How to paint plastic
Spring is upon us and the sun is shining on tired looking UPVC downpipes, windows, doors and garden furniture across the country. Replacing exterior plastic features on a property can be expensive, and it’s often unnecessary. An alternative solution is to revive and extend the life of plastics by painting them.
The condition of the plastic
You will need to do a ‘health check’ of the plastic that you’re painting. Replace any leaky gaskets and joiners on guttering, and fix or replace any faulty furniture on plastic doors and windows. Older plastics can be brittle, so make sure they are sound before painting. This is particularly important when it comes to garden furniture. In particular, check garden chair legs for brittleness.
Asbestos
As with any decorating project, there is the possibility of encountering asbestos based materials, for example in old soffits, if the property was built before the year 2000. For advice on working with asbestos
Choosing an appropriate paint system
Due to the nature of plastics, it is important to use an appropriate paint system that will achieve long-lasting, high quality results. Coatings that have been designed for plastics have the following properties
Strong adhesion
The shiny surface of plastic is difficult for standard primers and paints to adhere to. Plastic primers and paints have excellent adhesion properties to help combat this.
NOTE: You should wait a minimum of 12 months before painting newly installed UPVC. This allows time for the glossy surface to ‘dull’, making paint adhesion much easier.
Flexibility
Plastics expand and contract in response to temperature (thermal expansion) so any coating needs to be flexible enough to cope with this constant movement.
UV stability
External plastic features are exposed to the sun’s UV rays year-round. Plastic coatings need to be UV stable to provide a finish that is resistant to sun bleaching.
Tips for Painting Exterior Brick and How Much it Costs
painted brick and think it’s such a classic, timeless look. I think a lot of people want to do it, but for some reason are a little hesitant about taking the leap
It could be that the lack of knowledge and knowing exactly what they are doing scares them some. I can totally relate, so I wanted to give you some tips on painting the exterior of your home that will hopefully give you a little more knowledge and put you at ease. Whether DIYing or hiring it done, these tips will help you.
Prepping
Prepping is a major part that is very crucial in making sure painted exterior brick is done properly. Make sure and clean the brick with a cleaning mixture before you do anything. If the brick isn’t too dirty, a hose, a stiff-bristled brush, and soapy water will work just fine.
After cleaning, make sure and fill in all cracks with acrylic caulk. This will need time to dry before applying the exterior paint. Now, you will want to make sure and cover all the windows and doors with plastic. Use multiple layers if necessary and painter’s tape to secure tightly.
Using the Right Tools and Materials
Like any other job, having the right tools on hand will make the job flow much smoother and easier. You will want to make sure you have a sprayer or roller that can cover large amounts of an area at one time. We recommend using a sprayer. This will cut down on work time, will make it easier to get into all the joints, and will be much easier overall. But make sure to spray at all angles to make sure the paint gets into all of the nooks and crannies of the brick. This is especially important if you have over grouted joints like our house.
Cost To Paint A House
Whether you’re looking to add curb appeal to your house before listing it on the market or make a new home feel more like your own, painting can make your home feel like new. However, if getting your house painted is something you’ve never had experience planning before, it can be useful to learn what your options are and how much it will cost to paint a house.
Professional Painters Vs. DIY Paint Jobs
While there are plenty of home improvement tasks that can be taken on by an average homeowner, painting your home is a job that may be better handled by a professional. One reason for this is that the life of the paint job will increase and the likelihood that there are significant errors will decrease if you hire a seasoned professional
This can be well worth the cost if you are going to stay in your home for many years, or if you want to impress potential buyers. However, if you’re highly motivated and determined to handle the work yourself, there is still a great deal of planning that should take place in order to ensure that the job is done correctly and cost-effectively.
The Cost Of House Painting
The current average cost to paint a house exterior is $2.50-$4 per square foot. To paint the interior, the average cost is $1.50-$3 per square foot. These prices are contingent on the market in your area and what the features of your home are.
Exterior Painting
If the average cost for painting the exterior walls of your home averages $3-$4 per square foot, then a 2,400-square-foot home would cost about $7,200. The Painting and Decorating Contractors of America’s most recent estimates for the average cost of labor and materials to have your house professionally painted include all costs in this estimate.
How to Paint the Exterior of Your House
After a while, painted houses start to reveal wear and tear, so once in a while, doing a refreshing exterior house-painting project can bring back your home’s vibrancy. There is a lot of preparation work required for repainting a house but it’s important to not skip this part because it makes the painting work much easier and ensures that the paintwork endures and stays in great condition.
Start with an exterior house wash. It is important that you spend some time washing the dirt and grime off the exterior of your house before you start painting. If the exterior surface of your house is free of paint-repelling soil, the primer and paint will adhere better, making the paint last longer. Most of the time, a simple wash with a hose, a pump sprayer and a scrub brush is sufficient, but if you decide that you would prefer a professional to help you, a power washer in the hands of a professional can provide a superior clean
Remove chipped and flaking paint from the exterior walls. Before you paint the exterior of your house, scrape off any bubbling, flaking or blistering paint. Painting over this could cause future problems for your new house painting project. Strip these parts right back so that they no longer present a problem
Sand the area you are painting. The goal when painting the exterior of your house is to have the cleanest and most beautiful exterior you can. Sanding will help by smoothing out any bumps or lumps that can look strange under a fresh coat of paint
Patch and fill holes in the house. The goal here is to repair any damage that could worsen over time, which may require a future painting of your home. Be sure that you repair any rotten wood, fix any dents and replace damaged pieces of your home that might get worse in the future.
The Cost of Painting a House Exterior
This article discusses everything you need to know about painting the exterior of your home. Including costs of materials and labour, things to consider and our frequently asked questions.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House?
On average, the price of painting a two-storey, three-bedroom house in the UK is estimated at around $850. However, always keep in mind that this price is an estimate, and many cost varying factors will affect the actual expense of your project. These factors include things such as the size of your home, the design of your home, the materials used and the tradesperson’s daily or hourly rates.
When hiring a professional painter and decorator to paint the exterior of your house, you will usually be covering the cost of all materials, supplies and their labour. In most cases, it may be necessary for you to erect scaffolding prior to having the exterior of your home painted. Some smaller companies will likely charge a lower rate to paint the outside of your home, in comparison to a larger painting organisation.
Another overlooked cost varying factor when hiring a tradesperson is the area in which you live. For example, if you live in an expensive city such as London, you will likely pay higher rates for the work. Companies that supply the use of their own tools and equipment may work out more affordable as they do not have to include their hire costs in the quote. A professional painter and decorator will likely suggest the best quality paints and materials to use for your project, however, consider shopping around if you have to source the paint yourself to find the best value for your budget.
Painting House Exterior Prices
As we mentioned previously, the average cost of painting a house exterior in the UK varies on many factors. A significant cost varying factor would be the size and style of your home. Below is a table in which we have demonstrated an example of how much the cost may vary when hiring a tradesperson to carry out the work on your property. Please keep in mind that these costs are estimates and should only be used as a rough guide when budgeting for your project.