You could buy the highest quality of paint in the market with the best lifetime-warranty and apply 3 coats, but if the surface is not well prepared, the stage is already set for an inferior paint job. The amount of effort you put towards surface preparation before exterior painting will determine how long the paint lasts.

A majority of paint failures result from inadequate surface preparation. Some people skimp on prep work because, understandably, it’s hard, and time consuming. Other do so because either they don’t understand how important it is, or how to do it. In this article, we will go through some of the main steps of surface prep before exterior painting to help you understand the processes and their importance.
So here we go;

1. Cleaning

Your siding collects fine dirt and debris over time. If you paint over this contaminants, the paint will be sticking to the dirt particles and not to the surface of the siding. This causes the paint to peel off the surface sooner than you can expect. To tell if the surface was not well prepared, experts look at the back of the peeling paint chip –if it has dirt and contaminants, it means the surface was not well cleaned.

So clean the surface thoroughly either by hand scrubbing or using a pressure washer. You will find pressure washing to be more convenient, faster and effective in dislodging dirt and grim from difficult areas such as surface cracks and crevices. If you’ve already scheduled painting, be sure to pressure wash 2-3 days in advance to allow for sufficient drying time.

2. Scrapping 

Most homeowners decide to repaint their house after seeing signs of paint peeling and flaking. If this is your case as well, you need to scrape off all the loose paint from your siding until all that is left are areas of bare surfaces and well-adhered paint. Leaving any flaking or peeling edges will definitely lead to failure of your paint job.

You can choose from different types of scrappers from your local home improvement store. Most people prefer long-handled pull scrapers because they work faster and have replaceable blades for when they because dull. Try not to be too aggressive with it otherwise it can gouge into the siding and leave undesirable dings.

3. Repair Damages

Cleaning and scrapping your siding also provides a good opportunity to inspect your siding for damages. If your siding has any damaged or rotted sections, this is the best time to have them repaired. Replace rotted or missing sections and treat any sections that have mold and mildew with a water/household bleach mixture at a ratio of 3:1. If there’re any protruding nail heads, set them just slightly below the surface using a hummer.

4. Sanding

Sanding is the next important step that will help you achieve a smooth surface. Sand down any rough exposed wood as well as feather-sanding the edge of the remaining paint that’s still on the siding. Doing so reduces the appearance of the transition from the existing coating to bare surface when you finally paint over everything.

While sanding manually using a sandpaper is an option, this is going to take ages and it’s quite laborious. Consider buying or renting an electric sander, preferably a random orbital sander. Start with a medium grit if your surface rough, or go straight to the fine grit if your surface is fairly even.

5. Priming

If you’re in a hurry to change the color of your exterior, you might be tempted to head straight to applying the paint without priming. Skipping the primer during exterior painting is only justifiable in very few cases, but you almost always have to prime before applying the paint. Priming creates a suitable surface for the paint to adhere to. It also blocks the previous paint and any other stubborn stains from bleeding through the new coat of paint.

Make sure to use a good quality primer that’s suitable to being used on the surface you’re applying it to. If you’re transitioning from a dark to a lighter paint color, consider tinting your primer with a bit of the paint that you’re going to apply. You might also want to replace caulking that has been damaged before finally painting.

Final thoughts

Once the above steps are completed, your exterior is ready for painting. The color and choice of the paint are entirely up to your preference, but we always recommend using high quality paint products for the best results.

If you’re located in Eugene, Oregon and would like some professional assistance with your exterior painting project please give us call on 541-600-2025 or send us an email at sales@sirpaints.com and we would be more than happy to help.

Painting your home’s exterior is probably one of the largest and most complicated projects you can take on as a homeowner. Doing it all by yourself is nearly impossible, yet it still has to be accomplished to restore the glory of your home, or maybe prepare it for sale.

By all means, hiring an experienced exterior painting contractor is the best way to have your exterior repaint job executed faster, safely and professionally. And perhaps the second biggest challenge is finding a reliable, and experienced painting contractor in Eugene, Oregon.

