exterior painting, diy exterior painting

The Pros and Cons of DIY Exterior Painting

If you live in Moorestown, Mt. Laurel, or Cherry Hill, and are wondering whether you should repaint the exterior of your own house or hire a painting contractor, this article is for you! Painting your home is an exciting project –especially if you have always wanted to change the color of your exterior and add in a bit of your own personality.

Even if you like the current color, the paint job on your siding can deteriorate over time and may start showing signs of fading, peeling, flaking or bubbling. When this happens, a new coat of paint can instantly transform your home’s appearance, improve curb appeal and increase the value of your property.

Considering the intensity and amount of work involved in any exterior painting job, anyone who has attempted painting their own exterior will almost always advice you to hire a painting contractor instead… But if you still haven’t made up your mind on whether or not to paint your own siding, here are some pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros:

Saves labor Cost

Painting your own home will help you save some money that you would have otherwise paid as labor to the pro painters. If you have some painting skills and experience, the only things you will need are the paint, primer, painting supplies, and a few tools.

If you have friends or family that are willing to help out, this could be a fun route; however, if you don’t have the required skills and experience, DIY exterior painting can actually cost you much more than hiring a professional right away.

More Control

Painting your own exterior gives you ultimate control over everything –from choosing the colors and shades, to how the wall should be painted and where your painting should begin. While it’s very unlikely with the right painting contractor, some pros may not bring out the paint job the way you envisioned it. So DIY basically saves you from having to explain yourself to someone else and instead take charge.

A Sense of Accomplishment

Painting the exterior of your home is a major undertaking, and if you’re a DIY enthusiast, this can be a nice fanciful challenge to take on. Nothing gives you the sense of accomplishment like having successfully repainted 100s of square feet of your own siding. Seeing your exterior entirely completed by your own handy work is something to be proud of.

Cons:

Quality

If you’re not hiring a professional painting contractor, one of the things you will have to compromise is quality. There is a lot of work and technical know-how that goes into repainting your home’s exterior.

Without proper training and experience, you might not achieve the same polished and professional look, and your wall might end up with mismatched spots and uneven coats. Painting is what professionals do every day for a living, they have mastered all the processes and know how to handle tricky situations.

Time

If it’s your first time painting your own exterior, chances are you’ve grossly underestimated the time needed to complete the project. From planning, collecting materials, preparing the surface, painting and waiting in between coats, the paint job you had estimated to take a weekend might easily take an entire week or even a couple of weeks. Aside from your slow painting pace and limited painting experience, other unplanned work commitments and family responsibilities might hold you back too.

Skill and Know-How

Professional painting contractors can undoubtedly produce a better paint job quality in areas that require technical skill. Previous paint jobs that are extensively damaged with signs of peeling, flaking and bubbling paint may require a bit more skill to prepare them before painting, which you might not have. Additionally, a better choice of paint and paint supplies is extremely important for superior results, and this comes with training and experience.

Bottom Line:

So have you made up your mind yet? Generally, if you have the right skill, experience, and tools, painting your own exterior can be a challenging but fun project. However, considering the scale and complexity involved, you may want to hire a professional painter for superior and long-lasting results.

If you need any professional assistance painting your home’s exterior in Moorestown, Mt Laurel, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Voorhees, Evesham, Medford, or Tabernacle, contact us today. Our trained and experienced painting crew will be more than happy to help restore the glory and beauty of your home.