Choosing colors for the inside or outside of your home can be fun! But, with all the choices it can also seem like a daunting task.
What’s New on the Color Spectrum?
It seems like grey has been the color du’ jour for quite some time now. Karen D’Andrea, an ASID Certified Interior Designer and color program supervisor for Sherwin Williams, says that trends are stepping away from grey and adding in color. She encourages homeowners to look at Sherwin William’s 2020 Colorforecast to see the new emerging pallets. Beige, rich brown, blues and greens will all take center stage.
Each year paint companies choose new colors to highlight. Naval is the Sherwin William’s 2020 color of the year. It can provide a nice pop while also being neutral. Described as calm, confident and approachable, naval is ‘like a dark pair of jeans’, says D’Andrea. It is a great color for accent walls, cabinets, front doors and even furniture and fabrics.
Narrow Down the Color for Your House!
D’andrea offers some great tips for choosing paint for the exterior of your home:
- Remember that the color you choose will be exposed to Arizona’s bright sun and may appear to be washed out. Paint large test areas of the house in different areas and observe the color at different times of the day. This exercise may convince you to go a shade darker in your color choice
- Stand back and look at the house from the street. If the home has a pitched roof pay attention to the tiles or shingles making sure the color you choose complements the color of the roof. What color is the gravel? Arizona gravel comes in a wide variety of colors from very light beige, to sandstone, to dark brown. Does the color you are considering complement the rock?
- Don’t forget about the neighboring houses. You may be looking for a statement color but, you also want your house to fit the neighborhood.
- Neutral shades of beige, warm grey or soft white are good for the base exterior. A dreamy east coast yellow might be a poor choice especially if you are planning on selling your home. A complimentary trim color will enhance your base color choice and bring all the elements together.
If choosing the color has you frustrated Sherwin Williams will send one of their In-Home Color Consultants to your home for a 90-minute consultation. The consultant can help you find the color you are looking for and can even give you product recommendations. In addition to overall project advice that will help give your home a professional, finished appearance. It is certainly worth the $95 fee to have an expert with a well-trained eye help in narrowing down your color choices (A $50 gift card toward Sherwin Williams Paint is included!).
Have Your Paint Selection? Time To Get the Job Done Right!
Now that you have your color choice, make sure the job is done right! Many people think of painting as an easy job, but it is labor intensive when done right. Up to 50% of the labor is in the prep work alone! Doug Caris of Arizona Painting Company stresses the importance of doing your homework before you choose a painter.
Ask lots of questions before you hire a painter such as the following:
- Minimal requirements! Are they licensed and bonded contractor? Licensing information for Arizona contractors can be found at roc.az.gov.
- How long have they been in business? Longevity is important! A minimum of 5 years is a good indicator that they will be around to service their warranty. Feel free to ask for references.
- What is involved in their prep work- a good painter takes a lot of time to prep their paint jobs and protect surrounding services. Arizona Paint Company has a full list of prep work including power washing, masking, trenching, stucco plus drywall repairs, caulking and priming. All of these steps lead up to a quality paint job.
- What kind of paint do they use? Caris stresses the importance of a good quality paint like Sherwin Williams SuperPaint & Duration lines. Acrylic based paints are suited to the Arizona climate. Sherwin Williams has several lines with the newest in acrylic paint technology found in their self-priming Duration line. How the paint is applied is also important. Make sure they paint in two directions and for stucco exteriors back rolling is a must!
- How long will the paint job last? According to Arizona Painting Company exterior paint is formulated to last, but it can’t survive every weather condition. Places that get a lot of harsh sunlight will cause exterior paint to fade quicker and if there’s excessive heat, the paint is more likely to peel and crack sooner than anticipated. Paint longevity also depends on the surface it’s painted on. On a stucco surface, homeowners can expect a good coat of exterior paint to last 10 years, but wood surfaces deteriorate more quickly, shortening the expected lifespan to 5-7 years.
- What warranty do they offer? The warranty a paint company is able to offer will correlate with the quality of the job and the type of paint. The warranty should be at least 3 years. Arizona Painting Company has 3 levels available depending on the paint choice. The highest quality paint offers a 10-year warranty.
Painting your home helps protect it and should bring highly satisfying results. Doing your homework before you start, from choosing the right color for your home to choosing a qualified painter, will help insure a good outcome. Whether you are staying in your home or planning to sell, a beautiful paint job will increase the curb appeal of your home.
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