While there’re dozens of painting contractors out there, finding a contractor that offers value for money by producing long-lasting and stunning results can be quite a gamble. This article seeks to take the guesswork out of way by sharing the 5 most important things you should consider when hiring a painting contractor.

Here you go;

Ask Around for Referrals

Your first task would be to actually find a number of painting contractors and vet them against your painting needs. One of the best ways to get referrals is by asking your friends, family, neighbors or colleagues. The best thing about referrals from your inner circle is that you can actually visit the painted house and asses the quality of the painter.

If you can’t get reliable referrals from within your inner circle, your next best option would be to head to search engines such as Google and other platforms such as Angie’s list for referrals. Next, narrow your searches to local painting contractors within Eugene, filter the available options using the next checkpoints.

What Services are Offered?

Not all painting contractors are made equal in terms of the services they offer. Different painters specialize in different painting areas. Some have specialized in commercial painting, others in residential painting, while some simply call themselves general painters/contractors.

Before you even find out what services your potential painter offers, identify and define your painting needs. If you have a multi-level home on a slope that needs exterior painting, for instance, you need a contractor that can handle this unique situation. So even if you find an exterior painter specializing in residential houses, go further and ask if they can handle hard-t-reach areas such as the eaves of a multi-level home on a slope.

Licenses and Insurance

Any reputable painting contractor that handles people’s properties worth thousands should have the appropriate paperwork in place. For starters, your potential painter should be licensed to operate in Oregon State and should have no problem displaying a copy of their license.

Additionally, always strive to work with painters that have insurance for both their business and employees. Insurance ensures that if anything goes wrong on your property during the painting project, the damages will be covered by the painter’s insurance policy. In addition, if any worker gets injured while on the job, you’re not liable for the resulting costs.

Painter’s Experience

You want to check if your preferred painter has the required experience to take on your project. While new painters, can do a pretty good job too, they don’t have much to paint you in terms of references. Ideally, you would want to see a few photos of their past projects and even talk to some of their previous clients. As earlier mentioned, your preferred painter needs to have considerable experience (2-5 years) in exterior painting.

Request and Compare Estimates

By now you should have about 3 painting contractors you’re considering hiring. Request estimates from each of them and make comparisons. Don’t fall in the trap of selecting the least costly option for your exterior painting job.

Most homeowners tend to choose the cheapest option from hiring a painter to selecting paint and materials. They generally think that selecting the cheapest option is the best way to go about things. The best price in most cases is not always the lowest one. Instead, you should look to get value for your money. You should consider hiring the contractor that offers the best value.

Conclusion

Choosing a painting contractor is more or less like choosing a tailor, you get what you pay for. If you take some time and do proper research, your efforts will show in the pristine final results that you will get.

Having trouble painting the high gable end of your home in Eugene, Oregon? The high gable end of your home can be a tricky place to access when you want to paint or carry out general maintenance. Unfortunately, this very difficult to access the high end of the house always needs re-painting even if the rest of the house is looking ok. But why?

A high gable end of a house is often found on a split-level house or a 2-3 story house. Many times, it’s a wall that is forgotten about, especially if it is not in view, or maybe down a side alleyway. Most exterior gable end wall surfaces are often at the receiving end of harsh weather elements such as wind-driven rain and extended sunlight exposure.

With that in mind, it’s not difficult to understand why your gable end and high peaks of your split level or multi-story home will require more frequent paint jobs than the rest of your home. Painting your own home may not only save you some money on labor, but it’s also satisfying to stand back at the end of each day and see what you’ve accomplished

However, exterior painting almost always requires the use of ladders, and if your house has a gable end, this task can be quite daunting. To make your paint job successful and safe, here are some tips and guidelines you should consider following.

Using a Ladder

In nearly all the cases, you will require an extension ladder to access a high gable. Consider buying or renting (or borrowing) a painters’ extension ladder that is long enough to reach the highest point of your gable. Trying to use a shorter ladder will have you stretching to reach the areas to be painted, and that can be risky.

Check to see that the ladder you plan to use is in a perfect working condition with no bent side rails and rungs, and the locking mechanism is intact. Position your ladder about one-quarter of the extended length away from the wall, on level ground.

