Maintaining your home’s exterior paint is not just about keeping up appearances, it is equally important for protecting the building materials underneath. Over time, weather, wear, and damage can lead to peeling, cracking, or chipping paint. Luckily, you don’t always have to repaint your entire home. Sometimes, a simple touch-up can bring your exterior back to life. Today, L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc will share some expert tips for effectively touching up your home’s exterior paint.

Inspect the Condition of Your Exterior – Before you begin, evaluate the condition of your home’s exterior. Look for areas with damages such as peeling, cracking, or chipping paint. Pay special attention to high traffic areas and parts of your home that are exposed to harsh weather conditions. These areas most likely need the attention.

Clean the Area – Once you have identified the areas that needs some touching up, clean them thoroughly first. Use a brush to remove loose paint and then clean the area with a mild detergent and warm water. Make sure to rinse with clean water and allow it to dry. A clean surface will ensure the paint sticks to the surface better.

Choose the Right Paint – If you have leftover paint from the original job, use it for the touch ups for an exact match. If you don’t have any leftover paint, take a small chip from the area that needs to be touched up to your local paint store. They can help you match the color. Remember to choose the same finish as the existing paint.

Prime If Necessary – If the area you are touching up is bare wood or metal, or if it is badly stained, you will want to apply a coat of primer first. The primer will provide a good surface for the paint to adhere to and will help prevent stains from bleeding through.

Apply Paint in the Same Manner – To ensure the touch-up blends in, apply the paint in the same manner as it was originally applied. If the original paint was sprayed on, you’ll achieve the best results by spraying the touch-up paint too. If it was applied with a brush or roller, use the same tool for the touch-up.

Feather the Edges – To blend the new paint with the old, lightly feather the edges with a dry brush. This technique will help prevent visible lines and will help the new paint blend seamlessly.

Allow Enough Dry Time – Be patient and let the paint dry completely to see if the color matches. Remember that paint often dries darker. If after drying, the touch-up still stands out, you may need to paint the entire wall or section for a seamless look.

Consider Professional Help – If the task seems too daunting, don’t hesitate to hire professionals. They have the expertise to match paint perfectly and the skills to make touch-ups less noticeable.

Interior & Exterior Painting & More in Amagansett, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Hampton Bays, Montauk, North Haven, North Sea, Noyack, Shelter Island, Sag Harbor, Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, Springs, Water Mill, Westhampton & Westhampton Beach, New York

Maintaining your exterior paint will not only keep your home looking beautiful, but it will also help protect your home and potentially save you from costly repairs down the line. So don’t ignore those minor chips and cracks, a little touch up now can go a long way. For quality painting services contact L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc today.