If you stop by our blog regularly, you've probably noticed I've been AWOL - and with good reason. This summer's incredibly nice weather has meant I've been working overtime getting those exterior painting projects done that got postponed last fall. But I thought I'd stop by and leave some thoughts for those of you who are contemplating painting your own house before the rainy season starts.
Many homeowners think that painting can't be all that hard. I know it's true, because I've done lots of jobs over the years that were finishing up what people started and then realized they were in over their heads. But even if you're an experienced DIY'er and are handy with a paint brush, painting your home's exterior is something you may want to leave to a professional painting contractor (like North Pine Painting), for a number of reasons:
If you're trying to save money, chances are a painting contractor will pay much less for the paint than you will. Painters usually get substantial discounts from paint stores like Sherwin Williams based on the volume they buy. While you're totaling up your savings, you may want to figure in your own hourly rate - what are your labor costs? Yes, you're not paying yourself, but if you're painting your house rather than working for pay, it's costing you.
Choosing the appropriate paint for your home, the type of siding you have, and the local weather isn't as easy as you might think. You have to select a paint that will work well over the existing (or prime it), as well as one that will cover well. A painting contractor has the experience to select a paint that will cover well and hold up without needing multiple coats. That bargain closeout paint you bought may take you two or three coats, while the more expensive paint I'd select only takes one.
Have you planned out all the prep steps? There's the power washing ($$$ to rent one if you don't own one), plus scraping, sanding, and spot priming any loose paint. If you don't take the proper steps (or even know what your house needs), the paint you put on will most likely peel, flake, chip, and/or bubble. Then you'll need to hire a painter to remove that and re-do it.
Do you know all the factors in Bellingham's weather than can cause your paint job to be a flop? Moisture and hot sun are two things that can wreak havoc on a new paint job. A professional painting company knows how to deal with these issues.
And last of all there's the stress element, plus the inherent safety issues of working outside on a ladder.
Tell you what - if you're thinking about painting your home yourself, why not get an estimate from us just to find out what it will cost. We offer no-cost estimates, so you're not out anything but a little time.
By the way, if you want to get that paint job in this year, we've only got about another 6 weeks before the weather will make it somewhat dicey - so give us a call today.
Many homeowners think that painting can't be all that hard. I know it's true, because I've done lots of jobs over the years that were finishing up what people started and then realized they were in over their heads. But even if you're an experienced DIY'er and are handy with a paint brush, painting your home's exterior is something you may want to leave to a professional painting contractor (like North Pine Painting), for a number of reasons:
If you're trying to save money, chances are a painting contractor will pay much less for the paint than you will. Painters usually get substantial discounts from paint stores like Sherwin Williams based on the volume they buy. While you're totaling up your savings, you may want to figure in your own hourly rate - what are your labor costs? Yes, you're not paying yourself, but if you're painting your house rather than working for pay, it's costing you.
Choosing the appropriate paint for your home, the type of siding you have, and the local weather isn't as easy as you might think. You have to select a paint that will work well over the existing (or prime it), as well as one that will cover well. A painting contractor has the experience to select a paint that will cover well and hold up without needing multiple coats. That bargain closeout paint you bought may take you two or three coats, while the more expensive paint I'd select only takes one.
Have you planned out all the prep steps? There's the power washing ($$$ to rent one if you don't own one), plus scraping, sanding, and spot priming any loose paint. If you don't take the proper steps (or even know what your house needs), the paint you put on will most likely peel, flake, chip, and/or bubble. Then you'll need to hire a painter to remove that and re-do it.
Do you know all the factors in Bellingham's weather than can cause your paint job to be a flop? Moisture and hot sun are two things that can wreak havoc on a new paint job. A professional painting company knows how to deal with these issues.
And last of all there's the stress element, plus the inherent safety issues of working outside on a ladder.
Tell you what - if you're thinking about painting your home yourself, why not get an estimate from us just to find out what it will cost. We offer no-cost estimates, so you're not out anything but a little time.
By the way, if you want to get that paint job in this year, we've only got about another 6 weeks before the weather will make it somewhat dicey - so give us a call today.
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