10 Exterior Decorating Tips

Here are our top ten tips on exterior decoration to ensure your property looks it’s very best and creates a great first impression:

• Safety – before you even open a tin of paint, take some time to consider how you are going to get your exterior decoration done safely. A particular danger during exterior decoration is working at a height, generally on ladders. If using ladders, it is always best to have somebody else working with you to steady them. Scaffold towers can be hired for very reasonable rates and will give you a good firm platform to work from.
• Gutters – blocked gutters can overflow causing exterior walls to become damp. Before painting any exterior of the property, clean out all gutters. Remove debris by hand and then flush the gutters with a hose pipe.
• Weather conditions – Make sure the weather conditions are suitable for exterior decoration. If it is damp or cold, avoid applying any exterior paint, particularly if the temperature is around or below freezing. It can also be too hot for the application of exterior paint. Direct sunlight can cause the paint on your brush to dry and thicken too quickly, making it difficult to apply and giving a poor finish.
• Fungicide – This critical stage during the painting of exterior wall surfaces is often missed, and it can make a big difference to the lifespan of the painted surface. Always apply a fungicidal wash to the surface before applying the paint. If you don’t, and paint over any green areas cause by algae, the paint will flake and fail in a couple of years.
• Good quality paint – buying cheap paint for any external surfaces of your property will always be a false economy. Not only will the finish look poor, but the surfaces underneath will not be protected from the weather and the paint will begin to come off in no time.
• Right tools – as with all DIY projects, having the right tools for the job makes all the difference to how quickly and easily the work is completed, as well as the quality of finish.
• Preparation of woodwork – taking time to get the preparation right before applying the final coats of paint on exterior woodwork will pay dividends in the long run. Remove any rotten wood and repair the holes using the correct filler for exterior use. Application of primer and undercoat to bare wood will make the final finish look truly professional.
• Painting – Always cut in around the edges of an area to be rolled with a suitable brush first. When using a paint brush or roller, never add too much paint as it is likely to run, both down the walls, and down your arms.
• Windows – Many people forget to clean off their windows after decorating the exterior of their property. Failure to do so can spoil and otherwise professional looking finish.
• The garden – A nicely decorated exterior of a property is all well and good, but an untidy garden framing the property will really spoil the curb appeal of your property.

So, whether you are going to put your property on the market, or just think it is time for a refresh of the exterior, these ten Exterior Painting and Decorating tips will ensure the job is done well and safely, every time.