and perhaps a power spray gun (trust me, you will spend about a tenth the time painting as you would with a roller).

Also, additional preparation may be required with exterior painting including scraping old and cracked paint or moss, and additional priming. Painting on a hot dry summer day is also key- it will reduce the possibility of moisture getting behind your paint job resulting in cracking or bubbling.

5) It’s not over after the painting is finished:
Improper cleanup can be dangerous, costly, and make things difficult next time you go to paint. Make sure paint is disposed of correctly (check state or county environmental codes), and brushes and rollers are washed out enough-run water through them until the runoff shows no sign of color.

For exterior painting, make sure that you flush your power sprayer with water otherwise it will be ruined and you will be out $500 to $700. Lastly, make sure to close paint cans tightly and store in a mild environment (not extremely hot or cold).

Painting your home can be an undertaking, if you do it yourself. I prefer to hire a painting contractor, like Schearer Painting. If your paint job is done correctly, the end product will be well worth it! You can find out more about Schearer Painting at their website. John has also posted a Q & A with Shearer Painting for more painting info.

Home Matters can be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM on Sundays at 8 a.m. Available anytime ON DEMAND at MyNorthwest.com.