The exterior walls of your house are the first thing people notice when they visit, and the last thing you want people to see is a damaged wall. With monsoon already here, the exterior walls of your house are exposed to constant water and humidity. Over time, this moisture can travel through the walls and affect your internal walls as well.
Damp walls give rise to leakages, moulds, and can damage any wooden furniture that you might have resting against these walls. To protect your walls from overexposure to rainwater, you must waterproof all your exterior walls, and you can do that by using waterproof exterior house paint.
Waterproof exterior house paint, just like the name suggests, is an exterior paint that forms a barrier between the rainwater and your walls and prevents the water and moisture from penetrating or seeping through the walls. These exterior wall paints form a film-like coating that prevents cracks from developing on the outer walls when exposed to rain over time. All exterior home paintings are incomplete without weatherproofing or waterproofing your walls.
How To Select Waterproof Exterior House Paint
Most waterproof exterior wall paints have a soft, elastic-like formula to make it adapt to the climate changes that the exterior walls face. What this means is that with the changes in temperatures, the paint can expand or contract as needed. This prevents cracks from developing in the paint.
While this is a good thing, the soft surface of the paint acts as a magnet for dirt and dust. When looking for exterior paint, look for one that not only protects the walls from water but also stays dust-free. Another thing to take into account is the different exterior surfaces you would be painting.
Are you only painting vertical walls or do you have roofs and ledges as well? Some exterior house paints work great for vertical walls, but are not suitable for horizontal surfaces that are prone to waterlogging or stagnant water. Look for an all-rounder paint that takes care of all your different needs.
We recommend using the Indigo Dirtproof and Waterproof Exterior Laminate, India’s first and only paint that gives you effective protection from dirt and water equally. Created with revolutionary nanotechnology, the exterior house paint delivers a smooth, dirt-resistant, and waterproof finish to your external walls for many years.
The flexible acrylic emulsion and silicon primer in the Indigo Dirtproof and Waterproof Exterior Laminate give it a high UV resistance as well. That’s not all, this exterior paint is also alkali resistant and has powerful anti-algal and anti-fungal properties, making it a perfect choice for all your exterior home painting needs.
Step By Step Guide For Using Waterproof Exterior House Paint
a. Before you start with your exterior home painting, clean the surface of your walls to strip off the old paint and get rid of all the accumulated dust and dirt. If you have horizontal surfaces on your exterior walls, make sure to spend some extra time on these areas and scrub to remove slimy algae or moss growth that often occurs due to stagnant water.
b. Once the outer layer of the walls is cleaned, check for any cracks and seal them with putty. Cracks are one of the easiest ways for water to seep into the interior walls, and hence this step is extremely crucial when waterproofing your exterior walls.
c. Next, apply an exterior wall primer to smooth out your walls and create a smooth surface for your exterior house paint. Wall primers will help your exterior wall paint to stick to the walls better.
d. Now comes the actual waterproofing step, applying the waterproof exterior paint. Apply two coats of the Indigo Dirtproof and Waterproof Exterior Laminate to your exterior walls with a brush or a roller. Mix one litre of the Dirtproof and Waterproof Exterior Laminate with 400 ml of water. For horizontal surfaces, we recommend applying three coats of this exterior house paint. Wait between four to six hours between each coat to give each coat sufficient time to dry.
Benefits of Using A Waterproof Exterior House Paint
Apart from the most obvious benefit, that is protecting your walls from moisture, using a good quality waterproof paint for your exterior walls also saves you from regular upkeep and maintenance. A high-quality paint, when applied correctly, can last for many years.
Exposure to mould and fungus from walls can cause respiratory diseases and congestions and can also irritate your eyes and skin. Using waterproof exterior paint will prevent the growth of these algae, which in turn will protect your health.
Painting Tips – Dos and Don’ts to Keep In Mind
Use the right tools and keep everything handy before you begin painting. Essentials like brushes, paint rollers, a roller tray, gloves, and a ladder should be easily accessible at all times.
Don’t forget to protect all doors, windows, and any exterior fixtures with tape and plastic. Tape around the edges of doors and windows will also help you get a clean and crisp line of paint without getting any paint on the door or window.
Paint from the top and move lower to prevent paint drips from ruining an already painted surface.
Follow all the instructions and measurements correctly and remember to take all necessary safety precautions. If your ladder feels a bit wobbly or rickety or your gloves have holes in them, do not use them.
Take your time with the exterior home painting and do not rush into it. People often tend to underestimate how time-consuming painting the exterior walls are and then rush the process to get done quicker. Be patient to get the most professional-looking paint job and impress everyone with your new waterproofed walls!
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