The money and time spent painting your home will quickly pay off in the enjoyment you'll receive and the increased value of your home. Applying a fresh coat of paint indoors can change the look of any room, while touching up exterior items, like shutters and trim, greatly increases the overall curb appeal. When it comes to updating your home, painting is the most economical way to increase value and personal satisfaction.
Many people put off interior and exterior paint jobs, because of the time and effort involved. There are ways, however, to make the task virtually effortless.
Mix it Up
The first step to a great finish is to fully stir the paint before you begin. Even though paints are professionally mixed when you buy them, the colors can separate during storage and transportation. If you fail to completely stir the paint you can end up with an uneven finish. Using a stir stick can be tiresome, and your portable or electric drill offers a great alternative.
Try cutting a plastic clothes hanger into a long "J" shape, and insert it into your drill for a quick mix up. It saves time and conserves your energy for the big job ahead.
Tap Away the Drips
Most people get rid of excess paint by scraping the brush on the side of the tin. The paint drips down the side of the can, causing a big mess and wasted paint. Try tapping away the drips instead. Lightly slap the brush on the rim of the tin, so that any excess paint falls back into the can. The right amount of paint will remain on the brush, allowing a more even finish and saving trips up and down the ladder.
Code Red or Code Blue?
Be aware of any building codes or restrictions in your residential area before you take on the time and expense of painting your home. There are restrictions in many residential areas, such as housing units and condominiums. Your bright yellow stucco home and turquoise shutters may look lovely, but may not meet your neighborhood code. Another consideration is the color, height and size of fences and other outdoor structures. Check first, before spending the time and money.
Lead by Lead-Free Example
It's imperative that you remove any old lead paint that may exist in your home. Lead paint can cause illness in children, including learning disabilities. Check your home for peeling paint that may be lead based. Window sills and wood trims are common culprits. If you find any old, peeling paint, scrape it off and repaint. Your home will not only look better, it will also be a safer place for your kids.
Prime Time
Making sure that you're properly prepared for a painting job can help you to save money in the long run. A good primer coat will result in less time and paint needed for the finishing coat or coats.
There are many jobs that you can do yourself, if you're willing to put the time and energy into it. For example, bevel your existing fence posts rather than spending the money on brand new ones. With a radial saw and some basic knowledge of geometry, you'll have no trouble cutting the perfect angles for your new picket fence.
Painting made easy is really just a matter of preparation. Get all of the materials you'll need before you start, follow these tips and you'll be on your way to getting more enjoyment (and more money) out of your home.
Pull out your rollers, grab a brush, dawn your painter's pants and get ready to move into your new Arizona home with a significantly reduced down payment! With an unprecedented offer Trend Homes of Arizona invites you to Paint for your down payment! That's right, grab the husband, grab the wife, put the kids in an old dress shirt, place a roller in each of their hands and paint your future Arizona home to drastically reduce your down payment. It's that simple, paint for your down! A leading Arizona home builder, Trend Homes has made it possible to lower your down payment to as little as 1.5% of the homes actual sale price. The Paint for Your Down program is really very simple. Just choose the Trend Home that best suits your wants and needs, then spend some time with roller in hand and paint on clothes painting your new Arizona home. In general, the home buyers are asked to log about three to five shifts painting the interior and exterior of their new home as a way to reduce their down payment. With the introduction of the Paint for Your Down program from Trend Homes, not only do Arizona home buyers have the opportunity to significantly reduce their down payment by assisting in the painting process of their new home but they also have the opportunity to better personalize their home to their tastes. By painting your own Arizona home as a way to lessen the down payment on your new Arizona home, you are offered the chance to add your very own personal touch to your future home and feel as if you are a part of your home. In addition, the down payment reduction is a nice perk in itself! When Trend first presented the Paint for Your Down Payment program offering home buyers the chance to assist in the painting process of their new Arizona homes, many asked; why hasn't an Arizona home builder ever offered something like this before? The is that before October 1 home builders were permitted to lessen or even waive down payments on Arizona homes with seller-funded down payment assistance programs on Federal Housing Administration loans. But in July of 2008 when the government announced that these programs were going to be banned, Trend Homes introduced the Paint for Your Down Payment program as a way to assist Arizona home buyers with down payments. Different from seller-funded payment assistance programs the Paint for Your Down Payment program from Trend Homes still require a down payment from the home buyer, but with this program it will be considerably reduced. Arizona home buyers will enjoy a down payment lowered to as little as 1.5% of their home's actual sale price when the homes future residents spend three to five shifts helping with the painting of their new Arizona home. For nearly 20 years Trend Homes has set itself apart as one of the most admired Arizona home builders, being the recipient of many accolades and awards including being ranked Highest in Quality by Phoenix Home Builders in 2007. The Paint for Your Down Payment program is program that permits Trend to better accommodate Arizona home buyers, not just by selling quality homes across the Phoenix valley but by making it easier to purchase a new home. All across the Phoenix valley, Trend Homes has built and is selling beautiful homes. If you're looking for a home in the city or an home outside of town, Trend has what you need. And now for a short time you can save on your new Arizona home with the Paint for Your Down Payment program.
Both Sadie Bedgegood & Clyde Mackelprang are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.