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Apr 08 2021 
Need-to-Know: The Pros & Cons to Painting a Brick Home
Need-to-Know: The Pros & Cons to Painting a Brick Home
A home with an original brick exterior is pure gold in our book! But many homeowners would prefer a more modern look, leading many to consider an update with paint. And while painting a brick exterior is as feasible as any other home exterior, it does present a unique set of pros and cons. Making it important that you consider all facets of your decision, prior to starting the extensive painting process. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know, both good and bad, when it comes to painting a brick home.
Pros
A Cleaner Look – Brick walls are beautiful, but they don’t exactly lend the most modern look. For many homeowners, especially younger ones, an exterior that is clean is preferable. Something that is hard to achieve with discolored, chipped brick and mortar. Luckily, it is a pretty easy fix with a solid paint color! There are a wide variety of solid color paints to choose from, that will deliver a fresh and modern look to the exterior of your home.
Protection – As with any other surface brick will degrade over time. Due to a variety of weather and environmental factors, it will fade and wear down. But with the proper prep work and maintenance, brick that is painted will be much more durable. Moisture will be far less likely to penetrate the brick, causing less damage in the long run. Plus it will look better!
Cons
There is No Going Back – It is so important to consider that when you paint a brick home, there is no going back. Once it is painted, you’ll have to learn to love it! That or you’ll face the headache of a complete removal (and trust us, you won’t want to).
The Prep Work – Painting brick is no easy feat, it takes extensive prep work! This is something to note, especially if you plan on painting your home’s exterior yourself. More specifically, the entire surface will have to be extensively cleaned to remove all dirt and grime, in order to ensure that the paint adheres properly.
More Maintenance – As with any other painted surface, painted brick requires maintenance. What good is a beautiful new home exterior if you don’t plan on keeping it up? Painted brick in particular is especially susceptible to discoloration, especially if it is white, or a similarly light color. At the least, you will need to take care to have regular power washing performed.
Increased Risk of Moisture Damage – Unfortunately, during the painting process it is unavoidable that some moisture will become trapped between the brick and paint. Brick is after all porous. This means that moisture damage is more likely, especially in colder climates where the moisture can freeze and expand.
The Best Colors for a Brick Exterior
White, Cream or Ivory – Bright colors such as these are a classic choice and will lend to that modern clean look you know and love. It is a color that will look warm and inviting year-round and can be complemented with contrasting dark shades.
Grey – Greys come in a wide range of tones and saturation, making it a very versatile color that will suit a plethora of personalities. This is a great color if you live in a warm-weather climate where the surrounding foliage is always bright.
Dark Green or Sage – A beautiful and underrated color, green is a stunner that is perfect for those who want a down-to-earth-looking home. It will complement a natural surrounding especially well and will lend a feeling of warmth and coziness.
Dark Blue – Although a dark color, a deep blue is a bold choice for a brick home. It is also a less popular alternative to green if you prefer a look that is a little more unique.
Are you in need of exterior painting services for your brick home? Helix Painting in Denver is committed to making your home painting experience simple and hassle-free. Our exterior painting services include walls and siding, trim, doors, garages, and more. Book your exterior painting estimate or request a free estimate online.
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Apr 05 2021
HOAs & Exterior Paint: How to Keep Your Home Compliant!
HOAs & Exterior Paint: How to Keep Your Home Compliant!
Living in an area with a homeowner’s association is all about compliance. There are requirements in regards to the exterior appearance of your property, with guidelines to consider and approval processes to go through. Prior to doing any work, such as exterior painting, you will need a green light from the HOA. Today we’re sharing advice on how to keep the exterior of your home HOA compliant!
Read the Rules
The first step you should take when considering whether to paint the exterior of your home, is to read the rules. Every HOA has a unique set of rules, but there are often similar elements. To find the rules surrounding the maintenance of the exterior of your home, look under Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R) There you will find a specific set of rules in regards to what is and is not allowed, who is responsible for what, and any processes you are expected to go through.
Getting Approval
In many cases, approval is required to paint the exterior of your home. This is where the CC&R comes into play. You can first check which tasks you are responsible for and allowed to complete without approval. But if for any reason you are unsure, play it safe and ask the HOA. Seriously, don’t touch those walls until it has been made clear by the HOA that you are good to go! Whether areas of the exterior are damaged and in need of repairs, or you think its time for a new coat of paint.
