5 Misconceptions About Painting

1. "Painting a house is so easy anyone can do it! You just slap the paint on and voila!”

When it comes to painting a house it may seem simple, but there’s more to it than just putting paint on the walls. The keys to a great paint job are proper surface preparation (cleaning, sanding, priming), knowing which paint to use (interior, exterior), what finish to use (satin, matte, semi-gloss), and making sure it’s applied properly for adhesion and durability. When a job is poorly executed it can lead to peeling, spotty coverage, or even damaged surfaces. Professional painters are worth the money spent to get durable long lasting finishes.

2. "Paint Contractors Overcharge For Services Any Homeowner Could Do”

It’s absolutely possible to do a DIY paint job for cheap, but the quality will be just that…cheap. Professional painters know what it takes to make a paint job last and look its best. They take into consideration things like the best quality materials, proper tools, the right preparation, and precise execution of application. Plus, a licensed contractor will have insurance and offer guarantees, an added value should anything go wrong. You may be paying more up front for a professional painting company versus DIY, but it’s going to last longer and look better, which is actually saving money in the long run.

3. "Paint Is Paint! There Is No Low Or High Quality Paint”

A high quality paint is going to give better results in terms of coverage, durability, cleanability, and finish. It’s tempting as a DIY-er to opt for the cheaper paint available at hardware stores, but they are usually thicker and harder to apply, resulting in needing more cans of paint to do the job. Whereas a higher quality paint spreads further with more pigment meaning you don’t need as much to get the proper coverage. Over time the results also speak for themselves as low quality paints will fade quicker, not clean as well, and require more reapplications. The bottom line is, the cheaper paint will end up being more expensive and not look as good! Some of our favorite high quality paints are Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.

4. "The Weather Doesn’t Matter When Painting An Exterior”

We’re in Michigan where the weather can be pretty unpredictable. We get it, sometimes our clients don’t want to have to keep pushing their projects back, but applying paint in proper conditions is important to the success of an exterior paint job. The ideal conditions are temperatures from 50ºF - 80ºF with low humidity. It is possible to apply special low temperature paint in conditions slightly cooler, but we never go lower than 40ºF. The reason we don’t apply paint in extreme temperatures is because it can cause the paint to cure improperly. There could be cracking, poor adhesion, peeling, etc.. In addition to this, weather like rain or high humidity can affect the drying process, ruining the finish of the paint. Professional painters know when to delay projects to ensure you get the optimal results for what you’re paying for. Listen to the pros!

5. "If There’s Mold Or Mildew, Painting Over It Will Fix It”

Mold and mildew must be treated properly before painting to avoid trapping moisture, potentially causing problems to worsen like health issues and structural issues. Professional painters know what products to use to treat, remove, or cover the mold and mildew that will properly address the issue before applying the finish coats of paint. Do not risk causing further damage, call a professional painting company to take care of it.

If you’re in the Metro-Detroit area and are looking for a professional painting company, give Shoreline Painting a call and schedule a free estimate. We offer many services such as interior painting, exterior painting, residential painting, commercial painting, staining, wallpaper removal, wallpaper installation, wood and drywall repairs, restoration, cabinet painting and refinishing, and color consultations. It has been our pleasure to service cities like Grosse Pointe, Birmingham, Rochester Hills, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, Oakland Township, Sterling Heights, Harrison Township, St. Clair Shores, and so much more for more than 14 years. We’re the painters you can trust! Call Today!