Spring has finally sprung, and it’s the perfect time to make a start on those DIY jobs that make a massive difference to how your home looks and feels – especially those exterior decorating projects!
This month we’re going to give you our top tips on sprucing up the exterior of your home so that you’re ready to welcome friends and family around for a BBQ or garden party.
Revitalise your house with these 6 exterior decorating projects…
- Paint your garden fence: a new colour will lift the whole exterior of your property, so rub that fence down with a wire brush and apply a couple of coats of wood treatment. Make sure that you use a soft brush to remove any loose dirt before applying the first coat, and then choose something like Cuprinol Shades. Easy to apply and offering many colour options, it’s ideal for the DIYer and provides 5 years of protection.
- Paint your gate: Is your metal gate looking sorry for itself? A rub down with some wire wool and sandpaper to remove any rust and dirt will prepare it perfectly for some metal paint. Lay a sheet down to protect the floor, give it a good clean with sugar soap, and then apply primer. Once dry you can use a small brush to apply two coats of metal paint.
- Paint your doorstep: A coat or three of decent masonry paint can transform a worn doorstep and give your house a completely new look. As with all masonry painting, prep first with a good sand and clean before applying the paint.
- Paint your window sills and surrounds: Old Victorian terrace houses often have concrete window sills that look fantastic when painted. Rub them down with wire wool, fill in any holes with ready mixed stone repair and rendering, and then apply primer and paint. Use the same colour and technique for the arches and surrounds.
- Jet wash your paths: A year’s worth of muck and grime will make any exterior paths or driveways look terrible, but a day with a hired jet wash and some elbow grease and your paths will soon look sparkling clean!
- Paint your house: A fresh coat of paint to your house’s exterior will make it look like a new property. It’s best to stick to fairly simple and neutral colours in our climate rather than attempting to bring a little continental sparkle with a brighter colour – we simply don’t have the quality of light to pull that off successfully so white works best.
None of these jobs should be too much for the brave DIY enthusiast, but we’re always here to offer some friendly advice. Some exterior decorating projects can feel a little overwhelming for the novice though, so if you live in Leeds, Harrogate or surrounding areas, please feel free to contact us for a quote!