Exterior House Colors – The Outside that Counts

Choosing  exterior house colors for your home and can be really in a really important decision not only for you, but also for your neighbors and your entire neighborhood.

If you ever driven down the street and seeing a bright pink house then you’ve probably wondered how many arguments have come because of this.  This puts it into perspective for you the effects of the house color the exterior house colors you choose for your home can have.  You also want to make sure that your choosing colors that go with the overall motif of your house not only on the outside but also on the inside.  If it comes time to sell your home and you choose something good is very taxing an outside the inside could be extravagant but no one will ever come inside and see.  The outside of the home is just as important as the inside of the home, which makes choosing the right tones vitally important.  Have you considered everything before making your purchase?  Things like HOA rules and also how the color of the House can affect things like temperature

and energy savings.

On his side we hope to give you different ideas to consider before selecting exterior house colors whether it be for repainting or painting a brand-new house.  If you take your time and do the research and you can make the right decision for you, your house, and your neighbors the first time by choosing the right exterior house colors.

Exterior House Colors Estimation of Costs

Painting a house with exterior house colors is a time consuming job that requires a good deal of effort and material. Because of this, the cost of painting an entire house can be expensive. Money can be saved if the home owner decides to perform all the work and acquire all of the materials on their own. However, an inexperienced painter may run into problems or use improper materials or techniques that may drive the cost of the project upwards.

Exterior House Colors Initial Costs

The first cost that must be taken into consideration is the cost of materials. This includes paint, rollers and brushes, thinning agents, and other tools such as ladders or scaffolding. The home owner must accurately measure the entirety of the house surface that is to be painted by measuring the height and width of each wall. While the measurements of unpainted surfaces on that wall such as windows and doors could be subtracted from the total, it is generally considered a good idea to leave them in to provide additional room for wastage and corrections. Once the total surface area of the house has been calculated, the home owner then calculates the amount of paint required by comparing the coverage estimates on the product against the measurements of their house.

Exterior house colors can range anywhere from $25 per gallon to over $40 per gallon. A gallon of paint when mixed properly can cover approximately 350 square feet. So for a home with 2000 square feet of surface approximately 6 cans of paint would be required. However, when wood surfaces are to be painted they also need to be covered with a coat of primer, meaning that approximately 6 cans of primer would also have to be purchased.

The cost of primer varies greatly depending on the quality and base material of the product. Primer can start as low as $20 per gallon and go as high as $35 per gallon. So for our 2000 square foot home the cost of paint would be in the neighborhood of $180 and the cost of primer would be about the same for a total of $360 just for the paint.

Exterior house colors can be applied by brushing, rolling, or spraying. Paint rollers are cheap but cannot be used on trims and highlight surfaces. Brushes are more expensive, and if the home owner intends to brush the entire house a good paint brush can run over $20.00 and more than one may be required to complete the job. Paint sprayers can be fairly inexpensive, but for a whole house painting job the owner should consider renting a professional model that runs off of an air compressor. Rental fees for such a device can range anywhere from $75 to $150 per day and a deposit is usually required.

Ladders are a final expense that should be taken into consideration. For single level homes, only a small step ladder is required and can be purchased for under $100. For larger homes that require telescoping ladders or standard ladders with a higher reach, the home owner can expect to pay upwards of $300.

Painting a house with exterior house colors requires a good deal of intensive labor. The cost of hiring a professional painter usually runs 3 to 4 times the cost of performing the work yourself. However, using a professional painter will ensure that the job is done properly and does not expose the home owner to any risk.

 

 

Working With Exterior House Colors

exterior house colorsPainting a house with exterior house colors requires careful planning and consideration. It is not enough to just buy a can of paint and then hope for the best. Improper use of the paint, the wrong type of paint, or poor preparation can result in the new color quickly fading, cracking, peeling, or allowing unwanted moisture penetration. Moisture that penetrates or settles on wood will quickly turn to mildew, which is both unsightly and harmful to breathe.

Types of Exterior House Colors

Exterior house colors are available with latex or oil bases. Latex bases are more flexible, meaning that if the painted surface expands and contracts with the weather, the paint is less likely to crack and peel. Oil based paints are more resistant to moisture, but are much higher in chemical content that can place harmful fumes into the air. Because of the additional chemicals used in both products to provide better resistance to the elements and moisture, neither form of exterior paint should be used indoors.

Prepping Exterior House Colors

Prior to applying exterior house colors to any surface, the surface should be properly prepared. This is done by carefully cleaning the surface, removing any existing dirt or paint, sanding the surface as smooth as possible, and filling any existing cracks or nail holes. There are many different products available to suit all of these jobs, but the most expensive ones are not necessarily better. First time painters should talk to someone at the hardware or home improvement stores about the best way to prepare the wood siding of their house before starting to paint.

Painting an entire house is a job that will require several hours of work and can produce dangerous situations. Home owners should make sure that they are using sturdy tools, especially any ladders, and to wear safety goggles and masks when sanding or nailing any surfaces. When climbing on ladders or scaffolding, it is advised that the painter not work alone in case of any accidents.

The exterior house colors may also need a bit of preparation before they can be applied. Some paints may need to be thinned, and this can be done with different thinning products. Latex based paints can usually be thinned out with water, but oil based paints require products designed specifically for the job. Mineral spirits and acetone are commonly used oil paint thinners that you may encounter. Other than water, paint thinners are known to produce vapors that may be harmful to the user, so it is advised to only work with paint thinners in a well ventilated area and to wear a breathing mask if necessary.

Finally, before applying any exterior house colors, the painter should make sure that they are prepared for the job with all the necessary tools. The painter should make sure they have the proper amount of paint, primer, enough roller brushes for the entire job, and sturdy ladders or scaffolding. In addition the painter should make sure that they have protective coverings for their clothing, landscaping, and any surfaces that might be exposed to dripping or splashed paint.