Painters Cape Town Southern Suburbs – Exterior Painting Tips
If you’re looking for a dependable and trustworthy Painting Company in Cape Town, Cape Painters is the painting contractor of choice. Our Top Notch Painting Finishes will dramatically improve the appearance of your property.
Contact us on 087 550 2666 for more information or a free quotation.
Painters Cape Town Southern Suburbs – Exterior Painting Tips
Tips and Considerations Exterior Painting
We all know that ultraviolet sun rays damage your exterior paint. The weather and environment are unpredictable factors. The sun, moisture and temperature fluctuations all affect the state of your exterior paint. On the exterior of your home, a good paint job means elegance and beauty, but it also does much more, paint forms a barrier against the elements that attack the integrity of your house.
Consider Mother NaturePlan ahead when painting. The time of year is key, so understand your local weather patterns. Select a dry time of year when there is little rain and lower humidity. Paint needs time to cure and will not adhere to damp surfaces.
Inspect the Exterior for Water Damage
If the exterior painting job is done right, not only can the look of a home be improved, but the home will also be protected from further weather damage and it will prolong the life of the exterior.
Protection during Preparation
One thing you can do to avoid damaging your plants is planning a route that goes around them. If you have any shrubs or plants in pots, pull them away from the work area. Also, consider using drop sheets to cover paving and plants. If you intend to hire a contractor, let him know that all the plants and trees are important to you.
Painters Cape Town Southern Suburbs – Exterior Painting Tips – Clean the Surface of the Exterior
Paint won’t adhere very well to dirty or rough surfaces, so be sure to clean the walls thoroughly and allow to dry. Just as with interior painting projects, the first step in preparing an exterior for new paint is to make sure the surface is clean. For most homes, a high pressure washer is the perfect tool for this. Use a power washer to clean dirt and loose paint.
Scrape off Loose Paint
Once walls are dry, remove loose, flaking paint.
Fill and Repair
After washing, scraping, and sanding, step back and inspect what you’ve uncovered, from holes, dings, and chips.
Caulk All Joints
Top-of-the line polyurethane acrylic caulks give paint jobs a smooth, pleasing look. The benefits aren’t purely aesthetic as tight joints also prevent air leaks and block water penetration.
Use a Primer Coat
Primer provides an even base for topcoats to adhere to, and a uniform canvas from which to survey your work. Small gaps in joints and around doors, windows, and other spots where horizontals meet verticals will all stand out in high relief, showing where you need to fill in with caulk. The rule of thumb has always been to apply a good coat of primer, sand, then apply your color coats.
Paint From Top to Bottom
Starting at the top and working your way down while painting helps control streaks, as you will be working with gravity rather than against it. Drips are inevitable, but this method will allow you to feather out mishaps in the direction you are working.
Quality Over Price
Better quality paint means you will paint fewer times over the years, and you’ll get better coverage when you do paint. Paint technology has improved dramatically in the past few years, with colours guaranteed to last longer than ever before. You may be tempted to skimp on paint to save money up front with a cheaper brand, but you’re bound to have trouble and eventually pay more in the long run.
Combine Cans of Paint
Mixing multiple cans of the same colour of paint into a larger container, such as a 20 liter bucket, will help ensure a uniform colour is applied to your home’s exterior. This step, called boxing the paint, is a method the professionals follow. This step is important if, for example, you initially bought a less paint than needed and then picked up the extra 5 liter of paint at a later time.
Apply Top Coats
Less is more when it comes to applying top coats. More layers can result in paint flaking off through the years. Less paint bonds better to layers beneath.
If you’re going from a white house to a slightly darker shade, you might be able to get by with one coat. Going from a light to a dark house, and vice versa, usually requires two top coats.
Practice Good Maintenance
You can extend the life of a good paint job by:
- Inspecting the caulk every year and replacing any that’s cracked or missing.
- Removing mold or mildew.
- Washing stains from nesting birds and pollen.
- Touching up blisters and peels before they spread. From choosing the right paint to prepping your home’s exterior, we’ve got the best tips to make exterior painting a breeze. With an excellent team of experienced field managers and foremen, Cape Painters is ready to take on your painting project.
Painters Cape Town Southern Suburbs – Exterior Painting Tips – Service Areas
- We serve the greater metro Cape Town area including;
- Cape Town, Sea Point, Camps Bay
- Southern Suburbs
- Table View, Melkbosstrand
- Northern Suburbs
- Stellenbosch, Boland, Helderberg area
- Coastal towns in the Overberg area
- Many other surrounding areas.
The professional exterior painters at Cape Painters use only the best paints and techniques, and pay careful attention to every detail. We fully prepare and repair each surface to ensure a uniform finish and proper paint adhesion, and we are painstaking in our protection of your non-painted surfaces. Our superior techniques provide beautiful, lasting results that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Contact us on 087 250 2666 for more information or a free quotation.
Topic: Painters Cape Town Southern Suburbs – Exterior Painting Tips