How to Maintain Your Paint Job

A lot goes into painting your home, from the choice in colors to applying the final coat of paint. Whether you decide to take on the job as a DIY project or hire professionals, painting your house inside and out is a significant investment. Although no paint job lasts forever, the better you are at maintaining it, the longer it will last. There are also some significant differences in the maintenance and frequency of re-painting between exterior and interior painting.

Maintaining Interior Paint

Be on the Lookout for Spots and Stains – Handprints and other smudges are more likely to happen in some areas such as stairways, hallways, kids’ rooms or any place where small kids spend a lot of time. According to BestPickReports.com, the best time to eliminate these spots from becoming set-in is when they first appear. Try to remove spots with a damp cloth or sponge before applying any type of cleanser. Keep a Magic Eraser on hand or put a small amount of dish soap on a damp sponge for stubborn, greasy spots.

Battling Mold – Areas where there is a lot of moisture, such as the kitchen, bath, and laundry room, facilitate mold growth. When you see the black tell-tale signs of mold on a wall, use a 25% bleach mixture to clean it. Using special paint in these areas will prevent the growth of mold from occurring in the first place. If there is a significant area of concern, you may need to hire interior painting contractors to clean and paint the area.

Prevent Fading – Paint fades over time, especially if it isn’t good quality paint and is exposed to UV light. When you paint your walls, invest in a high-quality paint that will hold its color. Also, consider the quality of window coverings and whether your walls are being exposed to sunlight that will fade paint faster.

Maintaining Exterior Paint

The biggest concern with the exterior painting of the home is the exposure to the elements. Dust, sunlight, sleet, and even being close to salt water can affect the condition of the house. To make matters worse, repeated storms will sometimes target specific areas of the house each time they occur. Allowing dirt, pollen, and mud to build up on the surface can lead to more damage. To prevent nature from damaging your exterior paint job:

Pressure Wash – The best way to remove buildup is to start with the bottom layer. Pressure washing can remove dirt and other contaminants that build up, before they become a problem. Just keeping an eye on the outside of your home will tell you how often the house needs to be cleaned and how much of a problem you have with exposure.

Inspect for Rot, Mold and Mildew

Any type of moisture exposure can result in any of these problems. The best defense is a professional paint job with the right paint for the job. When checking your house to see if it looks clean, go a step further and look near the bottom, where snow has built up, or behind shrubbery that is against the house and which might have allowed moisture to stay shaded. Make any repairs while they are small to prevent them from increasing and causing major problems to your overall paint job.

Maintaining your paint job is easy, as long as you take the time to inspect interior and exterior walls for the first signs of trouble. Taking care of minor damage is a lot simpler than waiting until it develops into something big that can only be fixed with a new paint job.