A couple of weeks ago, I completed painting one-quarter of our house, an annual project. House painting is quite a painstaking endeavor and I’m glad the job’s complete. I have a few thoughts:
When we bought this house in 2004, it was based on emotional impulse rather than cool analysis. From my standpoint, there were MANY drawbacks to the house and property, including the fact that the house had wooden shingles that would require regular painting. I do think wood shingles look better than vinyl siding, but the upkeep that’s required is a negative. Our previous house had aluminum siding, which meant I didn’t have to paint for the entire twenty-two years we lived there.
The previous owner of this house had it painted immediately prior to putting it on the market, so I knew it was good-to-go for several years after we moved in, but I waited way too long. By the time I finally painted, nine years later in 2013, the house was starting to look shabby with the paint layer becoming very thin and peeling away in many places. Because I had waited so long, the preparation (scraping, sanding, and priming) was intense, plus the entire house needed two coats of paint to cover properly. It was MAMMOTH undertaking. Condo, anyone?
I remember whining about my travails to a co-worker, and he recommended an excellent strategy. He himself had a routine of painting one-quarter of his house every summer and taking one season off after each cycle. This five-year strategy required minimum prep and only one coat of paint because the paint layer wasn’t given the opportunity to degrade to a significant degree.
I’ve been using that strategy ever since and it works great. Yes, I’m painting four years out of five, but it’s not a HUGE, backbreaking project.
I painted the southwest area of the house this summer (photo above). I usually procrastinate and wait until early-September to begin painting, but I felt ambitious this year and started in early-August. The early start meant that I could pay A LOT of attention to detail, like thoroughly filling in cracks and holes and priming and painting the wooden lattice on the inner-windows. The early start and finish means I have a nice long break before the backbreaking leaf season, which begins in earnest the last week of October and stretches to the first week of December.
Thanks to my blogging friends who offered their support and encouragement this painting season! Thank you, Lord, for our shelter! Whenever it’s raining, cold, and snowy outside, I often forget to thank God for a warm, dry abode. It’s our place to eat our meals, to relax on the couch after a strenuous undertaking, and to sleep in the evenings.
Postscript: As you can see from the photo, our house is a ranch so when I paint I only need to use an extension ladder on the four gables. Painting a two-story house is a real bear of a job, as I remember from back when I helped my father paint the old family home.
I dread painting! We have a wrap around porch that easily can fit 60 people. My children decided on my 50th birthday they would surprise me while my husband and I were on vacation and paint the porch. When we returned home they were still painting and used house paint instead of deck paint ๐ Guess who helped finish painting ๐ Guess what needs painting again ๐ Guess who loves her childrenโs intentions ๐ Guess who the 5 are that duck away when I ask whoโs going to repaint the porch ๐!
We are truly blessed and I still enjoy the porch even if it needs another good painting!
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Thanks for the humorous musings about your own painting challenges! I can understand how your well-intentioned children mistakenly chose the wrong paint in that circumstance.
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While I do not have children, I am my folks โwell-intendedโ daughter! Thank you Beth and Tom for sharing this. Nathan and I spent painted 3/4s of the house and hired a contractor for the rest (1st floor). God willing I will NEVER do much at one time again!!!
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Hi Mandy! Painting the the entire house (indoors or outside) is a HUGE undertaking and I really appreciate the strategy my co-worker shared of breaking it up into yearly segments.
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Lol!!!
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What a blessing, Tom! Also, it is a good skill and a test of patience. Kudos!
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Thanks, Kent! As much as I moan, it’s a nice feeling of accomplishment once it’s complete. And, yes, I’ve definitely honed my painting skills over the years.
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Tom, you can now play on hand strokes, with the different edges and spacing you have encountered. You deserve much more than a year supply of your favorite ice cream! GOD bless you and your wife!
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Thanks, Kent! Yup, over the years I’ve learned all of the “tricks” and have accumulated all of the right equipment to paint the house most efficiently.
RE: ice cream
Funny you should mention that because I absolutely did splurge on ice cream as a reward for completing the project. Thank you and God bless you and yours!
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Hi, Tom! What a cute place! Even from this angle I can see the care you put into your landscaping! This will be the first year of my life that I will really have to rake and bag leaves. Leaves are starting to turn here which is amazing because over the weekend it was close to 90f here! Are you going haze from the wildfires on the West Coast? We had haze yesterday morning and we are having some again this morning as I type you.
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Thanks, Mandy! The house and yard definitely keep me busy. Have fun with the leaves! Argh! I usually whine about the leaves every year because between our trees and the neighbors’ trees that hang over our yard, I end up hauling 50+ tarp loads to the curb every season.
Nope, no haze here in ROC as of yet. Probably because the jet stream dips southward before it gets to us.
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Wow! That is A LOT of leaves!!!
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Argh! The month of November is solid working on the leaves!
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Driving on the road today will read this later
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๐๐ผ
I spent a good chunk of the afternoon writing a Friday apologetics post, this one regarding the RCC and eschatology. The end times are not my forte so it required a lot of research and cross checking.
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Wow looking forward to it!
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Thanks, and looking forward to your comments. Broussard defends the RCC’s post-tribulation rapture view, which is ironic because I believe the RCC’s going to play a major role in the end times and not in a good way.
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Answering your question we are temporarily gone from our area for a few days, the smoke is really bad
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Wow. I hope the fires and smoke tapers off soon.
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Thanks
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If I ever buy a house I am going to use your advice of painting the house parts at a time
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I hope you buy a house with vinyl siding, but if you have to paint, dividing it up into 1/4 of the house each year is definitely the way to go.
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๐๐
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Enjoyed your post Tom, and the lovely photo of your home. Blessings to you and your wife.
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Thank you, Cathy! I’m grateful this year’s painting chore is completed. Blessings to you and Billy as well!
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When you post articles like this I tuck this knowledge away for when we buy our first home. Lol, this is the information that should be taught in schools ๐
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Thanks sister! WARNING: Don’t buy a house unless it has vinyl siding. I would have liked to put siding on the house at some point but the budget never allowed for it. Wooden shingles are definitely a turn-off for many potential buyers.
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Yep! Defo hard work. This is how I learnt how to do my front door. great how to videos. https://PaintingUPVC.com
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