The Ultimate Guide to Painting Older Homes

Old homes have their own charm. They are warm and cosy and offer a certain type of comfort and familiarity. However, they often experience a lot of wear and tear and need regular maintenance to keep the charm alive. One way to maintain your home is through a fresh coat of paint.

However, homeowners often face difficulties when painting older homes. Since the walls often have a lot of damage on the surface, painting is tricky. This is why if you live in New Zealand, hiring a team of experienced house painters in East Auckland who understand the intricacies of painting old homes is important. So, how should one proceed with the task of painting older homes? The following article talks about the necessary steps that are extremely important while painting an old house.

Proper Preparation Is the Key

Preparation is the key to painting old homes. So, before picking up the brushes and rollers, one needs to make sure that the surface is plain and smooth. For proper preparation, one needs to first assess the condition of the walls. Paying special attention to any water damage, mild dew, and chipping old paint is crucial.

Make sure that all this is removed before starting the painting project. One can use a scraper and sand the rough edges to clean the old paint. Moreover, if the house is extremely old, there is a high chance that an undercoat of primer was not applied during the painting project. Hence, it is important to prime the area to make the surface smooth for proper paint application.

Choose Between Removing the Old Paint and Painting Over It

In some situations, applying a fresh coat of paint over old paint is a good idea, and in other cases, you may have to remove the old layer completely to apply a fresh coat. Removing the old paint is a good idea if you are suspicious that it may have traces of lead. Moreover, the old paint may not be compatible with the new paint formula, leading to patchy and uneven finishing. Hence, in such cases, removing the old paint is advisable.

On the other hand, if the old layer is in good condition, the new coat of paint will adhere to the surface flawlessly. In this case, one can avoid removing the old layer of paint to make the task easy.

The Right Paint and Tools for the Task

Older homes have more complex designs and architecture than new homes. They often have a lot of wood panelling, exposed bricks, and complex exterior designs. Therefore, one needs to use specialised tools and paint for these projects. For instance, if the wall’s surface area is uneven, it is best to steer clear of glossy paints that will highlight the problems. Here, matte colours are your best friend. In addition, when it comes to the paint formula, you must opt for oil-based paints for the walls. These paints have added synthetic alkylate or natural oils to ensure that they stick properly to the old walls. Moreover, one must remember that avoiding water-based paints is best. Since the walls are already damaged, opting for water-based paints will only lead to paint chipping off more quickly than normal.

Hiring Painters With Experience

Painting a new home is comparatively more straightforward than painting an old home. Since the walls of an old home are most likely to have a lot of wear and tear along with the previous layer of paint chipping off, you need to find someone with the expertise to take on this intricate task. Hence, you must always hire painters who have years of experience. Here is how experienced painters can help:

1. Stress-Free Experience

Painting your old home can be stressful if you don’t have an experienced painter to help. Without an experienced painter, you have to supervise every little thing, from clearing all areas to cleaning the surface for a smooth application. But with an experienced painter, you unlock a smooth project completion. They will make sure all your painting needs are taken care of without you having to supervise every small detail.

2. They Are Insured

Most experienced painting services are insured. This means that if any unfortunate incident occurs, the service providers will take complete responsibility for it. For instance, if the painting project causes damage to the interiors of your home, the contractors will be liable for it and take full responsibility for fixing it.

3. They Are Well Equipped:

You require different equipment for a successful painting project, especially if the house is old. Most well-established and experienced painting contractors have all the necessary tools to complete the task successfully. These tools make it easy to achieve a smooth finish and carefully paint every nook, curve, and ornamental design of the house.

Conclusion

A painting project, especially if the house is old, requires precision and expertise. This is why it is best to leave the job to the experts.

Our team at Eco Painters has all the necessary knowledge and tools to transform your old house into a brand-new home with the power of paint. Hire us today to experience the difference.