Being hired to do an exterior painting project is the perfect time to discover other outdoor projects while you are on the job. We’ve got the pointers and products you need to make the best recommendations.

We’ve listed six of the most in-demand exterior projects for homeowners. Each potential project can help you prepare for a conversation with your client, streamline your product recommendations and estimates, and ultimately lock down additional exterior project business.

How Can Your Benjamin Moore Contractor Rep Help Your Business?

A full assessment of the exterior project—and making a well-informed recommendation—is critical. While some exterior projects may be well within your area of expertise, others may not be. Good news: Support is ready and waiting from your local Benjamin Moore Contractor Rep, who is always available to help you expand your business.

In this guide we will go over:

Decks

Fencing

Window Trim Painting

Front Door

Concrete Patio & Pool Decking

Pool Paint & Fountains

Decks

Most homeowners have their decks refinished every 2-3 years, making for a lucrative piece of repeat business. Preparation is at the core of a successful deck refinishing job. Weather is also crucial: 48-hours free of rain is essential to any deck project’s success.

RECOMMENDATION

Choose the Right Product for Prepping

New Wood: Use Benjamin Moore® Brighten; scrub this product into the wood and power wash the surface, letting it dry for 48 hours, then sand the deck with 80-grit sandpaper.

Weathered Wood: Apply Benjamin Moore® Restore with a stiff brush to clean the dingy gray layer. Rinse the deck down and apply Benjamin Moore Brighten and follow the steps for new wood.

Flaking & Peeling Wood: Apply Benjamin Moore® Remove to get rid of the old stain. Rinse the deck down, apply Benjamin Moore Brighten and follow the steps for New Wood.

Decking Color Options:

Your client can let the grain of the wood take prominence or use color in creative ways with ARBORCOAT®; opacities and paint color options include:

- 6 Translucent shades (Natural, Redwood, Teak, Cedar, Mahogany, Silver Gray)

- 75 Semi Transparent and Semi Solid colors

- Solid stain in the full Benjamin Moore portfolio of 3,500+ colors

- If your client doesn’t want any color whatsoever, consider ARBORCOAT Exterior Waterproofer, a long-term sealant that resists dirt pick-up and provides superior UV protection.

Watch our How To video pinned below this post on how to stain a deck to get familiar with the basics, and contact your Benjamin Moore rep to discuss your specific project in greater depth.

Fencing

To enhance the aesthetic appeal of your clients’ home, even their fencing should be in great condition. From staining to painting to maintaining, your Benjamin Moore Contractor Rep can suggest a range of fence painting ideas, as well as tips for staining and maintaining high quality wood fencing. White, gray and green paint colors are homeowner favorites.

RECOMMENDATION

For raw or bare wood, prime the surface first with Fresh Start® Exterior Wood Primer 094 or Fresh Start® Moorwhite® Exterior Wood Primer 100.

If the fence paint is simply faded and doesn’t need primer, start by doing a thorough cleaning. Then apply two coats of high quality exterior paint options like Regal® Select Exterior Paint, a long-standing contractor go-to, or Regal® Select Exterior High Build which offers superior coverage and fewer coats. If your client prefers the look of the natural wood grain, ARBORCOAT Ultra Flat Solid Stain is great for hiding imperfections on exterior wood surfaces. For more opacities and stain colors for wood fences, see “Decks” above.

Your clients can keep their fences fresh with Benjamin Moore Clean, an ideal product for annual maintenance cleaning to remove mold, mildew and water stains.

Window Trim Painting

With an innate demand for heavy prep work and detailed craftsmanship, painting window trim is a job for the experts. From removing peeling paint, caulking and glazing from windows (and then replacing it) to expertly painting window frames, your clients’ investment in upgrading their exterior windows is invaluable.

RECOMMENDATION

For bare, raw wood outside, always prime the surface first with Fresh Start Moorwhite Exterior Wood Primer 094 or Fresh Start Moorewhite Exterior Wood Primer 100.

With its high-build formula and Color Lock® technology, premium Aura® Exterior Paint helps exterior paint colors stay true over time and offers superior fade resistance and outstanding durability-perfect for window sills that bear the brunt of weather extremes.

 

Front Door

Does your client’s front door look like it needs a pick-me-up? Since repainting a front door is one of the fastest and most satisfying ways to refresh a home’s exterior, it makes for an easy pitch. Brilliant, rich color accented with updated door hardware help foster a warm welcome—not to mention enhance their home’s curb appeal.

RECOMMENDATION

Let your client know that you’ll be using a specialty product formulated specifically for front doors: Aura® Grand Entrance® in high gloss or satin provides a rich, lustrous finish, superior color retention, and fade resistance to stand up against the elements.

Check out the How To video pinned at the end of this post, which gives you a head start on painting front doors that will stand out and endure the test of time.

Concrete Patio & Pool Decking

Maintaining concrete patios is another route to repeat business. You can help your client’s concrete and cement look great with specialty concrete coating products. Does your client have concrete around the pool? An anti-slip coating provides the just-right solution for that setting too.

RECOMMENDATION

Insl-x® TuffCrete® Concrete Coatings are designed for application to interior or exterior masonry surfaces and offer great durability. Available in Waterborne and Solvent Acrylic formulas. Perfect for sidewalks, courtyards and walkways.

Sure Step® Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating provides a durable, skid-resistant finish for interior or exterior application. Imparts excellent color retention, abrasion resistance, and resistance to ponding water.

Pool Paint & Fountains

Swimming pool resurfacing and refinishing can be tricky since you need to choose a product based on your client’s specific kind of swimming pool. If this area is new to you, be sure to reach out to your local Benjamin Moore Contractor Rep who can help with swimming pool paint tips, expert insights and much more.

RECOMMENDATION

Insl-x® Pool Paints offer a variety of solutions for different swimming pools. Products include epoxy, rubber-based and waterborne formulas, all of which deliver exceptional durability over a variety of existing swimming pool surfaces and fountains.