Painting your house is a difficult job, especially in winter. Painting the exteriors of your home in typical Colorado winter conditions is extremely difficult, though not impossible, because of the extra moisture and cold temperatures. 

However, there are plenty of house painting tasks you can do in the winter. Interior spaces are the perfect example. So if you’re planning on doing some painting work this winter, follow these important rules for success: 

Splurge on Materials

If there’s a place to overspend in your house painting budget, the paint itself is it. High-quality paint, while at times twice as expensive as lower quality paint, is actually cost-effective in the long run. Quality paint’s color doesn’t fade or flake as fast, and it’s easier to cover a surface with good paint made to adhere to the surface you’re applying it to. There are many different types of paint out there, all with their specific applications. Make sure you’re getting the right paint for your project and don’t be afraid to pay a little more for quality. 

Take Your Time to Prepare

Why does it take professional painters so long to set up a job site? Because spending the extra time making sure the prep work is done correctly and completely saves untold hours over the course of a project. Let’s run down the basic preparation steps before you undertake any paint job: 

• Move anything in the way of the project. If you can’t move certain objects you don’t want paint on, cover them with drop cloths.
• Clean all painting surfaces and scrape away any loose, cracked, or bubbled paint.
• Prime all painting surfaces with a specialized primer and fill any holes or cracks in the surface with calk. Let the calk set and harden before you paint.

Adjust for Lead Paint

You may need a professional to handle the lead paint already in your home. If your house was built before 1978, contact a local lead-safe renovation contractor to test your paint and lay out your options. 

Don’t be Shy with Paint Coats

A wall can be underpainted, with streaks and thin coverage, but it’s difficult to overpaint a surface. Assume that you’ll likely be putting at least two coats of paint over your surfaces, with additional coats for indoor areas to bring out the true color and beauty of the paint and to create a smooth, even surface.

Use the Correct Tools

Set yourself up for success by investing in quality rollers, brushes, or even paint sprayers in some situations. Make sure you have a good scraper and a few drop cloths to put over any in-the-way objects. Understand what you’ll need to do a good job covering your surfaces and make sure you have those tools on hand before you undertake the project. Many of these pieces of equipment are available for rent if you don’t have easy access to them, including paint sprayers.

There are many more rules for painting interiors and exteriors. If you have questions or would like to know more, contact Ireland’s Finest Painters today.