A Fresh Coat

With a myriad of ways to boost your home’s curb appeal, the process can feel daunting. No matter the end goal, a fresh coat of paint is a great place to start.

Experts say a good paint job does more than increase your home’s value and overall appearance. It can also protect against moisture, mildew and UV damage. To ensure all that, you must plan accordingly and choose the right products.

Superior Painting Vice President Marshall Parker says that when it comes to selecting paint, quality is key.

“We suggest using an upper-tier paint from a manufacturer like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams — never go cheap,” Parker said. Going the cheap route, he intimated, could cost more in the long run.

“We say you should paint your home every seven to 10 years, but cheap paint could fade faster or oxidize quicker, especially in the Florida elements.”

He also recommends selecting paint with a satin finish because it’s easier to clean than flat-finish paint. It also acts as a moisture repellant. And less moisture means less mildew.

Other ways to combat mildew include chemical or power washing your home before painting (a crucial first step in any paint job, and one Superior Painting will do for you) and proper lawn maintenance.

According to Parker, white has been a trending color for home exteriors, but not just any old white — white “like a farmhouse.” While simple, Parker likes the trend because “when you throw accent colors on shutters or front doors, it really shows contrast.” Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus: dpproductions

Parker advises homeowners to trim their bushes before power washing. This will improve accessibility during cleaning and prevent mildew growth that can occur when bushes are too close to the house.

“You want air to flow through to dry the house when it rains,” Parker explained.

He also recommends trimming trees back to prevent paint damage.

“Sometimes, people let their trees grow a little too close to the house, and if the wind blows and the tree scrapes the paint, it could mess that up.”

If you plan on repairing or replacing windows, doors or shutters, Parker suggests doing so before you paint your home so everything can get “caulked up” and painted nicely.

And if you want to replace your gutters, tell your gutter company.

“Most of the gutter companies in town will come out and remove the old gutters, allow us to paint the house, and then come back after us to install the gutters so people can have peace of mind knowing that all surfaces were properly coated before installing the new gutters.”

From prep to paint, Superior Painting will help customers with almost everything — except paint color selection.

“I always say that color choices are opinionated,” Parker said. “If I recommend a color, they don’t like it and I bought paint, I’d bear the burden of making the choice. So, I often say, ‘This is my opinion, but don’t take my word for it.’”

Instead, they’ll assist by relaying popular, trending colors and helping you set up an online consultation with a Sherwin-Williams representative.

The Right Paint

Torn between several paint colors?

Photos by iStock / Getty Images Plus: Maria Korneeva

Buy a few swatches and hang them around the house to find the perfect fit. “Lighting affects how a color will look from room to room,” Parker said. “What may look gray could potentially look green in different lighting.” Or, buy Sherwin-Williams Color to Go paint samples, paint a piece of wood or cardboard and place it against your home’s exterior. Either way, don’t forget to test your color before you commit.

Pro-Tip

Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus: photovs

To maintain a clean, mildew-free exterior, Marshall Parker of Superior Painting recommends pressure washing your home every year. “The sun doesn’t hit the north side of homes too much, and that’s where we see mildew growth,” Parker said. “If you don’t wash that off once a year, the mildew holds moisture, which can promote wood and rot decay.”