If your house is located on sloping or uneven ground, you might want to rent or buy ladder levelers. Different types of levelers work differently, some attach to the ladder rails so you can adjust the feet to compensate for uneven ground, and others provide a secure level platform that you can place your ladder on.

When setting up your ladder, always make sure that the ladder is within a comfortable reach. Set it up at a height that is just below the area you need to paint. Your body should always be centered on the ladder while still being able to effectively work on the areas that you want to scrap and paint. To maintain your balance, always keep one hand on the ladder and work using the other hand. You may also want to get a paint can hook and secure your paint can at a convenient spot on the ladder when painting.

Brush and Sprayer Extenders

Sometimes you may not get just the height of a ladder that will reach your gable, other times the tricky configuring and location of your gable, such as above the garage, may make it difficult to fully utilize your ladder. In this case, an extension tool can be a great helping hand, literally.

You can purchase a brush extender, which allows you to clip the brush securely to the end of an extension pole. For spraying, use a spray tip extender. This is a lightweight metal tube that attaches to the spray gun. So you essentially need to screw the spray rip at the end of the extender and you will be able to reach high areas.

Gables on Split-Level Homes

Accessing gables on split-level homes can be particularly tricky, especially if your house is on a slope. If you can get away with accessing the gable on your split-level home by walking on the roof –that’s ok. But just be sure to do so in the morning before the roof becomes hot. Some gables can also be accessed via the window, which saves you the hassle of setting up a ladder. Be sure to place some drop cloths or a painters’ canvas on the roof to protect it from paint drips and spills.

Bottom Line

High exterior gables are some of the hardest to access areas that make DIY painting a nightmare. While the above tips might help make the process a little easier and safer, it’s probably still a good idea to hire a painting contractor for such delicate projects.

Choosing paint colors for your home’s exterior can be quite challenging. If you pick bland colors your house may look featureless and flat… However, if you pick paint colors that are too bold the architecture of your house might be overwhelmed –and may upset your neighbors in the process.

Choosing the right color combination for your home’s exterior can transform your home unbelievably. The best paint colors will highlight the most beautiful features of your home. Skillful use of color can even disguise design flaws, boosting the curb appeal and market value of your home.

Here are some tips to help you pick complimenting color combinations:

1. Keep It Simple

Sometimes the best approach is to keep your choices simple but thoughtful. You can do this by focusing on two or three colors for those two or three important exterior elements. So you essentially need to pick the main color for the body of your house, a color for the trim –windows, overhangs, and fascia – and an accent color for the shutters or doors.

If you have a single story home, two colors will be probably enough. However, if you have a split level or two-story home, you might want three colors. Just be sure to enhance the good features and use the more reserved neutrals on less interesting features such as the gutters.

2. Consider the Trends

Exterior paint colors are generally getting lighter –with many homeowners going for light to medium hues. When you go for your color consultation at your local paint store, keep in mind that color samples will always look darker in the room than they will outside –especially for the pinks and yellows. If possible, paint a small portion at the back of your house and see how you feel about it over time. Ask your neighbors and friends for input.

3. Keep Your Neighbors in Mind

While we encourage you to pick unique and personal colors, we also suggest you choose colors that don’t clash with your neighbors… Take a look around your neighborhood – Does your house architecturally look like the house next door? Are you in the suburban location where your neighbors are mostly trees? Pick colors that coordinate with your surrounding –without necessarily copying.

4.  Find Inspiration in Your Living Room

Sometimes you can find great inspiration from colors used inside your living room. Generally, exterior colors should harmonize with the interior. While it might seem unrealistic and even comical to paint your entire home based on your pillowcase patterns, this can be a good approach when nicely used. Use the color of your interior décor and furnishing as a guide for selecting your interior paint colors –and your interior paint colors will in turn influence the colors you use on your exterior. The bottom line is to harmonize inside-out.

5. Don’t Forget the Roof

Some homeowners tend to forget the roof when choosing their exterior siding colors. Your roof, which could be asphalt, shingle, metal, terracotta, slate, or clay, comes with its own color. Your exterior siding paint color doesn’t need to match the roof, but it should harmonize. When choosing exterior paint, start with what’s there already. It’s much harder to replace your roof than your siding paint.

