Top Exterior Painting Services in Washington, DC

There’s nothing like a fresh paint job on the outside of a house to increase its curb appeal. If the paint on your home’s exterior is peeling, the colors are fading, or it’s been over 10 years since you last had your house painted, it may be time to hire an exterior painting pro. A professional painter will have the time, experience, and tools to paint your house right.

There are a number of factors that affect how frequently you need to paint the exterior of a home. Different types of paint have varying degrees of longevity. Dark colors absorb more heat and tend to need more frequent repainting, and UV light is the main factor that breaks down paint. Parts of the house that are more exposed to sunlight will fade more quickly. Your home’s exterior finish plays a role in the frequency of house painting. Wood siding will need to be painted approximately every four years. Aluminum siding may last five years between paint jobs. If you’re weighing whether it’s time to have the outside of your home painted, ask a painting contractor for their advice and recommendations before you get started.

Homeowners may be tempted to try to save money by painting their home’s exterior themselves. Before rushing into a DIY house painting project, it’s wise to assess the situation realistically. First of all, decide whether you have the experience and necessary tools to take on an exterior house painting job. Factor in how much time the project will take given your schedule. Consider how big your home is, including how tall it stands. Assess whether it will be easy to rest ladders on the land surrounding your house. Be sure you are set to go through every step of the house painting job, from prepping the home’s exterior to balancing on ladders to apply the paint.

It may be best to hire a qualified pro to paint the outside of your house if it’s got intricate decor or delicate detailing. If your home has several floors, the paint job may require a scaffolding or very tall ladders. Not every homeowner is comfortable working at those heights. Additionally, if your home’s exterior requires extensive prep work, it may make sense to hire a pro because prep work is time- and labor-intensive. Lastly, if your home has lead paint, a pro will know how to remove it safely. Therefore, it may very well save you time, money, and headaches down the line to hire a contractor to paint your home’s exterior for you rather than attempting to do the job yourself.

It’s easy to wonder if it’s cheaper to paint the outside of a home yourself or hire a painter to do it for you. It’s important to keep in mind that a fresh coat of paint on your home will carry a significant price tag whether you do the job yourself or hire a pro. If you hire a painter, you’ll have the added cost of labor. While if you paint your own house, you will simply have to buy the paint, primer, caulk, and either buy or rent any necessary equipment (such as ladders or scaffolding).

Be sure you have adequate time to take on a house painting project. Remember that between 30 and 50 percent of the overall time it takes to paint a house is spent on prep work. If the house exterior is not properly prepped before the primer and paint are applied, the paint job will not last very long or look very good. An experienced painting professional will have access to all the right tools for the job, they’ll know which type of materials will work best for your home, and they’ll carry out each step of a great paint job from prep work to clean up with ease. This could end up saving you a lot of time and money in the long run.

The cost to hire a painter to paint a home’s exterior depends on a host of factors, starting with the construction material of your home. Your home’s size, age, and accessibility can all affect the cost of exterior painting. The cost may also be affected by the condition of the siding and how much prep work the job requires. It also depends on the quality of paint you choose, and whether there are doors, shutters, and intricate details to be painted. The time since your home was last painted, the weather conditions in your geographic location, and the experience of the painter you hire are even more factors that can affect the overall cost.

Some painters charge by the square foot, and others charge by the hour or by the day. Painters need to take their overhead, labor, and travel time into consideration when they estimate the cost of a job. Lastly, it’s a good idea to get at least three written estimates before selecting a pro to paint your home’s exterior. Consult the free Porch project cost guides to get an idea about how much exterior house painting should cost in your area.

If it’s time to give your home a fresh coat of paint, it’s important to hire a good house painter to do the job right. You’ll want a house painter who has experience painting the exteriors of other homes similar to yours. Don’t be afraid to ask for photos of recent projects and check references. Make sure you and the painter agree on your expectations for the project. Make sure any potential painter knows how many coats of paint you require, if you want primer, and that you want the prep done work properly — be prepared to pay extra if necessary. Ask to see a copy of the painter’s liability insurance and workers compensation coverage, too, and check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau.

If the painter meets your expectations, make sure you get a written contract that includes the estimated time to complete the project and the payment plan. Also ask for a guarantee: a reputable painter should agree to fix any imperfections (such as chipping) up to two years after the initial paint job. Finally, you should always go to the effort to get at least three written estimates before selecting a pro for any home project, including house painting.

There are many different types of exterior paints on the market today. Regardless of whether you’re looking for paint with a matte finish or a slight gloss, or which part of your home you’re painting, make sure you choose high quality paint. Look for chalking resistance, a high ability to fully cover a surface, color retention, and blister resistance. You can choose water- or latex-based paint, which is breathable so it doesn’t trap moisture and then crack and peel. Or you may choose oil-based paint, which takes longer to dry but offers better surface penetration. Primers come in water- or latex-based formulas as well as oil-based varieties. Oil-based primers can be used with oil- or water-based paint, and are best for stained wood or metal. Water-based primers are great for all kinds of applications but can only be used with water-based paint.

It may make sense to consult a professional when it comes to selecting paint for the exterior of your home. Having a home’s exterior painted represents a sizable investment that will pay off over time, and that starts with choosing the right paint for your project.