Using Paint To Enhance Your Home's Curb Appeal
Introduction
Did you know that the results of a 1,000-homeowner survey by Independent Network showed that your home is judged in the first 38 seconds? (1) If you only have 38 seconds to make a good impression with your home, then house painting is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to increase your home's curb appeal.
In this article, we will discuss how you can use paint to increase positive first impressions of your home. These strategies can be utilized by real estate agents, home sellers, and those who like to host to create the right impression for anyone coming to your front door.
We'll cover how paint impacts home value, choosing the right paint, how to properly prepare the surface of your home for paint with thorough preparation, painting the exterior, adding accent colors, and maintaining your work.
So let's get started!
Key Takeaways
- Choosing the right paint colors is an important part of enhancing curb appeal.
- Properly preparing the surface before painting is key to a successful paint job.
- Adding accents and bold colors can bring the exterior to life and draw attention away from less appealing areas.
- Weatherproofing the paint job and regularly maintaining it can prevent damage and decay.
Choosing the Right Paint
Choosing the right paint can make a huge difference in enhancing your home's curb appeal, so it's important to take the time to get it right!
Picking colors that match the existing palette of your home or your neighborhood is going to be key. One great way to use paint to increase your home's curb appeal is to make sure your paint job matches and enhances the environment in which it's set. So if every house on the street is a dim color and you paint your home white - it's going to stand out and enhance the street.
But if your whole neighborhood is white, then the way to enhance your curb appeal is either to create extra clean lines or to work with unique accents that make your home pop.
We like accent colors because they can complement the main color scheme while adding texture and depth.
One thing we love to see in New Braunfels is when the color scheme is set to match the most commonly blooming flowers in the landscape. It's a nice touch that requires some forethought and goes a long way, especially during bloom.
When picking out colors, remember that lighter colors tend to open up a space, and dark colors make it feel smaller. So if you have one of the smaller 1960's ranch style homes in New Braunfels, you may decide to use your paint scheme to your advantage, making it appear larger or more tucked away.
Additionally, if you have walls in your house that receive a lot of direct sunlight during our sweltering summers, then selecting lighter hues will help keep temperatures cooler throughout the day.
No matter which route you go with choosing paint colors for your house's exterior, remember that there's no wrong answer as long as it fits with your overall vision! The trick to making a great first impression with your house is having properly maintained, clean, and thoughtful paint schemes that complement the surrounding landscaping or neighborhood.
Preparing the Surface
One of the easiest ways to make mistakes when painting your own home is to go light on the preparation work. You can have the best color scheme, the most premier materials, and a beautiful home, but if it's not properly prepared for painting, it will be difficult to get the final product you imagine. If you manage to get that smooth coat around your house, you will start running into adherence problems early on, as you may have skipped the most important part of the process.
Properly preparing the surface is the key to a successful paint job. To start, you should thoroughly clean your whole home's exterior with at least a hose (a power washer is better). Buildup clings to the walls from smog and general living, so spraying it down before you start is a great way to start the process. When you do get to painting, a clean surface will help ensure that your new paint has an even, smooth finish and help prevent premature peeling or blistering.
For tougher dirt, use a mild cleaner with warm water and a non-abrasive scrubbing pad to remove dirt, dust, grease, and other debris from the surface before beginning.
If you walk around your property and notice cracks, holes, wood rot, or deterioriation, consider changing and addressing all of those issues now before you start covering everything in paint.
It's time to start protecting any areas that don't need to be painted, such as windowsills or door frames. Use painter's tape to cover any areas that need protection from the paint. Remember plants, doorknobs, or any outdoor outlets. It would help if you also used drop cloths to protect plants and the driveway from unwanted accidents.
Once you have everything covered up, take time for one final inspection of your area before starting the actual painting process.
When it's time to begin painting, make sure you follow all safety protocols for painting at heights and any mask protection you may need from the sprayer.
Properly preparing your surfaces ahead of time will give you peace of mind knowing that when you're done, your newly painted exterior will look beautiful for years to come!