Paint Requirements
If you do get a green light to paint the exterior of your home, you will also need to look into paint requirements. That is, the type and color of paint you are and are not allowed to use. Most HOAs have a very specific target audience, and therefore a look that they are going for. If they allowed homeowners free reign, it could impact the overall appearance and value of the area. Therefore, there may be existing restrictions as far as paint options.
Painting Schedules
So as not to deal with the unsightly construction equipment and noise year round, some HOAs limit when you can have exterior painting completed. Usually during the spring or summer time. If you receive approval to have the exterior of your home painted, but do so outside of this window, it may result in non-compliance. So be sure to specify if there are limitations as to when you can paint.
Hiring Contractors
Lastly, you will want to see if your HOA has guidelines for hiring contractors. Some HOAs are less strict on this matter, but others prefer to work with one or two contractors for a more consistent aesthetic. Or simply because they have found them to be the most reliable or best priced. If your HOA does not limit the contractors you can go through, then you will personally want to ensure that they are insured and can meet your compliance requirements.
If you’re part of an HOA, you have to remain compliant, the experts at Helix Painting can help you do just that! Located in Denver, we serve homeowners throughout the area with a wide variety of exterior painting services. From walls and siding, to trim and doors, as well as garages. Visit our website today to request a free in-person estimate, or request a free virtual estimate.
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Mar 08 2021
Easy Exterior Updates to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Easy Exterior Updates to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
The exterior of your home is a passerby’s first impression. What does your current situation say about you? If the answer isn’t ideal, you’re not alone! Plenty of homeowners forget to consider the impact of curb appeal. Aside from boosting your own pride for your home, it also affects the monetary value. If you’re looking to invest and do a little sprucing up, here are easy exterior updates to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Maintain Your Lawn
A lawn is one of the most rapidly changing elements of a property. It can grow out of control or completely die in a relatively short period of time. And while you don’t need to create an out-of-this-world lawn display, regular maintenance is a must. For starters, do your part to keep the grass lush and cut. In areas where you have plants, be sure to trim them regularly for a more pleasing appearance. If necessary, consider setting up a regular maintenance schedule with your local lawn care professionals.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
It is recommended that you paint the exterior of your home every 5 to 10 years. This is for numerous reasons, from curb appeal to your safety and protection. In regards to curb appeal, it will ensure that your home remains stylish and modern. If you aren’t up for painting your entire home, consider spot treating it instead. Give your front door a fresh coat in a modern color, or repaint the exterior trim. Although a small improvement, these touch-ups can have a surprising impact. If you don’t want to go this route alone and are in need of professional assistance, contact our team at Helix Painting in Denver.
Clean Up Any Walkways
Homeowners often forget about the walkways surrounding their home, including the driveway. Over time these high traffic areas begin to degrade from use and weather. The material may crack, chip, or become discolored. In some instances, power washing will do the job, removing most of the dirt and debris. In others, larger repairs are necessary, from spot treatment to full replacement. Fixing these areas will lend to better curb appeal, as well as safer walkways.
Replace Any Outdated Lights
As with anything, lighting makes all of the difference. When it comes to your home, the lights you feature can have a huge impact. Consider replacing old or broken lighting, such as a pair of outdated wall sconces or broken walkway lights. Sometimes all it takes is setting aside the time to replace a bulb. We completely understand how easy it is to overlook a single lightbulb! But when it comes to improving your home’s curb appeal, good lighting is a quick fix.
Clean Your Roof
Don’t underestimate the impact your roof has on the curb appeal of your home! Although in some scenarios a full replacement may be necessary, a thorough cleaning is sometimes enough. By removing the stains from trees or algae, and replacing any missing or broken shingles, you will instantly boost your home’s curb appeal. As well as increase the overall longevity of your roof! And while you’re up there, go ahead and clean those gutters.
Update Your Garage Doors
If your home features a garage then you probably have garage doors. Depending on where the entrance to that garage is located, your garage doors can take up a significant portion of the exterior of your home. As with the exterior walls of the home, these too need to be cleaned and repainted. You will also want to replace any outdated hardware, like handles or hinges.
Remove any Clutter
Clutter happens and that’s okay! But leaving items to rot on your lawn is not. Whether you have kids, pets, or simply enjoy lawn activities, do your best to clean up or remove clutter. Perhaps you have an old fountain that hasn’t worked in years or outdated furniture that is collecting moss. Make the decision to clean up or remove items versus letting them ruin the curb appeal of your home. As for unsightly items that can’t be removed, like an AC unit, consider coming up with a creative way to hide them.
