The great painter debate – should you spray or roll exteriors? The answer might surprise you, because your home has a huge impact on whether you should spray or roll your home. This is a pretty controversial topic within the painting community, but we’re here to breakdown the question, is spraying or rolling your exterior better? Read on to learn the pros and cons of both exterior painting techniques.
Pros and Cons of Rolling Your Exterior
Paint rollers have been around since 1940 and Sherwin Williams was the first company to bring them to market. Rollers revolutionized the painting industry by speeding up the paint process and giving painters a better tool to cover larger surface areas. Nowadays, paint rollers come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses to help with any painting project; exterior or interior.
Pros of Rollers
Great for large, smooth surfaces
Cheaper than paint sprayers
No brush marks
Great for back-rolling to press paint into porous surfaces
Cons of Rollers
Thin coats can be uneven
Roller soaks up more paint so you use more product
More expensive than brushes
Rollers can’t be used for painting joints, corners, or smaller surfaces
Pros and Cons of Spraying Your Exterior
Paint sprayers and spray guns have actually been around longer than paint rollers. The first hand-held, air-powered paint spray gun was invented in 1907 and there have been many evolutions of that product since. We often find that clients who don’t like paint sprayers had a bad experience with them at some point. Paint sprayers from 30 years ago were quite different than the ones used today. Modern commercial paint sprayers have many benefits and have been optimized for residential and commercial use.
Pros of Sprayers
Thicker, more even and uniform coats
No paint waste as paint is not absorbed like with a roller
Works well on uneven surfaces
Faster and better application
No brush or roller marks
Cons of Sprayer
More expensive than rollers and brushes
Need experience and practice using them to be effective
Noisy compared to a roller
Exterior Painting – Spray vs Rolling
Now to the real question; which of these tools is better? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so black and white. When it comes to our exteriors we tend to use a sprayer because it’s more efficient, offers better coverage, and gives a more professional finished quality. That being said, it’s important that your painter can utilize both of these tools because that’s what they are – paint tools. At the end of the day these tools can both be utilized to provide the best paint job. For example, if you are painting brick, stucco, or some other porous surface, you will want to use a sprayer to apply the paint and have another team member following with a roller to “back-roll” the paint in. Back-rolling helps to press the paint into the surface and get into those little nooks and crannies.
Kind Home Painters back-rolling the exterior of a Denver stucco home
For smoother surfaces like trim, wood, lap, vinyl, or metal siding, spraying is a much better tool to utilize because you won’t have any of those roller marks and you can angle the sprayer different ways to ensure you are getting full coverage on each board. Ultimately, one isn’t inherently good or bad. These are both great paint tools that should be utilized under different circumstances. To see some of the exterior paint projects we’ve sprayed and back-rolled, check out our gallery HERE. And for more inspiration for your next paint project, be sure to take a peak at our Instagram!
If you would like to get pricing for your project you can submit for a free estimate HERE.
Denver bungalows can all feel quite similar, but a great way to have your bungalow stand out is to paint the trim. Bungalows here in Denver tend to be brick, so the bulk of an exterior painting project revolves around the trim. It’s very easy to think the only options you have are white! Although there are some white paint colors that can look great on your trim, we want you to know all your options. Below we’ve got a list of some of the best trim colors for Denver Bungalows. If you’re considering an exterior painting project, keep reading to get inspired!
Top 5 Trim Colors for Denver Bungalows
Nacre
Many of the brick bungalows in Denver and the surrounding areas are made up of red brick. Red brick comes in a lot of variations ranging from orangey-red to schoolhouse red. But there is one trim color that we feel always works with red brick: Nacre SW 6154 from Sherwin Williams. Nacre is not a stark, cold white. It’s added warmth helps it harmonize with a lot of different red brick colors. We also love that Nacre isn’t too yellow, which can make it feel dated. It offers a nice contrast without being too sharp. It also has a creamy base with a little bit of gray that helps to keep things modern and fresh.
This is technically not a Denver Bungalow, but this will help you see Nacre against brick!
Black Fox
If you’re looking for a very contemporary and interesting color for your bungalow trim then you have to check out Black Fox SW 7020. This is another great color option from Sherwin Williams and it’s especially beautiful if you have bronze windows. Black Fox is a deep brown with a heavy gray undertone, which makes it feel really modern and dynamic. We particularly like this trim color for Denver bungalows that feature brown brick or bricks with a brown undertone. It’s different and a fun way to make your home stand out.
Sage Green Light
Green has been immensely popular this year and it’s also a great option for a trim color on a bungalow that isn’t a standard neutral. The trick to finding the perfect green color for any exterior project is to make sure the green you select has a good amount of gray in it. Greens can look overly saturated and bright so we really love that Sage Green Light SW 2851 has a lot of depth and feels quite toned down overall. You can definitely play with the saturation, but when it comes to greens we always recommend that you pick up some samples to confirm your color before beginning your project.
Dover White
Dover White SW 6385 is an absolute classic from Sherwin Williams. It’s a great white option for bungalows because it does a beautiful job of creating contrast without feeling like a stock white. Many whites are just too white for a bungalow, so make sure you select a white that has some kind of undertone to it. We prefer a warmer tone like you see with Dover, but you can try more tan options if you’re concerned about the yellow undertone. Dover White feels very clean, but also more historically appropriate for the bungalow style of home when compared to brighter whites like Pure White.
