Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Pro Tips for Painting House Exteriors



A fresh paint job on the outer walls of your house helps to increase the curb appeal of the entire structure. It also helps in keeping up the market value of your properties. For getting pro-tips on painting house exteriors, keep reading

As you start noticing cracks, blisters and peeling over exterior home surfaces, it’s time to get them repainted. Ignoring such repair problems will lead to a much more extensive and expansive job. Whether you are planning to hire a pro from Chicago painting services or thinking of undertaking a DIY project, you’ll find the below described 5 exterior painting tips beneficial for the job.


Discover Variety 

Explore all the painting related product options available in the market. There are two basic types of exterior paint: water-based latex and oil-based alkyd.
  • Latex based Products:
The best quality latex paint contains 100% acrylic resins, allowing it to remain longer on your walls. It’s easy to clean (with soap and water) and less likely to develop cracks. 
  • Alkyd Paints:
It requires paint thinner for cleanup as opposed to water and soap solution. It’s durable, stain-resistant, but takes more time to completely dry.

Note down the additional details given over product label apart from consulting a vendor.


Preparing the Surface
A stiff brush is an effective tool to clean the house’s exteriors of all dirt, grime and chalky residue.
A paintbrush is considered to be the fastest way for applying exterior paint. Use small-diameter roller to paint long surfaces and brush to paint onto small edges and narrow surfaces.


Start with the Shady sides
Don’t apply a painting coat in direct sunlight as it makes the surface dry too quickly and finally, painting material doesn’t adhere well. Chicago painting contractors always begin painting the shady sides first and plan well in advance.

Ladder Safety
While starting a paint job from the top of a house, don’t forget the basics of ladder safety. These include wearing shoes with tight grip soles, holding the ladder at least with one hand all the time, face the ladder when going up or down, etc. 
     
 

Exterior Painting in Summers: How to Do it Right?



Short drizzles once in a while can cause a temporary delay in house painting projects, but with Chicago painting services you need not to worry about such issues. Ongoing painting projects in Chicago during the summertime offer sufficient time to finish the work before fall comes in.  So, what you are waiting for?

Sunny days are a basic requirement for any painting job, especially if we talk about exterior painting. Summers are here now, and before the rains come pouring down, grab the opportunity and get your homes painted now. 



A quality paint and caulking forms the first line of defence against heat, rain and snow. The dry temperature of Chicago during summers is arid and hence very suitable for exterior painting.
Given below are other exterior painting basics that you might find helpful this summer season.

Hire Only a Pro-Painter Or A Reputed Paint Contractor
Go for hiring a right painting contractor in Chicago who has the expert knowledge in this domain. It will be a great idea to hire a pro for painting the complicated corners with angles and crevices and a variety of edges. Additional tips from a service contractor will make the whole process more convenient and strike the right match of colors.
Take advice before finalizing any recommendations. You can get in touch with a painting service contractor to seek any advice.




Pressure Wash the Surface Before Painting
Practice caution while having a systematic clean-up with a pressure washer. A scraper can be used to remove dirt from the surface.





Get Proper Range Of Paint Brushes and Rollers
Try all sort of painting tools like different paint brushes, variety of rollers and even an airless spray machine for your exterior painting job.

Dispose Leftover Paint Material Carefully
Lastly, dispose the remaining painting material as per country norms and enjoy the summers in Chicago with your new home exteriors!


 

Hiring a Painting Contractor: More Complicated than you Thought



Time is a valuable resource treated at par with capital. Save both time and money by hiring a professional painter for your painting projects this summer. The process might look simpler with so many options of hiring painting contractor in Chicago, but this is precisely why it is difficult.


A painting job is highly labour-intensive and rigid, which puts home owners under stress during any painting projects. Being able to hire the right painting service professional here in Chicago can be quiet relieving. But finding the right painting services requires careful consideration on your end.


Use below given tips to hire a quality painter nearby Chicago city and end up making a well informed decision: 

Get Around and Ask People for Recommendations
The best way to find a quality painting contractor is to use your contacts or ask people in your circle. Get referrals from friends, family members and colleagues who have had good experience with painting contractors in your city suburbs.

Contact At least three Contractors
Try to get service estimates for your painting job from at least three contractors operating in the region. Check for price variation, service time, work warranty and project experience of each.

Interview them personally and One by One
Always ask following questions before hiring a contractor:
  • Do you have a service license? 
  • What are the practices you follow for completing a job on schedule?
  • Do you have insurance against worker’s injury?
  • Do you offer written agreements over work warranty?
  • What qualities separate you from your superiors in the field?

Cross-Check References
 Speak to past customers of a contractor and be sure to meet them directly. Visiting them personally or at least talking to them over phone helps to correctly evaluate a painter’s promise about work quality. Pay close attention to contractor’s behavior and review the contract once you’ve settled on it.