Steps to Paint Brick the Right Way

>

You’ve decided to take the plunge—you’re painting the brick on the outside of your house. The earthy tones used to be in style at one point, but now you want your house to stand out and really make a statement. Good choice! But painting brick isn’t quite like painting other surfaces. If you want the finished product to look amazing, you need to approach it differently. Here are the steps to doing the job the right way and mistakes to avoid in the process.

Why You Should Get Help

When it comes to DIY projects, painting may initially seem simple enough. However, flaws in the exterior painting can be apparent to anyone who walks or drives by your house or comes to visit. Getting the brick right is important if you want to make a good impression. Turn to Platinum Painting to handle the stress of this project. As professionals, we know how to paint brick, and we have years of experience doing it correctly.

Step #1: Power Wash

Unless the house is brand-new, chances are that your exterior brick could use a thorough cleaning. Years of dirt and grime need to come off before you paint, or it won’t adhere properly to the brick. Use a power washer to flush out all the nooks and crannies. Although you could in theory get a brush and scrub the bricks with a cleaning mixture, this method would require hours of hard effort, especially if you have a large house.

Step #2: Fill and Caulk

Before you paint, you need to take a closer look at the brick and grout. Are there any cracks, holes, or leaks? These weakened areas can allow moisture to seep through and damage the interior of your house. Now is the time to caulk them and seal off these access points, protecting your home from moisture. Give the acrylic caulk plenty of time to set before moving on to the next phase.

Step #3: Prime and Paint

Did you know there is a special primer specifically for masonry? Brick is unique in that it is especially porous and rough. As a result, it needs to be primed prior to opening the first paint can. Whether you choose to use a sprayer or a brush to apply paint to brick, you must make sure to paint from all angles. Otherwise, even coverage can be difficult to achieve, and you’re more likely to end up with mistakes or flaws in the paint job.

Ultimately, on your own painting your exterior brick can feel overwhelming, but when you have a team who has completed the process countless times, you can simply look forward to the final result with less stress and more excitement!

About Platinum Painting

With a background in home design and customer service, Platinum Painting owners Karl and Marjorie Pickens started the company in 2008. Although the team has grown since then, many of our employees have been with us since the beginning. As a result, we know which materials are best for each job and how to approach each project. Would you like to have a free in-person estimate? Contact Platinum Painting and talk to our Customer Care team today!

The post Steps to Paint Brick the Right Way appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog.

Hot Color Trends in Exterior Painting for 2021

>

After spending so much time at home over the last year and half, you’ve decided to repaint your exteriors now that gatherings are becoming normal again. But which color(s) should you choose? When you go into the paint store, you’re instantly surrounded with nearly limitless options, and it can quickly become overwhelming. We’re here to help you make the right choice for exterior painting! Read on to learn what colors are in style right now to guide you in your selection.

Light Neutrals for Walls

If you’re considering painting your home’s exteriors, lighter colors are a safe bet. Here are just a few of the most popular shades to think about.

Warm, Creamy White

Although you don’t want to paint your outside walls with a true white, a warm, creamy white color is the perfect choice for brightening up your home and making it stand out in the best possible way.

Pale Gray

Although gray decreased in popularity in 2020, pale gray is a great alternative to beige and can add variety to your street’s aesthetics.

Beige

Believe it or not, beige is still a great choice for painting your home. However, you should choose a  shade of beige that doesn’t run the risk of turning yellow.

Pale Green and Blue Accents

Paired with one of the light neutral wall colors, pale shades of green or blue are calming yet still visually interesting.

Black Accents

On the opposite end of the spectrum, black is also in style for accents. It’s a great choice if you want something bold!

Two Tones

Depending on the style of your home, you may want to have two main colors. For instance, ranch-style homes look great with complimentary shades.

Wood Trim

Don’t be afraid to add some contrast to the exteriors, even if that contrast is a different texture altogether. Wood, as well as other earthy paint colors, are definitely worth considering.

Knowing the current trends is certainly helpful, but you still have many options available to you. At this point, you may be wondering how you’re ever going to make such an important decision. After all, your home’s exterior is the first thing you and your guests see. Needless to say, the first impression matters. That’s why Platinum Painting offers a free in-person color consultation to help you determine which colors would best suit your home. Regardless of what color choices you make for your home’s exterior, when you work with Platinum Painting, you’re sure to love the results because we’re not happy until you are!

About Platinum Painting

Since opening for business in 2008, Platinum Painting has grown to serve homeowners throughout North Texas. Many of the staff have decades of industry experience and know all the latest design trends. In addition to an at-home color consultation, the initial estimate is carried out in person as well. This enables us to provide accurate quotes and advice and allows you to ask any questions you may have. To schedule your free estimate, just contact Platinum Painting!

The post Hot Color Trends in Exterior Painting for 2021 appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog.

How Should You Prep the Outside of Your Home for Painting?

>

If you’ve never painted the exterior of a home before, it’s crucial to take all of the proper steps to achieve long-lasting, even, and excellent results. If your goal is to boost your home’s curbside appeal, the last thing you would want to do is diminish it by doing a poorly planned job that doesn’t look as nice as you’d hoped for. With proper preparation, you can avoid costly and unnecessary mistakes that take time to resolve. Read on to learn more about how you can prepare to paint the exterior of your home.

Why is Preparation So Important?

A lot of novice home painters make the mistake of thinking that house painting is a simple, one-step process, but in reality, it’s not that at all. There are several steps that are crucial to take in order to achieve results that will last and that look great. If you cut corners, it could result in paint looking uneven and scarce in some areas, bubbling and dripping paint, or highlighting issues like nail holes and cracked wood. Down the road, a lack of preparation could even lead to huge, costly problems for your home.

Inspect Your Windows & Doors

Drip edge flashing is what you find surrounding windows and doors around your home; however, in older homes, there may just be caulk. It’s important to doublecheck all of these areas to make sure that no water is leaking into your house. You may be able to see by paint discoloration or rot, and it’s important to replace it if you want your new paintjob to last for years. As tempting as it is to paint over any problem areas, they won’t look good down the road, and you’ll just need to replace the wood and edging in the area anyways if mold or mildew is present.

Don’t Forget to Sand & Powerwash

It’s important to get all of the old paint off of your home before adding another layer. Stacking several layers on top of each other without properly removing the current coat will just trap dirt, dust, and other pollutants beneath it, ruining its appearance and cleanliness. Be sure to sand and powerwash the exterior of your home thoroughly before adding a new coat.

Never Rush Through the Job

Rushing through a job can be tempting, especially if you weren’t prepared for the investment in time that this project takes. However, if you don’t take your time by applying the proper number of coats, you’ll end up with patchy results that will be less than desirable.

If you don’t have any experience in exterior painting, painting your whole home is a huge project to take on by yourself. Instead of taking it on alone, you can call in professional painters as reinforcements to make sure that you get the results that you were hoping for all along. You also won’t have to deal with any of the stress or hassle that comes with fixing any mistakes you make.

About Platinum Painting

At Platinum Painting, our team of professional painters never cuts corners. They take their time in each stage of the project, including preparation, painting, and finishing touches, to make sure that each homeowner is satisfied with the results. We even offer a satisfaction guarantee! You can visit our website or call us at 214-347-7269 to schedule a free in-home estimate.

The post How Should You Prep the Outside of Your Home for Painting? appeared first on Platinum Painting Blog.