5 Projects to Tackle Before and During Exterior Paint
I often find myself in the awkward position of relaying to homeowners that they have more projects to get done before they can start exterior paint and some of them can be pricey. Many homeowners have extensive exterior deferred maintenance since often these areas are difficult to see or we almost stop seeing them after a while and forget they are there. Exterior home maintenance is so important both to keep the home looking its best aesthetically and maintaining the value of the home. No one wants to decide to sell a home only to be told by a home inspector that they have dry rot repairs or pest damage. Today we are going to review the 5 projects homeowners should consider to accomplish before and during exterior painting to get the most return from their investment and keep their project moving along without costly and unforeseen delays.
Exterior repairs. Wood on the exterior of our homes decays over time. This can be due to weather, pests, heat and cold, water and more. Other building materials age too so its best to get the opinion of a professional contractor or licensed handyman before beginning exterior painting. With the expertise of a contractor you can determine what areas of the home need to be repaired before painting can begin. We recommend doing this before gathering paint bids or getting too far along in the process. It’s important to asses the areas of your home that require immediate attention or can last a while longer and could be delayed until after painting. By repairing the home first, the paint has a more polished look and you get the peace of mind of knowing the home is in solid shape for a while and won’t have unforeseen surprises down the line. Dry rot and pest repairs can be costly, so depending on the size of the home, materials and where your home is located about 20% of your painting budget or more might be directed to repairs.
Windows and doors. Thinking about replacing aging garage doors, don’t like the style of your front door? The time for replacement is definitely as you asses the overall vision for your home’s exterior. If something needs replacement or you want to change the style of the home with the paint makeover, budgeting for these changes and having them done before painting allows you to envision the whole project together rather than piecing it together later. It also allows your painters to visit your home one time to do everything rather than coming back for costly smaller jobs. I always have recommendations for my clients when we do exterior makeovers and often it is something simple like switching glass in garage doors or front doors. Sometimes minimal updates in existing doors can make a big impact on the overall look of the completed project.
Hardware. Exterior painting is a nice excuse to update outdated, unattractive or deteriorating hardware on the exterior of your home. Consider door handles and garage door hardware as candidates for updating. It’s common for exterior hardware to become dated after 10 years and replacing it can have drastic improvement on the home aesthetically. Switching metals, style, functionality and look are all valid reasons for updating hardware. We recommend removing old hardware before painting begins and making your painters aware of the updates you are making. Many painters are willing to install new hardware for you or they can remove some of the hardware plates for easier install after painting is completed.
Lighting. Most exterior painters can remove exterior lighting for you during the prep process. Instead of being caught off guard, make sure that you think about your lighting before you begin the painting project. Exterior lighting can be surprisingly inexpensive and many quality brands are available on mainstream retail websites like Home Depot and Wayfair. We highly recommend, and sometimes pester our clients about neglecting to budget for lighting. Exterior lighting can make the biggest impact on the overall polish of a completed job and is the final piece of the project that comes together. So much can be wrong with exterior lighting we can’t get too deeply into the subject now. We can just leave it as, outdated, incorrect, small, bad exterior lighting can diminish any value you invest in the painting project. Just update the lighting. Trust us. It’s worth the time and money and potential buyers are going to notice the curb appeal of a complete picture if you do decide to sell at some point.
Visibility. A home’s visibility is primarily by way of house numbers. We always like to switch up house numbers whenever we do a client’s home exterior. House numbers can become dated and are often builder boring and cheap. That’s not to say that house numbers have to be expensive! Our favorite house numbers run about $12 each so if you hire us you get to know our house number secrets! Also consider mailbox updates if appropriate, security cameras and doorbells. All of these should be updated as needed either immediately before or after painting. Talk to your painter to find out their preferences on timing.
While these 5 projects can be used as a general rule, each home has it’s own unique qualities that should be considered when updating any part of the exterior. We have been getting many calls lately from homeowners who are mid-exterior remodel and realize they have made a mistake. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Planning exterior remodel projects with professionals can protect your overall budget and the integrity of your home. Not to mention, eliminate the unexpected surprises along the way. As a full-service interior and exterior design firm who has been doing remodel projects for over 10 years ,we have on the job experience with how to plan for and budget home exterior work. We work virtually and can work with clients located anywhere, so if you are in need of advice or professional opinions we are always on-call. Email us at heatherpalmerdesign@gmail.com for any home exterior needs or visit our Contact Us page here on our website.
