Painting your home’s exterior can increase its value and curb appeal, but it’s not something you can decide to tackle at the last minute. Proper planning is key to a successful paint job and will keep your home’s exterior looking great for many years to come. The team at 21st Century Paints can help you create a winning project plan using premium quality Benjamin Moore paint product.

Benjamin Moore’s line of exterior paint is made to withstand the elements once applied and dry, but the application must occur during pleasant weather. Since painting the entire outside of a house generally takes a few days, you’ll want to plan by checking the extended forecast for a string of mild days. Paint needs ideal conditions for proper adhesion and drying time. How do you know if the weather is right? If you can spend a few hours outside comfortably, it’s ideal painting weather. High humidity will make your paint dry too slow, and wind will make it dry too fast. Extreme temperatures at either end of the spectrum will keep your color from adhering the way it should.

Your home is covered in dust, dirt, and pollen even if you can’t see it. We recommend giving your home a good power wash or hosing, then letting it dry completely before painting it. Most hardware stores offer rental pressure washers. Pick one up and send the surface debris packing. Once your house is squeaky clean, let it dry for 24 hours before you move on. We mean it when we say this can’t be a last-minute decision. You should always paint on a clean, dry surface to prevent poor adhesion, uneven texture, or peeling and cracking.

Homes are built to last, but no material is entirely immune to the elements. Of course, there are plenty of temporary fixes for most exterior issues, but you’ll be painting over a bandage. When that bandage falls off, you must repeat the repair and paint process.

• Replacing any rotten siding is a critical step. Any planks that are cracked or have a spongy texture should be replaced.
• Caulk any minor cracks and imperfections to ensure you have a smooth surface to work with.
• Your paint needs something to stick to, so if the surface is too smooth, you must rough it up with sandpaper. Yes, we know we just mentioned needing a smooth surface, but remember, paint is picky. Save yourself some time by pouring water on areas you aren’t sure need sanding. If the water beads up, the spot needs some sanding.

Our friendly paint specialists are always able to help you figure this out, but we have some tips if you’re going to go it on your own. Grab your calculator and a metal tape measure and get started. Multiply your home’s perimeter by its height to get your square footage. If your home has gables, measure those separately by multiplying their width by height and dividing the total by two. Add your initial total and gable total for your total square footage. Divide that total by the square foot coverage on the paint can label, and you’ll have the number of gallons you need – than add another couple gallons to cover for mistakes and for touch-ups later. Regal® Select Exterior High Build Paint is a hardy, 100% acrylic formula that provides outstanding coverage in fewer coats.

When painting your home’s exterior, it’s better to be the tortoise than the hare. A slow and steady pace will ensure you make fewer mistakes and help prevent you from feeling worn out too quickly. The paint will be dry to the touch within a couple of hours, but you want to wait several hours before adding a second coat. This is a great time to work on another area of your house, so you don’t get impatient and recoat too soon.

Are you ready for your home to steal the spotlight on your street? Our team’s knowledge of paint is unrivaled in this area, and we’re happy to pass what we know on to you. Contact us today to get started on your exterior painting project. We are located in Holland, OH, and are pleased to serve the areas of Holland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Findlay, Sandusky, OH & Monroe, MI.