When arranging the exterior space, you need to take different aspects into account than in the case of interiors. Are you wondering how to approach materials choice and painting methods? We've prepared a brief guide explaining it.
If you already have restored the house from the inside, you may assume that you don't need any additional skills or know-how to paint and decorate its facade. However, it's not necessarily true. Even though the methods are similar in both cases, everything else is different - especially in the case of the houses located in the moderate climate zone, where the amplitude of temperatures throughout the year is high. How to approach such a task in order to end up with a stunning effect?
Adjust to the conditions
Thorough planning is essential to successful exterior works. What should you consider? First, think about the conditions. They determine whether you should even launch the project or postpone it. Which aspects should you take into account when planning?
Humidity level
If it's too high, the walls will take a long time to dry, and as a result, the works will extend in time. Before putting another layer, the previous one has to be completely dry, so high humidity may make it really frustrating for you.
Temperature
Neither low, nor extremely high temperature creates favorable conditions to paint and decorate the exteriors. In the first case, the paint takes a long time to dry. In the other, it dries too fast. That may result in ugly streaks and uneven color. At the same time, extreme temperatures affect your comfort and effectiveness. You may end up doing frequent breaks to warm up or cool down, and as a result, the work may take much longer.
Sun
If the facade you're going to paint has a good sun exposure, we would avoid painting in the midday-early afternoon hours when the sun is the strongest. It may make the paint dry too quickly and give you a headache! Take all these factors into account when planning the works. You'll probably come to the conclusion that the best time to restore your facade is either spring or autumn. 15-20 degrees Celsius, moderate sun, no rain - these are the perfect conditions to carry out such works.
Choose the right materials
Due to the exposure to fluctuating conditions, your exterior space requires materials resistant to their damaging influence. Which materials are resistant to humidity, extreme temperatures, and UV radiation?
Paint
When it comes to choosing exterior paint, we would recommend silicon paint. You can apply it on concrete substrates, as well as lime-cement mortars and mineral-polymer plasters. Adjusting the paint to the base of the facade is crucial - so first of all, make sure to read its applications recommended by the producer.
If you have a wooden facade to paint, silicon products will not be the best choice. Instead, you should choose acrylic, oil, alkyd, or vinyl paint. Acrylic products dry faster, but not all are suitable for the exteriors, so read the label twice. The oil ones take more time to dry, but they're more resistant to destructive exterior factors such as UV radiation. So are the alkyd and vinyl paints, which are also not prone to mechanical damage.
Wood
You may also consider covering the exterior walls with wood. Wooden facades are very trendy nowadays, and they go very well with simple shapes and modern design. They're eye-catching, but they blend in with nature. You may densely cover the facade with wooden beams or create an open-work wooden wall.
Which wood to choose? One of the most popular species used for exteriors is the Siberian Larch, durable and resistant to harsh conditions due to its origin. However, remember that the shade of such elevation evolves from bright brown to silvery beige with time. If you're searching for something even more durable, you could go for the HPL boards covered with real-wood veneer instead.
Summing up
As you can see, appropriate preparation is the key! To ensure the best effect, consider hiring a team of professionals. Many painters in London offer exterior painting services, but not all have experience and expertise, so don't forget to verify their portfolio.
