How to Match Colors for Exterior House Painting

Does your home’s exterior look dull? The culprit may be your paint. Over time, paint can fade and turn your once-stunning curb appeal into a lackluster sight. However, you don’t need to worry or spend days on end trying to find a new color when you loved your original color so much—there is a simple solution: paint matching. Let’s discuss how you can match colors for exterior house painting.

Do You Have an Old Can?

You may want to check your attic, garage, shed, or basement for an old can of paint in the color that you need. If you have an old can of paint (opened or unopened) from when you originally painted your home, you can bring that directly to a painting company and have them match it with ease.

Remove a Paint Chip

You can clean your wall off and let it dry before removing a paint chip (cleaning the wall helps remove any dirt or grime to fully see the color). You can use a knife to cut a small paint chip off your home (be sure to take safety precautions when using sharp tools such as knives). Next, bring the paint chip to a painting company and they can match it.

Take Photos & Gather Information

If you don’t have a paint chip or an old can, you can try to match it by taking photos of the wall in good lighting after cleaning the area. Before taking the photos to your painting company, you can gather more information about the paint that can contribute to matching it. You can do this by dipping a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and gently scrubbing the wall in a small spot—alcohol will remove latex-based paint but not oil-based paint. Determining the paint base will help your painting company match it. Another thing you can do is try to figure out what sheen the paint is. Does it look flat/matte? How about glossy? The sheen can make all the difference in the appearance of your paint.

The next step is to share the photos and information with your paint company, have them match it to their best ability, and test it out on your wall. If the paint color still isn’t correct, then maybe the sheen or shade is off. It may take a few tries to get it right. However, your paint company should be able to match the paint or find a color that is extremely close to the color that you are looking for.

Get Started on Your Exterior Painting Project

Contact Southern Painting today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our top-quality exterior painting services. Southern Painting proudly serves homeowners throughout the Southern United States. We can update your home’s exterior with the paint color of your choice. If you have any questions about our painting services or how to match colors for your exterior house painting project, please don’t hesitate to ask.