Our Exterior House Paint Services
Broke Slipper Painting offers an array of exterior painting services including roof painting, siding painting, trim painting, garage painting, and roof painting. Learn more about the basic differences between interior and exterior paint, and the specific considerations for painting in Hawaii. Then, read more about the different exterior painting services Broke Slipper Painting can offer you!
Interior Paint versus Exterior Paint
Exterior paint has to hold up against a lot more wear and tear than interior paint does. Exterior paint protects your home from damaging elements such as wind, sun, rain, high heat or cold, moisture, and mold. That’s why exterior paint is higher in concentrations, called resins, which protect the home, sidings, and other areas from long-term damage.
Other ingredients in paint include additives, binders, pigments, additives, and solvents. The difference between interior paint and exterior paint is that exterior paint is much higher in resins and additives, which combat deterioration, and mildew.
Resins and Volatile Organic Compounds: One of the greatest differences between exterior and interior paint ingredients is the presence of certain chemicals which off gas Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Because exterior house paint is meant to be more durable, that also means a higher levels of solvents.
These solvents increase the level of VOCs. That’s why it’s crucial to never use exterior paint for an interior space, and to always have good ventilation, even when painting outside. When done properly and combined with routine paint maintenance, a high-quality paint job performed with good quality paint can stay beautiful for up to 10 to 15 years!
Choosing Exterior Finishes
Some basic similarities between interior and exterior paints include the variety of finishes and sheens that both offer. Like with interior painting, some finishes will be better suited to different parts of the house’s exterior.
A Flat finish is much more porous than other finishes, and not ideal for homes especially susceptible to mildew and sun exposure. It is, however, ideal for old wooden siding or to cover up imperfections on siding.
Eggshell comes in as a highly popular exterior paint finish, just as it does for interiors. That’s because it applies smoothly and is washable. Eggshell isn’t as shiny as it’s gloss competitors, making it another good choice for highlighting trim and covering imperfections.
Satin Finish has a higher level of UV protection, making it ideal for many sunny Hawaii homes. Thanks to its durability and stretch, it can prevent mildew build-up and doesn’t peel easily. Unfortunately, satin does show imperfections, so when trying to paint over dents and dings in older siding it’s less preferable than a flat finish.
Glossy Exterior Paints
Semi-gloss paint hides perfections even less than satin finish, but it’s an ideal choice for garage doors, railings, window sills, and front doors due to its boldness and shine. Semi-gloss finish is best for areas that need a lot of cleaning or receive a lot of exposure to the elements. Because semi-gloss paint is stronger, it is ideal for high moisture regions such as Nuuanu, Manoa, and the Windward side of Oahu.
High Gloss Paint finish is the brightest and shiniest of the options. Because it’s so beautiful and bold, high-gloss is best for accenting specific architecture, shutters, front doors, window frames, or high-traffic exterior areas such as fixtures and railings.
You might be tempted to paint your entire house with high-gloss paint, but it will look overwhelming. Broke Slipper Painting will help you decide on the best choices for whichever exterior areas of your home need a new coat of paint. Simply put, the more cluttered a room is, the more time consuming the preparation will be. Whatever type of floor you have will need to be covered, as well as baseboards and trim if you’re not ready to have them painted. Windows may need to be covered or removed for painting, and ceiling painting requires some careful maneuvering around fans and appliances above.
Exterior Painting in Hawaii
The best times to paint are when humidity is relatively low, with an optimal temperature range of 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Preparation and planning are integral to an ideal finished product, especially in Hawaii where weather can be volatile.
Firstly, no matter where you’re located, go for quality. Better quality paints and proper preparation might seem expensive, but those steps will save you big bucks over the long run.
Preparing the Exterior of a Home
If it’s a newly constructed home you need painted, feel free to scroll past this part. If, however, you’re repainting an existing home, here are the basic rules of planning before paint is even applied:
Stripping Existing Paint
Removing existing paint chips, bubbles, and peels creates a smooth surface for the exterior paint.
Clean and Dry Surfaces: Power washing or hand-washing of trim, siding, doors, or any other surfaces you want painted is an absolute must before painting. Getting the surfaces dry is also important to prevent any moisture getting trapped in the wood, vinyl, masonry, or stucco.
Exterior Paint Colors
There are just as many color options for the exterior of a home as there are for interior painting. Think about the colors that best complement your décor, neighborhood, personal taste, levels of sunlight throughout the year, and the landscape. A mellow shade of grey might look nice in more urban settings, while brighter hues could play off of more vibrant landscapes.
Custom Paint Projects
Be sure to give us a call and get a free estimate for custom paint projects such as:
Siding Painting and any other custom ideas you might have!
Broke Slipper Painting. Kailua, Oahu.
367 Auwinala Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
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