A fresh coat of paint on your Raleigh rental property’s exterior can get you higher rents, higher property values, and better curb appeal. But before you start your first exterior paint job, you’ll need to know some important things. We’ve compiled some do’s and don’ts that can give you the information needed to do the job right and make sure the quality tenants you want will continue to be interested in your rental property.
DO take the time to remove the old paint from the rental property’s exterior. The experts at Five Star Painting say that the prep work you do before you start to paint is the most important part of the process. One requirement is to figure out what type of paint your rental currently has and how old it is. The basis for this is that any paint dating from 1978 or before has lead in it and can make you sick if you just start scraping away. Another consideration is the building material of the exterior; suppose that your home has asbestos siding, you may need a professional to do the job.
There are several different ways to remove old and peeling paint, from scraping or power washing to chemicals to heat guns. Take the time to learn the different methods so you could decide which is best for your particular property. Then go buy the right tools to get the job done faster and easier.
DON’T forget to measure carefully to ensure you have enough paint to finish the job properly. Plan to have extra paint because touch-ups, without a doubt, will be needed. If you’re going for more than one coat, then plan to have enough paint to cover the entire surface twice. A good quality exterior paint is also very important. Don’t use cheap paint because peeling or fading happens almost immediately with low-quality paint, and all the effort and hard work will be wasted.
DO seal all surfaces and caulk where necessary, and apply a primer as well. The specialists at Five Star Painting recommend this step for exterior surfaces. The reason for this is that the primer will help seal exterior walls, including newly repaired spots. Another characteristic of primers is that it gives the paint something to adhere to.
DON’T rush through the job and attempt to apply a primer or paint to an exterior right after paint removal. Exterior surfaces need time to dry completely before moving on to the next step, or you’ll be putting the paint job on the line. It might appear blotchy and unprofessional.
DO repair all that needs fixing before repainting your rental property’s exterior. It may be as simple as power washing your siding, but you may also have to sand the entire outside of the house and wipe all surfaces down with a rag. It’s exactly the same as painting an interior wall; you must have a clean and dry surface before any painting can begin.
DON’T let your time and money go to waste by starting an exterior painting job without the proper knowledge and skills. If you think you don’t have enough experience or time to perform the job well, try hiring professionals to do it for you. A botched exterior paint job will be a lot more expensive than paying a professional to do it for you.
DO use the services of Real Property Management Raleigh to do the job for you. Instead of spending all that time and hassle trying to DIY the project, our team of experts has connections with superb teams in Raleigh who can do top-quality exterior painting services at a reasonable price. If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please contact us online or by phone at 919-481-0008 today.
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