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Save Money with These DIY Home Exterior Painting Tips

By Jillian Rae You know if you have to think of professional help when you paint the exterior of your house than it could cost a pretty penny. So why not do it yourself? With so much available today, it is definitely easier than it was a few years ago.

So let's see how you can go about it. The first thing you could do is to get yourself a home design software package. This is really helpful when it comes to estimating the area, the quantities of materials required and though the colors don't show up exactly the same, you do have some idea of how they will look. It makes sense if it is your first time to go in for the less expensive paints and other materials - not so cheap that they will pose problems but not top of the line either so in case you have a problem, you haven't lost too much. Always do a test area in the house on one obscure wall before you get down to the whole house. Now, in this test area, do exactly what you would replicate as far as the whole house goes. First, clean and sand, then do whatever scraping is required. Put on a coat of paint and let it be for a week so it dries and you can see what it looks like in different lights. Now, use both latex-based and alkyd or oil-based paints on that area to see how both look. The advantage of using a latex-based paint is that it dries real quick but do bear in mind that it is not as long lasting. It bonds well with the stripping, breathes well and even allows the moisture from the wood out. This really could work to your disadvantage as water goes in as easily too. It cleans well and all it takes is water and detergent. You can put these on with a nylon roller or any other synthetic roller available too. You could also get some synthetic bristle brushes and these really are very useful for crevices and trims. Don't use natural fiber brushes when you use latex paints because you'll find that the spreadability isn't too good. Oil-based paints are long-lasting and time was when this was the only paint to really pass muster. These are great for porches, doors, trims, etc. However, cleaning is not as easy as latex. You also need special disposal measures for the cans today and there could be a fee if you asked the store to dispose them for you. A lamb's wool roller or something made from natural material together with a natural bristle brush is an ideal combination for oil-based paints. You get different types of rollers and they come in options from smooth to rough. Smooth surfaces need the smoother ones and rough surfaces the rougher and this is so that the paint gets a good coverage over the area you are painting. When you use oil-based paints, you could put all the rollers and brushes into plastic bags and freeze them. When you resume painting, all you have to do us to thaw them and use. This is great if you can only paint on the weekends - you know that your rollers and brushes are ready to be taken out and you can start working again. Before you begin the painting, do remember to clean the area to be painted thoroughly. Sand where necessary and use putty in the cracks. The weather during the painting should ideally moderate with the humidity low. A little but if effort and your painting could really turn out great! Learn more about using a Little Giant Ladder for DIY home projects by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/LittleGiantLadderReviews

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