Real Estate sales and marketing in the Greater Burlington Vermont region has been my occupation and passion for more than 30 years. My focus has been on the sales and marketing of condominiums with a generous amount of single family home sales thrown into the mix. Each week I bring information of interest that not only focuses on the local home and condo real estate community but also provides context to the Burlington market in respect to larger market real estate trends. I enjoy feedback and the opportunity to meet my readers and experience their home. The Condo Guy is here for you when it comes time to buy or sell your condo or home.
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Winter may have taken a toll on your home's exterior this year. You've been noticing the cracking paint for months, but you don't want to shell out the big bucks to hire a professional painter. Don't fret! With the weather warming and the nice summer weekends, it's the perfect time to tackle that project of painting your home. While this might seem like an insurmountable task, especially if you have a multi-story home, it's not. It just takes the right tools and a bit of hard work. Below are step-by-step instructions to having the outside of your house looking shiny and new. Test For Lead Homes built before 1978 could have used lead paint, so be careful if you have an older home. They make kits that test for lead paint. If your home tests positive, then ensure you take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your neighbors safe. Scrub It Up You need to wash the exterior of your home before painting. Mildew thrives under new paint, so kill it with a solution of water and phosphate-free cleaner. Scrape And Sand Take a scraper to your home's exterior to remove any peeling paint. Spraying water under the paint as you scrape helps speed up the process. Then sand down any rough spots, so that you have a smooth canvas. Apply The Primer Paint on the primer immediately after you've prepped the wood. This will provide and even base for your topcoat of paint. Buy Some Caulk You'll need to caulk all the joints to prevent water penetration and air leakage. Plus, caulk does a great job of filling in blemishes in your siding. Pick Out Your Paint Choose a water-based latex paint. It's easier than applying oil-based paints. However, if your home already has an oil-based paint, you'll have to stay with it. Once you've selected your favorite paint color, just grab a brush or rent a sprayer to start painting your home. Maintain your exterior. Be sure to check your home annually for any potential problems. Replace cracked caulk, remove mildew and patch any peeling paint before it spreads. Utilize the beautiful summer weekends to get started on painting your home. Understand that this process normally takes two weekends, so be patient. Plus, by not hiring a professional, you'll save a significant sum of money and have bragging rights when you receive compliments on the condition of your home.
| posted by Bill Desautels P: (802) 655-9100 (800) 639-4520 x217 F: (802) 655-0400 E: condoguy@condoguy.com The Condo Guy - Vermont condo real estate The Condo Guy has been providing advice to buyers and sellers of Vermont condos real estate for nearly 30 years. |
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