Few things are more frustrating than investing time, money, and sweat in your home’s exterior paint, and then watching your work begin to chip, peel, and flake just a few years later. Or maybe even sooner…
The truth is, applying paint my seem fairly easy, but applying it well is a whole different scenario. Professional painters have the experience, product knowledge, tools, and familiarity with surfaces and conditions that are all necessary for the best results possible. That’s just one of the many reasons why we encourage homeowners in NY, CT, and elsewhere to contact a reputable local painter to meet their needs. You’ll never regret it.
With that said, let’s take a look at a few common issues that will drastically shorten your paint’s lifespan.
Why Is Your Exterior Paint Failing?
- Rushing the Process – It’s easy to do. The chances are good that there are things you’d rather be doing with your evenings and weekends than standing on a ladder, making it tempting to push the process along as fast as possible. Skipping extra coats, painting before the first coat is completely dry, cutting corners… These all spell disaster.
- Improper or Skipped Surface Prep – Believe it or not, what you do before you open a can of paint determines 80% of your project’s success. Repairs, sanding, cleaning, priming, and patching are all essential parts of the process in most cases.
- Skimping On Paint Quality – Saving a few bucks on bargain paint seems like a good idea at first, but it’s really not. High-quality products are worth the investment, lasting longer, retaining their color, and providing more durability.
- Painting in Poor Conditions – You’d probably never paint in the rain, but did you know that squeezing coats in between rain storms can be just as dangerous? The surface must be thoroughly dry for the paint to apply as it should. And, did you know that painting in hot, direct sunlight will negatively impact your paint? By stunting the curing process (the heat causes the paint to dry too quickly) you’ll compromise its bond with the surface.
- Mixing Paints – Especially if you have an older property, there is a good chance that oil-based paint was used (or possibly even lead!). It’s important to know what kind was used before so that you can treat the surface properly before applying the new.
Talk To Your Local Exterior House Painter
As we mentioned above, talking to a real pro can save you from a host of unnecessary expenses, headaches, and frustrations. If you live in Westchester or Fairfield counties, we hope you’ll contact us at A.G. Williams Painting Company. It would be our pleasure to serve you and answer any questions you might have!