CasaSugar

Have You Painted Your Home's Exterior?

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:00:38 -0700

This Victorian would look majestic with a new coat of paint and fun Painted Lady-type detailing and colors. It's a big job, and people often hire painters to complete it, though this Su Casa reader did it herself (nice work!). Have you ever painted your home's exterior? Is it something you're considering doing soon?

Source: Flickr User Allan Ferguson

How-To: Patch a Gutter Leak

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:00:38 -0700

Unless you live in a perpetually dry desert where it never rains, I bet you enjoy an occasional rainstorm pounding on your house. It's all fun and games and cozy on a Friday night, when you've got nothing to do but watch a scary movie. That is, unless you've got a leaky gutter that leaves your house with water damage. If that's the case, you'd better pull your ladder out of the garage and plug that leak. Then, get back to your Netflix. You'll need just a few supplies, including a ladder (high enough to reach the gutter), some steel wool, metal flashing, asphalt flashing cement or gutter patch, caulk, and disposable plastic gloves.
To be home schooled on how to seal up your gutter, read more.

Here's how, from Barbara K!:

First things first. Make sure your ladder is secure, and ask someone to spot you if you can.
Then, clean out the gutter of leaves, twigs, and other debris. A small broom or scrub brush should do the trick.
To prepare the gutter to be patched, you'll want to scrub the inside of it surrounding the leak with your steel wool.
Then, trim the metal flashing a little larger than the area you need to patch.
Put your disposable gloves on.
Now, to patch the leak, coat the back of the metal flashing with asphalt flashing cement or gutter patch using a putty knife, and press it into place firmly.
Smooth off any excess adhesive using your finger (still wearing gloves).
Test the patch by pouring water onto where the leak was. It should be fixed. If not, run through the steps again, and make sure you're not missing any other leaks.

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Casa Quickie: Dress For the Drive-By

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:30:18 -0700

Selling your house? I'm sure you know all about staging your interiors, or decorating them to sell. But had you considered what impression you're making on the exterior? Many people on the house hunt do drive-bys of houses on the market before they set up an appointment to view them, because online real estate listings can be misleading. Plenty of house-hunters cruise through prospective neighborhoods to scout out "for-sale" signs, too. So, you should do whatever you can to make your house stand out. Paint your front door a bright (but beautiful) color. Plant window boxes filled with colorful flowers. Keep your grass freshly cut. Get new house numbers and make sure they're legible from the road. Give your shutters a power-wash, or a fresh coat of paint. Make sure your interior curtains are hung symmetrically. Don't let your newspapers pile up in the driveway. Consider the small details: they can make an expensive difference.
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Fall Style: Orange Exteriors

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:42 -0700

Orange isn't just for pumpkins. While it's one of the more unusual colors for painting the exterior of your home, it can look great when executed well. I especially love the bright, poppy colors of this home. While it's a bold choice, I think that the colors work really well together. The turquoise blue outlining the door frame offsets the orange of the exterior, as well as the bright colors of the door panels.

Have you ever considered painting your house orange? If not, take a look at the gallery and see if you might reconsider.

View 11 Photos ›

Source: Flickr User A National Acrobat

How-To: Prep Your Home's Exterior For Painting

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:30:28 -0700

I'm sure many of you have painted a room in your home at least once. I've done it countless times. But painting our home's exterior somehow seems more daunting. Granted, there are ladders involved, but it's not really much more difficult. The main difference is that it requires a bit more prep work than painting your bedroom, since nature will take a toll on your siding. To learn how to prep your home's exterior for painting, read more.

First off, you'll need to clean the outside of your house. A good power washing will do, and then let it dry.
There may be holes in your wood siding, so you should fill them with an exterior-grade patching compound. Note: you may need to call in a professional to replace the siding if damage is more extensive.
Next, scrape off loose, peeling paint with a putty knife, and then power wash it once again to get all the flaking paint off.
Use sandpaper to smooth out the edges where you removed old paint.
Now, use paintable exterior caulk to fill in cracks and other gaps.
Like you would with the trim and floors inside your home, mask off areas that shouldn't be painted with painter's tape, and lay down tarps to protect the areas below where you'll be painting - sidewalks and driveways especially.

Stay tuned for the next step in the process: painting. While you wait, sign up for the Glidden National Paint Giveaway before July 2, and you'll get a free quart of Eggshell finish paint within three to four weeks! I heart freebies, don't you?

