The Power of Paint!

It has come that time to finally start the process of painting the exterior of the home! I cannot wait to do this because this is going to be a HUGE transformation for the home. The large bushes blocked so much of the home hiding the mid-century style of this ranch. Once peeled back I could finally see the lines that I knew were always there. I think you call the color of the home puke yellow LOL! Not something we would want to keep.

Mid October 2019

For this ranch home there are 3 types of surfaces to paint which are cedar, brick, and metal. Since these materials are very different I had to make sure I was using the correct products. The first call I made was to my contacts at Benjamin Moore paint. I have been using their products for years and they are my go to when ever I am doing a painting project. Not only do I love their colors, but the product is high quality that enhances the life of the home. Jenn and I chose to paint the home true white for the main house and true black for all the trim, under the eaves, and windows.

First thing we did was power-wash the entire house and get all the dirt and dust off.

Power washing done. This the end of October 2019.

The masonry was very important and I wanted to make sure that I put the correct materials on it. Brick is porous and water can get through it over time. I had to make sure whatever I was putting on top of it was going to seal the brick so I did not have any issues in the future. I was told to use Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry which is an acrylic masonry sealer.

Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry sealer.

The primer for the cedar shake is different. This product is called Benjamin Moore Fresh Start for exterior wood. This will protect the wood and make the paint adhere to it really well. One of the most important steps in the painting process is the primer. If this is not done correctly your finish paint will not adhere and will brake down a lot faster from the weather elements of hot and cold. Living in the Northeast this is crucial and cannot be overlooked.

Benjamin Moore Fresh Start primer for wood.

Now that the priming process is complete it is time to start putting the finish paint on the home!

The house 100% primed and now we are ready for the white paint and black trim.

Jenn and I just wanted the home to be bright white and for that we used the stock white by Benjamin Moore which is the truest white they have. The same went for the black we wanted a true black and that meant we would use their stock black. If this is something you want for your home all you have to do is get the color right off the shelf. There is no mixing of the paint at all and you know that you are getting a solid true color. For exterior paint you want to use the Regal Select brand by Benjamin Moore. This is their middle of the road product and it does an excellent job for the exterior application. For the white paint I am going with a flat finish and the black is a soft gloss for all trim.

Regal Select white flat finish.

Regal Select soft gloss black.

As soon as the painting was finished I was in shock! I could not believe that this was the same home! All of the mid-century details and the roof line just pop off the home and came to life. I always tell people never underestimate the power of paint and what it can do to exterior and interior of a home. This home does not look at all like the same house and it really stands out now. The exterior is not finished yet, but it has changed drastically. Still to come for the exterior are the new windows and doors from Renewal by Andersen and exterior lighting from Barn Light Electric. In the spring I will finish the landscaping in the front as well. A huge step in the process is complete and I was able to get it done before the winter weather came. Make sure you go to your local Benjamin Moore store to check out all the new colors they have. You can also go to their website to see more about the new products they have for 2020 https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us.

All the products I used for the exterior painting by Benjamin Moore.

Check out the house now! It looks nothing the like the first picture at the top of this blog.

Exterior painting complete mid November 2019.

Check out those mid-century lines on the home.

Is this the same home! Every time I drive up I am just shocked!