Dovetail
No list is complete without mentioning some kind of gray. Grays can be very tricky especially when you’re working with a brick structure, but we love how dynamic Dovetail SW 7018 is. This is a darker gray with a slightly warm red undertone. This undertone really helps the trim and brick feel unified while also checking off boxes for our gray lovers out there. If Dovetail feels a little dark you can always try its lighter counterpart, Acier for something a little less deep. These grays work with a variety of brick colors, so they are definitely worth checking out!
Picking the Perfect Trim Color for a Brick Bungalow
When you’re working on an exterior painting project involving a brick bungalow it’s very important to factor in your fixed features. Fixed features are things like your brick, stone, or roof shingle color. Since these items won’t be changing, your trim color needs to work within those parameters. Sometimes it’s easy to fall in love with a trim color that you see on another home, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work on your home or with your fixed features, so be sure to get samples and keep an open mind. There are so many colors that will look beautiful on your home and we hope this list helps inspire you and your next painting project.
Painting the exterior of a home in Denver can be a very large project. Many of the homes in downtown Denver are anywhere from 50-100 years old with styles ranging from Queen Anne Victorians down to smaller brick bungalows. These homes are part of the city’s history, so it’s important to honor their design with the right color schemes and paint products. In this article, we’ll be comparing exterior paints and determining which paint product is best for your Denver home.
Painting Denver Homes
As a well seasoned Denver painter we’re very familiar with the wide variety of styles featured in our city. Homes range from small to massive and there are particular styles that we like to focus on. These styles include Denver Squares, Victorians, Bungalows, Tudors, and Mid-Century Modern homes. Most of these particular styles of homes were likely built anywhere from the late 1800’s to the 1980’s. That means the paint products originally used were quite different from the paint we see on homes today. The right exterior paint product can have a huge impact on the overall look of your home.
Painting Lead Positive Homes in Denver
We’ll go into lead paint protocols more in another article, but if your Denver home was built prior to 1978 you need to have it tested for lead before you paint. Lead paint lasts incredibly long, but due to it’s heavy lead content it was deemed unsafe for use. It was more or less discontinued by the end of the 1970s. When you repaint a home that was previously painted with lead paint, your main goal should be to contain any and all lead chips. There are several steps that go into lead safety protocols, but the first step is to have your home tested for lead.
As a lead certified painter, Kind Home Painting Company will test your home for free if it was built before 1978. This lead test is conducted at your paint estimate and the results are available within minutes. You can also purchase a lead test and do this yourself, but keep in mind that not all lead tests are approved by the EPA. If you or your painter tests for lead make sure multiple surface areas are tested. There are some areas that may have been replaced since the late 70s, while others may have pre-existing exposure.
Is Sherwin Williams the Best Exterior Paint for Denver Homes?
One of the most popular exterior paint brands on the market is Sherwin Williams. It’s widely recognized across the globe as a leader within the paint industry and for a good reason. Sherwin Williams has high quality, durable, and vibrant exterior and interior paints. But is it the best brand for painting Denver homes?
Although Sherwin Williams brings a lot to the table and is widely available, it’s not the best exterior paint for your Denver home. On most exterior painting projects painters will use a satin sheen. The satin sheen has a little bit of shine, which helps significantly with durability. However, the shininess can be amplified in direct sunlight. That shine is necessary for exterior products, but it doesn’t fit the historical look and feel of these traditional Denver homes.
If you have to go with Sherwin Williams for budgetary reasons we suggest you make sure you select historically accurate colors and color schemes. Sherwin Williams has done a wonderful job of compiling these colors in their Historical Collection. This collection was curated and carefully categorized to help you select paint colors that are appropriate for Denver Squares, Victorians, Bungalows, etc. If Sherwin Williams is your best paint option then we suggest you begin your color search there.
What’s the Best Exterior Paint for Denver Homes?
To really honor your home’s history, you need to use a paint that features a more “matte” finish. This can be hard to find in Sherwin Williams current options without sacrificing durability. This is where Benjamin Moore comes in. Benjamin Moore has made a name for itself by focusing on first-rate quality, a luxurious finish, and rich paint colors. This commitment to excellence and incredible track record within the industry makes Benjamin Moore our top choice for painting the exterior of your Denver home.
We’ve tested out several Benjamin Moore products and our personal favorite is Aura Exterior. Aura is Benjamin Moore’s highest rated exterior paint product and for a good reason. It has unmatched longevity and exclusive Color Lock technology. These features result in a depth and richness to the paint that is unparalleled within the industry without sacrificing any durability. It also comes in a low luster finish, which is significantly less shiny than other paints like those at Sherwin Williams. This means your home will look and feel much more historically accurate. With this paint product we provide a 12 year, no-exclusions paint warranty.
Exterior Paint for Your Denver Home
When you’re lucky enough to have one of these historic homes here in Denver, it’s your responsibility to maintain and uphold the characteristics that make these homes so beautiful. The right paint product, sheen and historically accurate paint colors are critical to honor the history of these homes. For paint color ideas and historically accurate color schemes that will suit your Denver home, be sure to check out our Instagram and Pinterest page where we post regularly.
