Consider Painting the Trim on Your Home or Business

Have you noticed lately that your home or business’s exterior is beginning to look a little worn? Not the entire structure, though, and you are having trouble putting your finger on the problem. Quite often people don’t realize that when the trim around doors, windows, eaves and similar areas start to fade it can cause the entire building to look run down. So, before you go planning to paint your entire home or business from top to bottom – consider refreshing the trim. What follows are some suggestions that can help you through the decision-making process.

• Examine your home or business exterior with an eagle-eye. Is the trim the same color as the rest of the structure or is it different? A different color trim – using complementary or accent paint colors – tends to catch the eye of the passerby and make the building stand out. However, so does a home or business that looks neat and clean with only one color seamlessly applied from top to bottom. So deciding whether to use complementary or accent colors or making the trim the same color as the entire structure may be the first and most important determination to be made.

• Surf the net. Look for pictures of homes or businesses that have matching trim and those with complementary and/or accent colors. Since you are focusing on trim – go all out. Perhaps you are not a ‘red’ person, but you have seen some homes with red trim and think it might be a color you like. In fact, consider your favorite home colors before moving forward. It wouldn’t hurt to drive around the neighborhood to get ideas as well. Nothing is more informative than real-world examples.

• Take the plunge. If you can’t decide on one color, then get paint samples of a few that you really like. Then, one by one, apply them in a place that is not noticeable to the viewing public. Look at them several times to help you make your final choice.

• Remember to prepare the trim surfaces before painting. The old paint should be sanded down. Any imperfections will be more noticeable then – such as if windows need caulking. Make all repairs in advance.

• Finally, paint and enjoy. Painting the trim requires smaller brushes and a steady hand. When done – stand back and admire!

Contact University Painters, Inc. for all your professional painting needs.