6 Steps to Extend the Life of Your Paint Job

Painting the interior or exterior of your home is an investment in the look and feel of your property. While painting can be expensive, there are a few steps you can take to extend the life of your paint job. With the right prep work, painting at the right time, using a good primer, using high-quality paint, regular maintenance, and having leftover paint on hand, you can help ensure that your paint job lasts as long as possible.

Proper Prep Work

Before you begin painting, it’s important to make sure that all surfaces are clean and dry. If you’re painting an interior wall, you’ll want to remove any wall decorations, furniture, and other items from the room. You’ll also want to fill any cracks or holes in the wall and sand any rough spots. If you’re painting the exterior of your home, you’ll want to power wash the surfaces to remove any dirt, grime, and mildew.

Painting at the Right Time

The temperature and climate can have a big impact on the longevity of your paint job, so it’s important to paint at the right time. If you’re painting an interior wall, the ideal temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re painting an exterior wall, the ideal temperature is between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also important to make sure that the humidity is low, ideally between 30 and 50 percent.

Using a Good Primer

Using a high-quality primer before you paint can help extend the life of your paint job. A primer helps to seal the surface, which helps keep moisture out and prevents the paint from cracking, peeling, and fading. Make sure to use a water-based primer if you’re painting an interior wall, and an oil-based primer if you’re painting an exterior wall.

Using High-Quality Paint

When it comes to paint, you get what you pay for. Using a high-quality paint can help extend the life of your paint job. Look for paint labeled “100 percent acrylic” or “100 percent latex”. These paints are more durable and will last longer than lower-quality paints.

Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is key to extending the life of a paint job. For interior walls, you’ll want to dust and vacuum regularly to remove any dirt or dust particles that can scratch the surface. For exterior walls, you’ll want to clean the surface at least once a year to remove any dirt, grime, and mildew.

Having Leftover Paint on Hand

Having a small amount of leftover paint on hand can be a great way to extend the life of your paint job. If you have any scratches or chips in the paint, you can easily touch them up with the leftover paint. This can help maintain a freshly painted look without the need for a full repaint.

Following these 6 steps can help extend the life of your paint job and save you money in the long run. Make sure to prep the surface properly, paint at the right time, use a good primer, use high-quality paint, maintain the paint on a regular basis, and keep a small amount of leftover paint on hand for touch-ups.