Interior paint can rejuvenate and liven up living spaces for a very low outlay of money. Exterior painting can protect and beautify a home for years to come, even though it’s typically a more involved job in terms of prep, primer, paint and cleanup. Newer compounds of paint can actually help insulate your house and lower your utility bills; other paint formulations can inhibit wood rot or interior mold (a major, even dangerous problem in many houses).

For the ecologically-minded, newer low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints are available. There are oil-based paints for a glossy enamel-like finish, and water-based latex paints for a satin finish and easy cleanup. Water-based latex paints are generally preferable for a house’s exterior, since they are porous and flexible enough to allow a house to “breathe.”

For interior house painting or exterior house painting – either one, the correct prep work: masking, weatherproofing and application of paint are all vitally important to a durable, easily-maintained paint job. And hiring the job out to a contractor entails much more than just finding someone who can apply paint; you need a contractor who will work safely, is fully insured and will do a thorough cleanup on each and every job.