Get a New Mailbox
Your mailbox endures a lot and is probably dragging down the curb appeal of your home. Depending on the material of your mailbox, it might even be falling to pieces – a common problem with old plastic designs. If you’re tired of having to frequently fix or replace your mailbox, invest in an update. There are plenty of new stylish designs on the market. Or consider a more durable material, such as bricks or stone.
Are you in need of exterior painting services? Helix Painting in Denver is committed to making your home painting experience simple and hassle-free. Our exterior painting services include walls and siding, trim, doors, garages, and more. Book your exterior painting estimate or request a free estimate online.
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Feb 25 2021
How Exterior Painting Protects Your Home
How Exterior Painting Protects Your Home
On average, it is recommended that the exterior of your home be repainted every 5 to 10 years. However, this timeline will depend on several factors. Such as the weather and conditions where you live, the type of exterior on your home, and the previous paint job. Learn about how exterior painting protects your home, including the benefits of exterior painting. Plus check out some of our favorite exterior paint color combinations!
The Benefits of Repainting the Exterior of Your Home
Before investing in exterior paint, it is best to consult a professional to see if repainting is necessary. If it is determined that your home needs to be repainted, the cost may cause some concern. Let us reassure you however that the benefits of repainting your home are worth the investment!
1) Curb Appeal
One of the immediate benefits of repainting the exterior of your home is curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint is a quick fix for signs of age and weather. It is also a good way to reduce the visible age of your home, by giving it a modern and updated look. Improving the curb appeal of your home will increase the overall property value, which will also benefit that of your neighbors.
2) Keeping Out Unwanted Guests
Large animals are a nuisance, but small critters and insects can do significant damage to a home. Especially termites! Exterior paint helps to seal the most insect-prone wood on a home. Unfortunately, the access point for insects is often at the ground level, which also happens to be where the paint will wear the fastest. Regularly inspect your home for termites or places where the paint has become damaged, and that may be more susceptible to unwanted house guests.
3) Extend the Life of Your Siding
The main function of a home is to protect you and your family from the elements. Depending on the location, it was likely designed using materials made to withstand a specific type of weather. For example, homes in Denver often feature siding that is more impact-resistant. Every single day the life of your siding lessens. Maintaining the paint will help it last as long as possible, usually between 20 to 50 years.
4) Protection From the Elements
Exterior paint is a barrier that protects your siding, extending its life. Therefore reducing the likelihood of damage, and that the cold or moisture will penetrate your home. When moisture from rain or snow makes its way past the paint and to the wood of your home, it can lead to serious problems.
5) Prevent Mold, Mildew & Rot
Mold, mildew, and rot are a result of moisture repetitively penetrating the paint and wood of your home. Eventually, it will cause the wood to soften and weaken, posing a serious risk to you and your family. Unfortunately, once rot takes hold, there is no undoing it. The only fix is to replace the structural wood – which will cost a lot more than if you were to regularly repaint the exterior of your house.
Exterior Paint Colors
Need some inspiration on exterior paint colors for your home? Here are just a few popular color pairings!
Carbon & Pure White – This classic combo is a beautiful pairing that won’t go out of style. It is also a great option for those who like a bold contrast between different elements on the exterior of your home. Such as the walls and shutters.
Olive Green & White – Green and white have peaked in popularity over recent years, especially on homes that feature raw wood. Variations of these colors look good with all shades of wood, especially dark and yellow tones.
Red & White – If you aren’t afraid to go bold, then go with red. Preferably a true red, that easily contrasts with red. This color also looks good on homes that feature industrial elements on the exterior.
Cream & Coffee – For a cozier exterior, cream and coffee are a charming combination. These colors are a good choice for those who prefer a neutral palette that is modern, but not boring.
Olive Grey & Creamy White – Olive green and cream are another neutral option but are earth-inspired. These colors look stunning with homes in a more woodsy setting, or those feature stone elements.
Are you in need of exterior painting services? Helix Painting in Denver is committed to making your home painting experience simple and hassle-free. Our exterior painting services include walls and siding, trim, doors, garages, and more. Book your exterior painting estimate or request a free estimate online.
