20 Oct Common Techniques for Interior and Exterior Painting
When hiring a contractor to paint the interior or exterior of your home, you may be curious as to what methods and technique they use. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common and effective painting techniques you should be familiar with:
Interior
The first step to a painter’s workflow on the inside of your home usually consists of rolling the walls. Using a typical hand brush, rolling helps to apply the primer and coats of paint evenly in a shorter amount of time than other techniques would.
Then the painter may spray the trim, doors, and ceilings with an oil-based paint. This is sturdier than latex or water-based paint and is, therefore, a good match for areas that will take a lot of wear and tear over time, such as the trim-work.
Exterior
For the outside of your home, many contractors will use flat, exterior paint on the walls. Flat paint tends to be more forgiving, which is perfect for exterior siding that may have bumps and imperfections on the surface. A satin finish may also be used for certain surfaces.
It is always best to apply multiple coats of paint to the house’s exterior. Whether it’s a layer of primer, then a top coat of finish paint, or 3 or more layers of paint, the goal should be to create a consistent, even appearance across the surface.
For brick walls, the painter will typically use a masonry primer first, since the surface texture is vastly different from wood or vinyl. Keep in mind, too, that when painters use air sprayers, they may need to put on multiple coats of paint due to the nature of the application.
Whatever techniques your contractor chooses to implement, the end goal is always the same: an even, long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing patina of new paint for your house. If you’d like to review these techniques, we have a short, informative video that explains how they are usually applied.