How-To: Paint Your Exterior Trim

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:07 -0700

Hello painters! So far, I've told you how to prep your home's exterior for painting and how to paint your home's exterior. When it comes to painting the exterior trim, you'll need to devote a little extra attention, using more delicate brush strokes with less paint on your brush. To learn the steps to paint your home's siding trim, doors, and windows, read more.

For the siding trim, paint from the top down with the widest brush that will fit the trim. Make sure not to leave drips of paint in the crevices of the door.
For the doors, paint the raised inset panels, if there are any. Then, paint the main surface of the door around those panels.
For the windows, you'll need to mask off the glass first. Then, paint the dividing trim, top to bottom, with a small brush. If they are removable, remove them to paint and let dry, then reinstall. Then, paint the area surrounding the window, and then the trim surrounding the glass with an angled brush.

How-To: Paint Your Home's Exterior

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:38 -0700

I recently showed you how to prep your home's exterior for painting. Now it's time to bring out the brushes and the paint! Don't be daunted; it doesn't take much more skill than that required to paint a room in your home, just more time. First step, use a six-pack of cold beer to solicit some friends or family members to help you out! To learn the steps, read more.

First off, stir your paint well and continue to do so throughout the day to keep it mixed.
Begin by painting the gables (the portion of walls between the lines of sloping roofs), then move on to the main siding, always painting from top down.
Dip your bristle brush into the can of paint no more than half the length of the brush. Then wipe any drips from the underside off onto the rip of the can.
Before beginning to paint the whole surface of the siding, paint a two or three inch border next to the trim, as well as under the edge of the clapboards.
Now, paint the main surface of the siding. Remember to always paint in the direction of the woodgrain.
When you begin to paint an unpainted area, use a full brush and paint toward the painted areas.
Once the siding is dry, paint the windows, siding trim, and doors, in that order.
Painting the exterior of your home will take a few days, but clean your brushes (soap and water for latex, paint thinner for oil-based) at the end of each day, or freeze 'em.
Keep at it 'til you've finished and then reward yourself when you have!

Casa Quickie: Paint the Frame

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:30:24 -0700

Save the acres of tabletop and wall space we have indoors, there's only so much space to personalize on the exterior of our homes. Landscaping demands upkeep and time. Beyond that, there are limited places to use accessories and hardware outside. Painting, on the other hand, is a simple way to make your home stand out from its neighbors - especially now that you know how to paint your home's exterior. I recommend choosing a neutral color for your home's siding, and using color on your shutters. One way to make the most of this is to paint the frame of your window. That additional sliver of color anchors your shutters, making them a focal point rather than an accent. Have you tried this trick on your home?

Photo by Tara Donne

How-To: Create Festive Fall Votives

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:30:22 -0800

Want to add some pretty autumnal style to your Fall Thanksgiving table? Then try this great, simple trick from Better Homes and Gardens for transforming a holiday Autumn table. For a beautiful twist on boring old votives, collect colorful leaves from your backyard or nearby park. Then, tie the leaves to the votive with ribbon, twine, or yarn. Voila! You have a no-cost centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Just be careful not to get any of the leaves close to the flame. While I do love the fiery reds of Autumn leaves, I don't actually think that I want them on fire.

For another votive idea, read more.

If you have some extra time, you can also decoupage leaves onto the votive's exterior. This will give the votive a frosted effect, and will illuminate the leaves.

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Coveted Crib: Twilight's Cullen Family House

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:30:48 -0800

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to live like a vampire, let me tell you: it can be pretty sweet. That is, if you're a member of Twilight's Cullen Family. The 100-plus-year-old vampires don't live in a decaying lair, but a stunning contemporary house that would incite jealousy in any mere mortal. I actually showed you this house back in February, when I featured the 4,300-square-foot home's architect. The home was designed by Portland, OR-based Skylab Architecture - a name that very well suits the towering structure. Architect Jeff Kovel originally built the home as a spec house, but to no surprise, it sold after only two days on the market to Director of Footwear Design at Nike, John Hoke. If you caught the romantic fantasy, you'll remember that the interior is just as phenomenal as the exterior. I personally swooned more over Edward Cullen's "bedroom" than over brooding Robert Pattinson himself. But just to jog your memory, check out photos when you read more.

View 11 Photos ›

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