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Jun 19 2020
How to properly prep for exterior painting?
How to properly prep for exterior painting?
Proper prep is the key to any paint project, particularly an exterior painting project. Without proper prep, even the best exterior paints may fail. Prep is time-consuming and detailed work, but it is the foundation of your exterior painting project. The following key steps will make sure your exterior painting project starts on the right note.
- Start with a good cleaning
While you cannot always see it, your home’s exterior likely has a layer of dirty from dust, pollen, and other particles in the environment. Without thoroughly cleaning your home’s exterior, your paint will end up sticking to that dust and not the home’s siding or trim. This is likely to cause the paint to fail in the future. Additionally, be sure to let the surface dry before you start painting. Depending on where you are located, this make take a half a day to several days.
- Repair damaged surfaces and hammer in loose nails
Rotten or damaged wood needs to be replaced to prevent larger problems within your home (ie water intrusion). Paint on rotten or damaged wood is likely to fail. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure all loose nail heads are hammered back in to create a smooth surface.
- Scrape loose or peeling paint
As you can imagine, if you paint over loose or peeling paint, you will end up with finished product that doesn’t look very good and the new paint is likely to start peeling again quickly. You want your home to have only well adhered paint or bare surfaces to ensure the paint will hold up properly.
- Sand scraped surfaces and rough areas
Any areas needing scraping or with rough exposed wood will need to be sanded. Sanding the surface helps to create a smooth finished look. Be sure to wipe down areas that were sanded to ensure any resulting dust is removed.
- Caulk
Caulking a home helps to avoid water intrusion. You want to be careful to apply the right amount of caulking to be sure seams are filled while not applying too much caulk and impeding natural expansion or creating a bumping finished look. Before applying new caulking be sure to dig out any existing caulking from the joints that has either cracked or pulled away from the joint.
- Prime
Any replaced boards or bare wood needs to be primed to allow for proper paint adhesion. Additionally, for those people living in climates where snow can build up on the home, we often recommend an extra level of prep including priming the bottom three boards of the house and along the roof line where snow accumulates. Primer is inexpensive relative to the cost of paint and a good quality primer will help keep extend the life of your home’s paint job.
Your now ready to apply your paint. There are many great paints on the market for exterior painting. We love both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paints. Talk to your painting company or local paint store to figure out what paint is best for your project and budget.
If you are looking for a professional painting company, Helix Painting is happy to come out and give you a free estimate. We offer a variety of exterior paint packages with extended warranties. You can book your estimate on our website or give us at call at 720-445-9856.
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Apr 23 2018
Having Fun with Color
Color is a great way to make your home stand out. While many people choose earth tones and more muted colors for exterior colors, in certain neighborhoods, colorful trim and unique siding can add charm and character to home. We recently completed one such project for our client. This house was on the north side of Denver, in an older neighborhood that prides itself on having homes with character. Our client decided the best way to honor this home’s historic character was to enhance the trim’s color.
Communication is Key When Making Major Color Changes
When embarking on a major color change, communication and continuous follow through with the client is key. We encouraged our client to meet with a color consultant to help create a plan for the home.
Getting expert advice helped to ensure we could create a final product matching our client’s wishes. We then created a mock up of our client’s vision. While the mock up wasn’t the prettiest image, it helped make sure everyone was on the same page.
Not only did this mock up help our painters, the image helped our client see a few changes she wanted to make to the color scheme. The visual clues and continuous communication allowed us to make necessary changes before money and labor was wasted on a design that wasn’t perfect. With the new mock up approved, we were ready to start painting.
Revealing the Finished Product
After such a dramatic change in the home’s colors, we couldn’t wait for the reveal to our client. In the words of our client, “Wow!” The home went from a tired, dated looking property to a vibrant, eye catching home.
Find a Way to Make Color Work for You
The vibrant colors used in our client’s home are definitely not for everyone. Whether you prefer less bold colors or your HOA restricts you, you can still find your own ways to express personality in your home. Accent walls are one of the easiest ways to create dramatic flair inside a house. Check out our blog post, Changing Paint Color Can Dramatically Transform a Room, to learn more about accent walls. As described in the blog, you can use the Sherwin Williams ColorSnap Visualizer to see what a new color might look like in your home.
Let Helix Painting help you with your next home project. You can book your estimate online or send us an email at info@helixpainting.com to learn more about our services.