Consider the following possibilities…

•    To make your home more dynamic, choose opposite colors on the color wheel, but tone down on the brighter and bold colors.

•    Blue can be a quite daring color choice for the exterior, but when light shades of blue are used alongside a white trim and greenery nearby, they create a nice clean look.

•    If you have a Victorian home, you can accentuate those wonderful details by use of varied colors and sharp contrasts to show off those features. You can get more color ideas on this one from historic color charts.

•    If cost is an issue, you can use a single color for walls and anything on them like vents, and then put detailed colors on trim and the ends of eaves.

•    If you don’t want the garage door to stand out, you can paint it the same or slightly darker/lighter than the main exterior color.

Using the above tips combined with your individuality and style can help you create a charming and lovely home exterior. If you need help painting the exterior of your home in Eugene, Oregon, we would be more than happy to help. Call us today for a free estimate!

When it comes to painting the exterior of a multi-level or multi-story home with tall walls and lots of hard to reach areas in Eugene, Oregon, you’re better off hiring a professional painting company for your safety.

While DIY painting is an option, painting the entire exterior of your own home is not an easy task… You may make mistakes that can leave the exterior looking slightly unattractive, with chances of peeling, bubbling or fading happening sooner rather than later.

Here are 5 reasons to hire a professional to paint your home in Eugene, Oregon:

1. Safety

If your house is multilevel or has more than one story, it can be extremely difficult to paint its exterior. You’ll need to paint some difficult to access areas such as high-end gables or eaves. If you are using ladders, you have to get down and move the ladder every time you want to move sideways. This is very time-consuming and dangerous, and the risk is even higher if your multi-level home is located on a slope. Hiring a professional painter can help you stay safe!

2. Save Money and Time

Painting your residence might seem like a fanciful DIY project to undertake with friends over the weekend. However, keep in mind that you will be starting from scratch in terms of planning and execution. If you have the skills and tools required, DIY can save you some money on labor.

However, many times, homeowners don’t have the skills and experience required to pull off a perfect exterior paint job. You’re more likely to take more time and exceed your budget due to the fact that you have to buy or rent most of the required equipment. For professional painters, this is what they do for a living –and they have invested in the best quality tools, equipment, and training.

3. Quality Results

While anyone can paint, there is a lot more that goes into exterior painting than just changing the color on your wall. It’s more than just picking up the brush and the paint –the primary goal is to transform your home, add value, and prevent further damage on the exterior surface.

Whether or not you’re selling your house soon, you need to maintain its value in order to avoid costly repairs. Professionals are reliable and deliver the best results. They do thorough work and ensure the home is looking amazing and the paint job retains its beauty and protective properties for the longest time.

4. Structural Stability

Hiring a painting expert gives you an advantage of receiving a free exterior audit of some sort. Before painting begins, a professional painter will go around your house assessing the situation of your paintwork. During this assessment, they can easily spot decay or rot in your housing structure. Small weaknesses can significantly impact your home in the long term. They can also advise on the best way to fix the defect before painting can commence.

Water leakages and vapors can enter the walls through structural weaknesses and cause mold growth or rot. A professional painter can recommend a good craftsman to fix the structural defect. Following that with a good paint job can protect your exterior surface against water vapor damages.

5. Tools and Equipment

Painting experts have the best tools and equipment. Given that painting is what they do for a living, they have more likely invested heavily in acquiring high-quality equipment, materials, and tools to do the job right and quickly –from sprayer applicators and painters’ ladders to on-site paint mixers and power washing machines, in turn, allows pro painters to produce uniform coverage, texture, and tone for a long-lasting paint job.

If you’re considering repainting the exterior of your home, you now have enough reasons to hire a professional painter. Professional painting contractors bring to the table the training, skills, experience, reputation, and equipment that you can trust for high-quality and long-lasting results. Call us today or book now and we would be happy to provide you with a free estimate and a remarkable exterior paint job that offers true value for your investment!