Let's be honest - Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge Mountains are absolutely gorgeous all year round, but ESPECIALLY the fall.  While we are still in August, fall is right around the corner.  The pros here at RB Painting Company wanted to share a few tips on doing exterior painting in the fall.  Before we begin, if you are looking for either exterior, interior or painting maintenance, PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out to us for a free estimate!

A few tips on painting in the fall:

• As a general rule of thumb, the best hours of application in the fall are between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

• When possible, try to start your painting on the sunny side of the house and follow the sun around (this is just the opposite of painting in the summer).
  

• Lower temperatures mean slower drying and longer curing times. Be sure to allow ample time between coats. At least 24 hours is recommended at temperatures below 50º F.
  

• Watch those dew points! The dew point is the temperature at which moisture will condense on a surface. Paints, stains, or primers should not be applied unless the surface temperature is at least 5° higher than the dew point. Remember that all surfaces to be stained or painted need to be clean and dry. If dew forms on a painted surface that hasn’t had a chance to cure properly, you may experience some water spotting or surfactant leaching problems, especially in darker colors.

Your home will be looking as good as new in no time! Do the project right by following these exterior painting tips for fall.

Colors are not guaranteed to repel bugs, and research is vague and incomplete on the subject. Rather, most insects are attracted to objects regardless of color. 

Mosquitos
​While darker colors may save you from bees and beetles, they can attract a different monster- mosquitos. Mosquitos see colors differently than most insects and can pick up shades outside of the UV spectrum. Therefore, using brighter colors like white, yellow, and blue can repel these pests a little more effectively.

Picking certain paint colors can potentially reduce and repel the number of bugs you see around your home but is not guaranteed as a form of pest control.  When choosing a color, there will always be a compromise. While a darker color may deter some beetles, bees, and wasps; it can attract pesky mosquitos and flies. Vice versa with a bright color like white or yellow. Note that pests like spiders and scorpions are not included in these generalizations, as they are more attracted to places of protection and are predators that don’t need to rely on plant color for food.

When choosing a paint color for your deck, siding, or overall exterior- go with a shade that you will enjoy looking at for years to come. We here at RB Painting Company can help with color consultations to fit your needs and design preferences.  We've been serving Charlottesville and Central Virginia for almost 20 years and would love to help you!

It seems so simple—you use the brush to apply the paint to the wall. Anyone should be able to paint a house, right? But exterior painting is much more complex than you think. Plus, with the elements beating on the outside, you want to make sure that protective layer of paint is applied properly. Here are some common mistakes that homeowners make when painting their home and how you can avoid them on your exterior project.

NO COVERS OR PROTECTION
Although you’re likely anxious to get started on your exterior painting project, you need to do a little prep work, namely putting covers around the area you’ll be painting. Even if you do your best to be careful, the ground, landscaping, or other surfaces can easily get drips, spills, or splatters on them. It’s a quick way to ruin the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve on the outside of your home.

STARTING AT THE BOTTOM
At first glance, it would make sense to start painting where you can easily reach, right? Wrong! While you’re painting, you need to consider the law of gravity. If you start at the bottom of the surface, you run the risk of drips running down over your perfectly painted wall as you work your way up. In contrast, starting from the top allows you to catch and correct drips for a seamless, even result.

WAITING TOO LONG BEFORE REPAINTING
The wrong time to start thinking about painting your exterior is after you’ve noticed chipping, peeling, or failing paint. Keep a close eye on your exteriors and make sure that the old paint remains intact. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend significant time removing the failing paint before you can think about starting a new paint job.

DOING IT YOURSELF
If you’re inexperienced with exterior painting, you can quickly become overwhelmed. You don’t need to add in the stress of learning a new skill on surfaces that everyone who ever passes your house on the street will see. Instead, you can turn to the experts at o handle the entire process from beginning to end. That way, you know the results will look flawless. Plus, with someone else taking on the stress of the project, you’ll have much more time to tackle other household chores or even relax and enjoy family time together.

Ultimately, when your project is over, you want your guests to admire your home’s exteriors, but you also want surfaces that can protect your home against the Virginia weather. When you hire an experienced painting company like RB Painting Company to paint your home, you don’t have to wonder whether it has been done correctly. With us, you’re sure to get results you’ll love for years to come.

Here at RB Painting Company, we know how important your home AND your commercial property are to you. You want to keep both in perfect condition for your family and for your customers. We’ll let you in on a little painting secret: Even if you invest in a high-quality finish, your paint won’t look as nice or last as long if you don’t do proper prep work beforehand. Let’s discuss the reasons why prep work matters and look at some prep steps you should know.
Why It Matters
You shouldn’t simply paint over unprepared surfaces for a number of reasons. If there’s a coat of paint underneath, it can throw off the shade of your new paint and reveal imperfections. Any dirt or grime will be exposed and prevent your new paint from adhering to the wall properly. The same goes for old flaking paint, all of which will be an eyesore on your freshly painted home or business.
New paint needs to bond to the new surface, so without proper prepping, the paint will peel, flake, or bubble long before it should. That’s how proper prep work saves you money in the long run. 
RB Painting Company Knows How To Prep
To ensure that your home or commercial building looks pristine for a long time, we take the necessary steps to prep before painting. Some of these steps are:

• Pressure washing all exterior surfaces to remove flaking paint, dirt, and grime
  
• Sand and scrape rough areas to remove imperfections and old paint that wasn’t removed by the pressure washing
  
• Patch all holes and cracks
  
• Tape off areas that don’t need repainting
  

Once these steps have been completed, we use a quality primer, quality paint, and a quality finish to ensure that your paint lasts as long as possible.
If you’re looking to have your home or business freshly painted, look no further than RB Painting Company.  We offer expert interior, exterior, and commercial painting at an affordable price. Our 4 Step Painting Process ensures a quality finish every time. But don’t just take it from us, take it from our happy customers!

Thank you Gwyn!  It is always humbling to see customer reviews.  We work tirelessly to serve clients with the highest level of customer service and professionalism in Charlottesville and really across Central Virginia.  The review above is our 27th 5-Star Review on our Google MyBusiness Page.  If you would like help getting your exterior or interior in shape, please do not hesitate to let us know.  August is one of the hottest months in the year but we are still taking on exterior house painting projects like the one mentioned above.  Thank you for your loyalty and we look forward to hearing from you. 

Roberto Becerra
Owner, RB Paint Company