Five Painting Touch-Up Projects to Tackle Before The Cold Hits

That’s one of the joys of home ownership – constant maintenance. Don’t look so glum. These small projects that will prolong the life and beauty of your home can be fun. At the very least they can be rewarding, so have at it.
There are a few end-of-the-season maintenance jobs that will require you to pull out your paintbrush. It’s important to tackle these before the temperature dips too low.
Don’t forget to watch the weather forecast for rain. If there is any coming in the next 12 hours or so, skip it. Exterior paint needs at least that amount of time to dry.

Here is your mission, should you choose to accept it:

• Wooden Door Frames – Get ready for a touch-up or full repaint to make those nicks, scratches and gouges that have shown up over the summer completely disappear. This may involve sanding down the frame beforehand to provide a smooth surface. And, as an added bonus, a new layer of paint will keep the door from sticking.
• Wooden Window Frames – These don’t see as much abuse as other parts of your home, but will need to be touched up every few years depending on exposure and the condition of the wood. Again, you might need to sand first. And if your frames were previously coated with stain, consult these tips for painting a stained surface.
• Steel or Wood Exterior Doors – You may want to do this just to redecorate, but day to day use will take a toll on the doors regardless of your decorating whims. Roll it, brush it or even spray it – a front door repaint will spruce up your curb appeal. And if you have a steel door, make sure you take the proper steps to prepare the surface for painting.
• Concrete Surfaces – Whether you have a concrete patio, garage floors or even interior floors, concrete can benefit from a fresh coat of paint. It isn’t an easy job and requires the right preparation, but applying a coat of paint for protection and beautification can be a good idea.
• Front Porch Posts & Railing – Wooden front porch components need to be painted or stained for durability (unless you used pressure-treated materials.) In some climates, an unpainted railing (or one that wasn’t painted well) will be rotted after about five years. Save money and time by giving your pine or cedar front porch posts and railing a coat of paint or stain.

With these painting projects and touch ups complete you deserve a big pat on the back. Kudos!
Photo courtesy of flickr/christina592