An exterior painter is a trained tradesperson employed by a home painter and/or decorator company to the painting and initial decorating of residential buildings, which is also called a residential painter or decorator. The main purpose of exterior painting is to enhance the overall look of a structure and to prevent damage from moisture, weather, insects, and mold. Most commercial property owners hire exterior painters to maintain the facade of their buildings. The term ‘exterior’ refers to the exterior part of a structure. Most property owners hire the services of Painters in Miami as opposed to hiring non-professional painters who may end up damaging the facade of their residential property.
Painting is usually a drywall process that utilizes an exterior painting medium such as latex, acrylic, or paint. When undertaking a home improvement project, property owners must first prepare the exterior painting foundation before the paint can be applied. This preparation includes leveling the home improvement foundation, cleaning the exterior walls, making sure there are no foreign objects, and applying the appropriate topcoats. These topcoats serve as a layer of a protective coating that is semi-permeable and allows water and other liquids to pass through, therefore preventing damaging and costly damages to the home improvement foundation.
Before contracting with a professional painting contractor, the property owner should prepare their home improvement foundation by leveling the land, cleaning any obstructions on the sides of the house, installing drain tiles around the yard, and making repairs to all leaky plumbing pipes and septic tanks. This preparation should take approximately two weeks to one month depending on the complexity of the project and the extent of damage that must be overcome. After the preparation is completed, it is time to contract with residential painters who will provide the exterior painting service. Contractors and painters often prefer to perform the exterior painting project themselves to save on the cost of hiring professional painters who may provide an added value.
The exterior painting process begins with the removal of siding and trim. Siding is removed because it limits the freedom of paint to cover the painted surfaces. Trim is removed because the trim provides protection for painted surfaces from wind and rain, and also provides a smooth surface for painting. When the trim is removed, the exterior of the house is ready for painting. If trim is left intact, the homeowner may decide to paint the interior portions of the home.
Before painting the exteriors, homeowners must make sure that they are completely dry. Wet surfaces should be dried using a hairdryer or by setting the dryer to the lowest heat level. Homeowners should avoid painting on damp or soggy surfaces as this may cause cracking and peeling. Also, painting on a wet surface leaves a sticky residue that may not be removable after the paint dries. A painting should only be performed when the surface has attained a semi-drying stage.
When choosing the color of the paint, homeowners should select the color that will blend with the siding and accent colors of the house. After all exterior painting has been done, the property owner should prepare the paint for the application using a latex paint primer. The primer prevents the paints from bleeding and sticking to the siding and trim. Homeowners should dilute the paint to ensure proper application.
After applying the primer, the house is ready for the exterior painting process. A two-gallon pail of paint should be purchased and brought home for a walk around to ensure proper positioning of the buckets. Paint should be applied to all painted surfaces using the downside down method. This ensures paint sticks and is easier to remove once it is dry.
Exterior painting should be completed on days when temperatures are warm. This ensures the best time to complete the job so the home exterior is not damaged by inclement weather. If painting should take place on inclement weather days, it is recommended to cover the project to ensure complete protection of the paint job. The painter should make sure the home exterior is protected before beginning the paint job.