It is not as simple as it looks, but one job that pretty much anyone can do on their house is painting. Depending on the circumstances, you’ll know how hard or how easy the painting project will likely be. So long as you have time to do the job, it can save you money by doing your own painting, and prep work. If you think that you do not have the time, then you should consider hiring someone.

Wall Prep

After some time, the paint on your wall is going to either begin to fade or peel. In fact, your single option is to scrape the paint off your wall. If your home might be very old, it is likely that you may have a number of coats of paint underneath. You will end up with a tougher time if the layers of paint below are oil-based. After you happen to be done scraping the paint off of the walls, you are going to either need to putty holes in the wall if it’s wood or spackle if it is drywall then sand it down. After you have completed this process, wash off the dust and let it dry out. Make sure you wait about 24 hours to fully dry.

Addressing Moisture

One of the bigger issues with older homes is from moisture build-up. Should there be excessive condensation, a leak, or dampness building-up, the result will also be cracking paint. You will notice this frequently in the bathroom, where mold and mildew will likely grow. Though generally discovered in the bathroom, you could have this problem in other parts of your house. Occasionally your home will have a leak, or shrubs that are too close. If your paint is cracking caused by moisture, then you need to find a different option. When the paint cracking is actually inside, you will need to make a solution of one part bleach and three parts water to stop the mildew buildup. If it’s on the external part of the house, you merely wash it with a pressure washer and the solution that comes with it.

An additional difficulty that needs a painter, is when the color is fading, which normally happens on the exterior. This happens most often outside the home where there is direct sunlight practically for the whole day. To prevent this problem, stay away from bright colors, or bold ones, similar to red. If you want some form of deep color, find one with a ruddy tone or golden.

You shouldn’t ever let your home end up in poor shape. It’s good to keep it painted every few years, and immediately fix any leaks to get rid of the moisture.