Exterior Paint Tips: Extend the Life of Your Atlanta Home

Now that you’ve invested in a new exterior paint job, how do you ensure it retains it’s beauty as long as possible?

Several factors come into play - proper preparation, quality of paint and its application, and upkeep.

The Importance of Paint Brand

We tend to think of paint merely as decoration. Yes, it’s a powerful way to make your house stand out, increase curb appeal, and reflect your family’s personality. But truth is, the primary purpose of paint is to protect your home’s siding from the damage caused by wind, rain, hail, snow, and UV-rays.

Your choice of an exterior paint color to express your aesthetic is actually a secondary, and delightful, benefit.

Demand your painting contractor use premium paint because skimping on paint quality does not pay off in the long run.

Preferred Paint Producers

The top exterior paint brands preferred by professional house painters are Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. These exterior paints are formulated to provide rich color, superior adhesion, mildew-resistance, and long-lasting protection.

Proper Surface Preparation

Just as you wouldn’t cook your favorite recipe in a dirty pan, you don’t want to apply a fresh coat of paint on exterior siding that’s dirty or damaged. Imagine trying to prepare a gourmet meal using utensils tainted with leftover grime. Yuck! The result would not be appetizing.

Likewise, if you paint over a surface that hasn’t been properly cleaned and prepared, no matter how pretty the paint color, your end result won’t be as long-lasting or attractive as you’d expected.

Kimberly Painting starts the job with a thorough pressure washing to remove debris, grime and mildew. Next, we scrape loose or peeling paint, and perform light carpentry repair. Final steps in preparation include sanding for a smooth finish and filling cracks with caulk to prevent moisture penetration.

Skillful Paint Application

Back to the kitchen analogy, when you’re cooking your family’s favorite dish, you use the correct cooking tools for the job, right? You don’t grate cheese with a whisk or spread butter with a blender.

Our professional painters are skilled craftsmen, equipped with top-of-the-line brushes, rollers, and ladders for the most efficient and effective exterior painting possible.

With their years of experience, our painters are true artisans who know how to paint every feature of your house, expertly and smoothly.

The Weather Patterns of Atlanta

Our communities of Atlanta fall into the subtropical range, characterized by hot, muggy summers and short, mild winters.

Mid-May to mid-September are the hottest days, and therefore, the least amenable for painting your home’s exterior.

Mid-October to mid-February tend to be the coldest days, and again, less favorable for outdoor painting.

The most rainy days are during the hottest time from May to September. And the occasional snow usually happens in January.

Rain, however, occurs year-round.

Working with the Weather

While we can’t control the weather, we can learn to work with it.

For instance, when you schedule a painting project with Kimberly Painting, we’ll check the forecast and plan your job on the days when the temperature is optimal, between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

In order to avoid adverse weather conditions, like high humidity, heavy rain or intense sunlight, the optimum times to paint home exteriors are spring and fall.

Maintaining Your Exterior Paint in Primo Condition

While there’s no way to control the Atlanta weather that comes into contact with your home’s exterior, there are some actions you can take to ensure your new paint job looks dazzling and remains protective for as long as possible, hopefully up to a decade.

Protect from the Elements

• Gutters: Remove leaves and clutter from your gutters to avoid debris damaging your painted surfaces.
• Overhangs: Roof overhangs help to protect the painted siding from direct exposure to moisture and UV-rays.
• Landscaping: Well-placed trees and shrubs can provide shade and a buffer, reducing the impact of harsh weather.

Regular Inspections and Maintenance

It’s recommended that you thoroughly examine the exterior of your house for any damage, at least every five years. When the paint isn’t doing its job anymore, there are telltale signs that indicate problems.

• Look for exposed wood where paint has chipped or peeled away.
• Check the caulk seals around door and window frames. If it’s brittle or pulled away from the siding, you need to get right on the repair.
• Also look for mold which can quickly cause a lot of damage over an extensive area.

If you see any of these kinds of issues, address them promptly. Call Kimberly Painting for repair and paint touch-up, as needed, to halt further damage.

Get Your Home’s Exterior Painted

When you’re ready to paint your home’s exterior, call Kimberly Painting. We are the Atlanta area experts in exterior painting of wood, stucco, vinyl and aluminum siding.

Call today to schedule a free on-site estimate.