Repainting the outside of your home is a great way to increase curb appeal, raise the value of your home, and update its look. If you decide to repaint your home yourself, then there are a few things to remember before picking up a paintbrush or deciding on a color of paint that you want to use. Just as when you are painting interior walls, painting the exterior of your home requires prep work and making sure that you have the right supplies. Read on for a few tips and tricks to make sure that your soffit and fascia look great when are you done painting.
Color Selection vs. Speed
If you are on a deadline and need to get your home repainted quickly, then you may not want to worry about using contrasting colors on your fascia to add interest to your home. The soffit is usually painted the same color as the home while the fascia often matches the gutters and shutters. Doing this is a great way to add visual interest to your home and set it apart from others in the neighborhood; however, you will spend a lot more time preparing your workspace and painting. Using the same shade for every part of your home will help you speed through the painting process.
Determine Your Soffit Material
Aluminum soffit takes some extra steps before painting to make sure that the end result looks great and will last for a long time. Cleaning the soffit with a cleaner and rinsing with clean water will ensure that you have a fresh surface for the paint to stick to. Make sure that you purchase an exterior paint that will work on aluminum and consider having your paint company add a bonding agent to make it last even longer. Using primer, paint in one direction, allow it to dry, and then follow with two or three coats of paint to make sure that you get a true color.
Protect Areas of Your House
Because of where the soffit and fascia of your home are located, it’s easy to drip paint onto the exterior walls of your house. You want to make sure that the outside walls of your home are protected before you begin painting. Tape drop sheets onto your home and lay them over the bushes around your house to keep them from getting dripped on. In addition, if you have tall bushes or trees near your home, you may need to tie them back from your house so that you can reach the soffit and fascia.
Using a Paint Sprayer
A paint sprayer is the fastest way to paint your soffit and fascia without getting a sore back from stretching in order to try to use a paintbrush or roller. You have to be diligent about protecting your home, roof, and plants from overspray but the time you spend putting up drop cloths will be more than made up when you can quickly spray your home.
Painting the soffit and fascia of your home will give your exterior a clean look and make your whole home look fresh but skimping on preparation or sacrificing accent colors for speed can make your job look hasty. Don’t be sloppy and let paint drip onto your home, choose your colors wisely, and take time with prep; your home will look amazing when you are finished.