With the arrival of spring often comes the desire to spruce up the outside of your building. Whether it’s landscaping, repairs, or painting, boosting curb appeal is an important part of your maintenance strategy. If your building needs some TLC, a fresh coat of paint can often improve aesthetics and camouflage some less-than-appealing aspects of your building.

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While exterior painting must be done in warm weather, spring is the perfect time to start planning to paint your building, but there are some things you need to know before you get started:

• The surface needs to be thoroughly cleaned before you begin, removing any dust, dirt, or uneven areas. Without this step, your paint may look messy and may not stick to the substrate. Fix any damage, at this time, too, to provide a smooth surface for your paint.
• Test whether you can paint over what’s existing by checking the condition of your existing paint. This can be done by making a small cut into the surface and putting tape over the spot. When you remove the tape, if the existing paint is also removed, then the surface needs to be scraped or sanded to remove the paint before you start your painting project.
• Certain types of paint perform better at specific temperatures, so look at what type of paint and finish you prefer. Extreme temperatures, high humidity, or foggy conditions can all negatively affect the adhesion and drying process, so take weather into consideration and plan your job around the appropriate weather.
• Consider your safety and the well-being of staff or visitors to the building. Avoiding exposure to chemicals with a mask and eye protection, using safe practices on a ladder, and choosing a time with little traffic will help you paint safely and efficiently.
• Use the best tools for the job to achieve an even, appealing finish. For example, you might choose to use a sprayer rather than a roller for large areas to save time and get an even coat. You may also want to invest in a pole to get to those hard-to-reach places.
• Protect the areas around the project by covering lighting, landscaping, and decorative items to keep them shielded from any splatter.

Maintaining your property means tackling many tasks, big and small, so as soon as the weather permits, check exterior painting off your outdoor maintenance list.