How to Nail Your Dallas Exterior House Painting Project

Why we interviewed 360° Painting for this guide

360° Painting’s owner Andrey Shelokovskiy moved to Texas after his professional experience took him around the world. He spent 6 years working for PPG Protective and Marine Coatings and conducted commercial painting projects for companies like Amazon.

So what brought Andrey to Texas?

“We went straight to Dallas,” Andrey explained. “It was the [best] spot because of the economy and demographics. It made a ton of sense to set up a business here.”

Andrey is a member of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) and holds a degree in petroleum engineering. That experience allows him to understand paint down to a granular level — how its chemicals apply to surfaces, and which paints work best in certain environments. 

“My past experience in the painting industry gives me a unique advantage to provide technical and economical solutions that others can’t,” Andrey says.

HOMR likes Andrey’s ability to select high-end paints that last effectively in extreme Dallas weather. His ability to bring commercial-grade quality solutions to residential home painting makes him an expert in exterior house painting.

Dallas Exterior House Painting: Don’t Start Without this checklist

We asked Andrey to provide his top tips for successful Dallas exterior house painting. These tips fall into 4 categories:

• Choose the Right House Paint.
• Prepare Your Siding for Painting.
• Ask for a Quality Paint Job Estimate.
• Confirm the Paint Job’s Warranty.
  

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How to Choose the Right Exterior House Paint in Dallas

Choosing the right exterior house paint for DFW area homes takes 2 steps: selecting premium paint to fight the Texas sun, and learning the difference between paint bases.

Select Premium Paint Products to Fight the Texas Sun

Andrey’s recommendation for exterior paint work in Dallas: select  good quality paint products. Premium paints contain stronger pigments that survive well in the harsh Texas sun.

360° Painting: “Selecting the [right] product is huge for exteriors. The sun is very aggressive and that comes into play when selecting products. Every paint manufacturer has grades of products. A lower end product performs well in other environments, but the Dallas sun can burn off pigments of lower quality paint. The stronger the pigments the better the color retention and ability to withstand weather extremities.”

“We always recommend people in Texas go into more premium products to paint their exterior. It makes a lot of sense as far as color retention and longevity. I’ve seen new builds painted as quick and cheap as possible… and it discolors badly after 3-5 years.”

Upgrading to premium paint isn’t as expensive as you think. “The cost increase to go to high end products is not dramatic, maybe 7-12%. But it’ll protect your house paint for 12-15 more years

The Difference Between Paint Bases (And Andrey’s Picks)

Most modern residential paints have one of two bases — acrylic and latex. The primary difference between them is how their base is created. Latex paint is water-based, while acrylic paint is chemical-based.

So which is right for your home? 

Acrylic paint is the best choice for exterior house painting. Acrylic paint’s chemical base makes it more elastic and fade-resistant than latex and older oil paints.

Pro Exterior Paint Recommendation: 360° Painting and HOMR both like Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh Exterior house paint. It’s formulated so dirt washes away upon contact with water. It also prevents fading and UV damage.

How to Prepare Your Home’s Siding for Painting

Dirty Siding Causes Bad Paint Jobs

The best paint in the world still chips and peels if it’s applied to dirty surfaces. Dirt and standing water create pockets between the paint and your home’s surfaces, making it easier for separation to occur.

Power wash or soft wash your siding before the paint crew comes in. Many Texas homeowners hire a handyman for this task.

360° Painting: “Paint only works as well as the preparation. It’s not just ‘come in and slap the paint on the surface.’ Dirt creates spaces for your paint to chip and peel, it creates poor adhesion.”

How to Clean Your Home Siding for New Paint

Clean your home siding before applying new paint — this ensures maximum adhesion between paint and the surface. 

There’s no “secret pro formula” to pre-paint cleaning. Lukewarm water and mild soap should do the trick — if there’s thicker dirt or grease on your siding, use a grease-cutting detergent soap. Some professionals use fine-grit sandpaper on exterior surfaces before washing.

