Do your homework before beginning your home painting project

There are so many paint colors and finishes  to choose from, picking the right ones can be difficult. Angie’s List asked highly rated painters to offer up their expertise on what is the most popular and why.

• Popular colors: Earth tones tend to be popular choices for both interior and exterior of the home. However, the exterior tends to be the easiest part to choose a color for because there is less space to cover and fewer outside factors to consider. For the interior, shades of red tend to be the color that homeowners get tired of the most. If you’re weary about red but really want to incorporate it into your home, try a smaller dose of it. Using red for an accent wall or trim instead of as a base color is a more subtle move.

• Maximize your space: Darker colors can make a room feel smaller. If you want to incorporate a darker, bolder color into your home, use it on just one wall as an accent and choose a lighter color for the others. Professionals usually match the accent colors to the furniture you have in your home. Take note of color schemes that already exist and play them up with matching paint colors.

• Stick with names you know: Brand-name paints have the durability to last a long time and they will be around should you need to buy more for touch-ups. Brand-name paints are often grouped in color families, and accent colors are suggested for use with main colors. This is helpful when painting trim and other smaller areas of the exterior.

• Painting vinyl siding: It’s vital to use the right type of paint to make your project a success. Several new types of paint have been developed for vinyl siding which consist of urethane and acrylic resins. A good rule of thumb is to choose a color lighter than your current vinyl siding. Painting with a darker color may cause the siding to absorb too much heat, which can cause it to warp if exposed to the hot sun. One downfall to painting vinyl siding is that some manufactures will void your warranty if the siding has been altered in any way. If you are worried about losing your warranty, you probably shouldn’t paint your siding.

Angie’s List Tips for hiring a Painting Contractor:

• Lead paint removal: If your home was built before 1978, you need to hire someone who can prove he or she has current federal certification to deal safely with lead paint. Improperly removing this toxic paint, which was commonly used prior to being banned about 30 years ago, can produce lead dust, which is a serious danger, especially to young children.
 

• Always do your homework: Get three estimates, thoroughly check out those credentials and explain your issue to your candidates.

• Set up a meeting before hiring: Have the contractor explain to you what you want. A good contractor will advise you on the best types of paint to use for the surfaces of your home and the weather conditions in your area.

• Understand the pricing process: Exterior paint costs $25 to $40 dollars per gallon, so keep in mind how many square feet your project requires and how much primer will be used. Each project (interior and exterior) varies in cost depending on the size of the home and the amount of work to be done. If they have to move furniture or clean up areas, that could also add to the cost. Don’t pay for anything up front. While it’s normal to pay progress payments on large jobs, a price that sounds too good to be true probably is. Make sure the price includes all items involved.