Painting the Exterior
Painting the exterior of your home can transform it and dramatically boost its visual appeal. If you're looking to make a change, your process will start by assessing the condition of the walls and trim. If there are fading colors, peeling paint, or other damage, then repair as needed before beginning in earnest.
Once you've prepared your surface, it's time to pick out color trends that'll bring life back to your home's exterior. Consider going with classic hues like white and beige for a timeless look, or perhaps bolder shades such as navy blue or hunter green for more eye-catching results. Whatever tone you decide on, make sure to use high-quality paint that's resistant to UV rays and weathering so that your work lasts longer.
Carefully inspect each corner of the house after applying each coat of paint. This ensures an even finish throughout all areas and helps identify any potential problems before they become serious issues down the road. For best results, use painter's tape when painting around windows and doors so as not to get unwanted drips on the glass or frame edges.
And remember to add accents; these small details can really tie together your new look! With some perseverance and attention to detail, you'll get gorgeous results. If you don't want to endure the hot New Braunfels summer, then find a professional painter to do the work for you (maybe even Integrity Painting of New Braunfels).
Adding Accent Colors
Let's talk about those accent colors. They are a detail that is often overlooked but can really change the look of everything. Adding a few pops of color to your home's exterior can really bring it to life and show off your style! Using accent colors strategically is one way to emphasize contrast while still keeping the overall look consistent. (2)
Here are four easy steps for choosing colors that will best suit your home:
- Consider what type of atmosphere you want for your home. Do you want something bright and cheerful or more subtle and calming?
- Look at the existing elements of the exterior, such as trim and shutters. What color would pair nicely with them?
- Choose a couple of colors that match or complement each other, but don't be afraid to experiment with different shades in order to find the perfect hue for each element.
- Test out a few sample swatches on the house before committing to any particular color so you can get an idea of how it looks under natural lighting conditions.
No matter which route you choose when designing your home's exterior, align your efforts with your goal. If it's to ask a higher price on the open market, then make it stand out from the neighborhood. If you are living there for awhile, then you can really get creative—because, after all, it's YOUR HOME!
Maintaining Your Work
Once you've finished creating your masterpiece, maintaining it is just as important to keep its beauty alive!
Weatherproofing the paint job will help protect it from weather elements such as rain, hail, and extreme temperatures. We recommend buying premium paint to protect your home against the overwhelming heat and sunlight we get in New Braunfels. Some paint is designed to resist fading due to UV rays from the sun. (3)
Regularly cleaning your freshly painted surface is also critical for keeping its beauty intact. Use a soap-free cleaner specifically designed for painted surfaces to ensure dirt doesn't stick and lead to peeling. When cleaning, be sure not to use any abrasive sponges or brushes that can scratch away at the paint's protective coating.
Finally, try not to overlook small fixes like filling in nail holes or re-caulking windows and trim when needed. This extra step can help maintain your home's curb appeal for years to come by keeping cracks and gaps sealed off from moisture damage, which can lead to rot and decay down the line. Taking these steps now will save you time and money later on with costly repairs!
Conclusion
You've done it! Your home looks amazing, and you can be proud of the work you put in to enhance its curb appeal. You chose the right paint, prepped the surface, painted with precision, and added accent colors to give your home a unique look. Don't forget to maintain your work by recoating every few years - it's like painting a living canvas that will keep your home looking fresh for years to come. With just one coat of paint, you have transformed your house into an inviting oasis that radiates warmth and charm like a beacon in the night sky!
If, however, you ever find yourself in need of professionals to handle the work or simply want to save time and effort, look no further! Integrity House Painting in New Braunfels will do the job for you. With our expertise and dedication to quality, we'll ensure your home receives the care and attention it deserves, leaving you with a beautifully painted and well-maintained living canvas for years to come.
Contact Integrity House Painting today to experience the difference professionals can make in bringing out the best in your home. Your dream home is just a call away!
Want to know more about exterior painting service? Visit this link:
https://www.paintingnewbraunfels.com/exterior-painter
References:
(1) https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/a29572342/guests-visitors-judging-home/
(2) https://www.colorsexplained.com/accent-colors/#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20if%20your%20color,choose%20red%20as%20the%20accent.
(3) https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/uv-sunblock-equoia-pl-9520532