A fresh coat of paint on your Smyrna rental property’s exterior can get you higher rents, higher property values, and better curb appeal. But before you jump into your first exterior paint job, you’ve got to know a few important things first. These do’s and don’ts will provide the knowledge you need to get the job done correctly and make sure that your rental property will continue to draw quality tenants.
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. It would be necessary to figure out what type of paint your rental currently has and how old it is. The reason 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; for example, if 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 and think about which method is best suited for your specific property and 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. Make sure your paint is more than enough for one coat because you will need that extra paint for touch-ups. And if you plan to do more than just one coat, see to it that you have enough to go over the entire surface twice. A good quality exterior paint is also very important. Don’t use cheap paint because it will start peeling or fading right away, and all your hard work will be wasted.
DO seal all surfaces and caulk where necessary, and be sure to apply a primer. 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. Sometimes we do things too soon so we can finish the work immediately, to the detriment of quality. But you should not 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 put the paint job at risk, making it look blotchy and unprofessional.
DO make all the necessary repairs to the exterior of your rental property before repainting. It may be something like power washing your siding, but depending on the situation, you may have to sand the entire outside of the house and wipe all surfaces down with a cloth. Similar to painting an interior wall, you need to make sure your surface is clean and dry before any painting can begin.
DON’T let time and money go to waste by neglecting to learn the necessary information and skills before starting an exterior painting job. If you don’t have sufficient time or experience to execute the job flawlessly, then think about 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 get Real Property Management East Cobb 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 first-rate shops in Smyrna who offer quality exterior painting services at a fair price. If you are interested in learning more or have additional questions, please contact us online or by phone at 770-622-5657 today.
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