360° Painting: “Make sure the house has been washed beforehand, that it’s clean and you have an optimal surface for adhesion. The paint will perform as well as the preparation. It’s the building block of great paint.” 

Once you’ve cleaned the paint surface of dirt, grime and residue, check your home’s siding for cracks and gaps. Make sure all joints and gaps are fully sealed and filled in to prevent water and ice damage.

360° Painting: “Caulk and seal the joints. Make sure the full surface is sealed against water. If you have a lot of wood and you don’t have it sealed, wood rot will come into play in a couple years.”

A 4-Step Cheat Code to a Quality Paint Job Estimate

An estimate with your painting contractor should be a comfortable, fact-finding experience. Your painting crew should enter your home ready to provide a thorough walkthrough, transparent quote and clear timeline for project completion.

Andrey from 360° Painting says that Dallas homeowners should expect 4 things from a quality painting estimate:

1. A step-by-step walkthrough.
2. A quote based on precise measurements.
3. An exact bid the paint contractor stands by.
4. A guarantee to see the same crew every day.

Ask for a Step-by-Step Walkthrough of Your Paint Job

When your painting contractor arrives, take them on a full walkthrough of your project. Talk about each area you need painted in detail — the more information you provide, the better performance you will receive. 

Be cautious of painters that don’t ask questions or directly address your concerns. A quality service provider bases their work around your needs and preferences. 

360° Painting: “We walk through your project before we start, and take the time to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have throughout the process. We have a step by step process, we don’t come in and ballpark anything.”

Measuring: The Only Way To Ensure an Accurately Priced Quote

HOMR prefers a home painting company that quotes jobs based on exact measurements. This not only ensures a precise bid, but that your contractor works ethically.

360° Painting: “Whether exterior or interior, we take measurements to quote you exactly on square footage on plane surfaces, and linear footage of trim.”

It’s also important to price shop your bid against other households and neighborhoods. Unfortunately, some contractors change their prices based on the neighborhood you live in — Andrey doesn’t support this practice.

360° Painting: “We never just toss a figure in the air and see how it sticks. Our price quotes don’t fluctuate from neighborhood to neighborhood - it’s all based on the parameters of your project.”

Expect Your Paint Contractor to Stand Behind Their Bid

HOMR TIP: A written out “scope of work” is the legal contract between you and your painter. Once your contractor provides a bid, expect them to stand by it. 

360° Painting: “Whatever we put in the bid documents, we stand behind it. We take care of any and all issues to ensure a smooth process for the homeowner. We don’t think you should have to babysit your painters, you should be able to relax and spend time with your family.”

Request the Same Painting Crew Every Day

It’s comforting to know the same crew will arrive at your house every work day. It takes trust to let contractors in your home — seeing the same faces repeatedly is a signal your painting company intends to earn that trust.

A repeat paint crew is more than a “feel good” — consistent workers know the current state of your project and exactly what needs to be completed each day.

360° Painting: “Our crew is the same from job to job. Our painters are experienced professionals with the skill set necessary to ensure the job is done correctly and efficiently. We believe in providing quality workmanship on each and every job, so you can rest assured that your painting project is in good hands.”

2 Paint Job Warranties Are Better Than One

Top-quality painters offer 2 warranties on their paint job: the manufacturer’s product warranty, and their own workmanship warranty.

Some manufacturers offer better product warranties than others. For example, Sherwin-Williams offers a limited lifetime warranty on all their products for as long as you live in your home. Note the last part — it’s a non-transferable warranty.

The best Dallas painters offer a warranty on their work as well as the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Hire a Painter With a Workmanship Warranty Offer

A quality home contractor should stand behind their work. HOMR prefers home painting companies that offer a warranty on their workmanship and labor - the minimum that any painter should provide is 12 months.

360° Painting offers a 2 year workmanship warranty to all homeowners from the date of project completion. They guarantee that any painting jobs will be free from defects for that time period. They also offer a 6 month warranty on all carpentry work on removed or reinstalled products.