I have been a painter and decorator for over 20 years. Over the years I have painted the interiors and exteriors of many people’s homes.
My own particular favourite has always been painting the exterior of my clients properties. For myself there has never been anything more satisfying that seeing a property change from being tired, drab and generally in poor condition. So, when you give the exterior of a property two coats of paint either for the first time or re-painting the property, it is particularly satisfying when it’s finished to stand back and say to myself, “Yes, that has given the property a massive lift and it looks fantastic as well as protecting the walls for years to come.”
When you decide it’s time to paint the exterior walls of your property, it is very important that you find a painter and decorator that is an expert in exterior painting so that the painting is done correctly and it will last for years. After all it’s quite a big investment and you do not want to be painting the exterior walls in just a couple of years. A professional painter and decorator will either be able to point you in the direction of their previous work or will have images and testimonials of their work.
There are a number of questions you should ask the painter and decorator who will be quoting for the job.
1. What preparation will you be doing?
It’s important to find out if they are going to pressure wash the walls. If the walls have never been painted then the walls are sealed using a sealant solution.
2. How many coats of paint will you be doing?
Make sure two coats of paint are used to give maximum protection and it gives a depth of colour.
3. What brand of paint will you be using?
Always make sure a quality brand of paint is used as it can make all the difference. Emperor Paint offer one of the most advanced masonry paints available in the UK with their waterproof masonry paint.
4. How long will the job approximately take?
Depending on the size of the property, for example a 3 bedroom semi detached house would take about 4-5 days from beginning to end.
It’s very important to get as much information as possible so you know the job is being done properly.
You may decide to tackle the job of painting the exterior walls yourself and there is nothing wrong with tackling this type of job as long as you are capable and get all your preparation done properly. This is so important so the finished paint job is perfect.
There are many brands of masonry paint that offer all sorts of guarantees. The brand of masonry paint that I believe offers everything is Emperor Paint, with their masonry paint. As I have already mentioned, it is waterproof as it creates a super hydrophobic surface on exterior walls which completely repels water. Crucially, it is highly breathable, which allows any moisture within the external wall to escape, preventing a build up of moisture that can cause damage to brickwork and damp problems. Most standard masonry paints are not breathable, which is why they begin to peel or blister after a few years. In contrast, Emperor Masonry Paint has been scientifically proven to withstand weathering in excess of 25 years, while it also reduces problems associated with penetrating damp. The water repellency of Emperor’s waterproof masonry paint also makes it self-cleaning, as any dirt is simply washed away with any rainfall, plus by keeping exterior walls dry, it has been proven to keep walls up to 6°C warmer. Due to this, the masonry paint as been verified by the Energy Saving Trust. This is a quality waterproof masonry paint , which is why it comes with a lifetime guarantee, ensuring its performance for decades to come.
Deciding on a colour for the exterior walls for your home can sometimes be a long process. After all the colour you choose is something that will be there a long time so you have to make sure you like the colour.
When it comes to choosing a colour, many people will choose one of the standard colours that are available, such as cream, white or grey. Alternatively, why not be a bit different to the rest of the street you live on and pick a unique shade so your home stands out from your neighbours. One such company that can mix your Emperor waterproof masonry paint in different colour shades is Painters World, thanks to their paint mixing machines. They have a large selection of light and pastel shades upon request so you can get the perfect colour for the exterior walls of your home. This includes equivalents of other paint manufacturer’s colours, including designer shades.
Whether you employ a professional painter and decorator or you decide to paint the exterior walls of your property yourself, I cannot emphasis enough how important preparation is before you start painting and always apply two coats of paint so firstly it gives the best protection for your exterior house walls and secondly give you the perfect finish that will last a lifetime.
I hope this helps if you are planning to paint the outside of your home. Good luck!
