Summer in Metro Detroit is short, and if you’re a homeowner, you already know how fast the season goes. Between backyard cookouts, trips up north, and trying to squeeze every last bit of warmth out of July and August, home maintenance projects have a way of getting pushed to the back burner.

But summer is actually the best time to tackle painting projects, inside and out. The weather cooperates, the paint dries properly, and you’ve got long days to work with. If you’ve been putting off repainting your home’s exterior or finally refreshing that living room, this is your window.

Here’s a practical checklist to help Metro Detroit homeowners make the most of the season.

Exterior Painting Checklist

  1. Inspect Your Siding First. Before a single drop of paint goes on, walk the perimeter of your home and look for cracks, peeling, rot, or any spots where the old paint is bubbling. Michigan winters are rough on exterior surfaces, and summer is when the damage really shows itself. Painting over a problem doesn’t fix it — it just hides it temporarily.
  2. Clean Everything. Dirt, mildew, and chalky residue from old paint will ruin a new coat. A thorough power wash before painting isn’t just optional, it’s the difference between a finish that lasts five years and one that starts peeling by fall.
  3. Check Your Caulking and Trim. Look around windows, doors, and trim for gaps or cracked caulk. These spots let moisture in and are usually where paint fails first. Re-caulking before you paint is a small step that makes a big difference in how long the finished job holds up.
  4. Pick the Right Paint for the Michigan Climate. Not all exterior paints are created equal. Metro Detroit gets hot summers, cold winters, and a fair amount of moisture in between. You want a paint that’s rated for temperature swings and has good mildew resistance. 
  5. Time Your Project Right. Paint needs the right conditions to cure properly. Aim for days when the temperature is between 50°F and 85°F and the humidity isn’t too high. Early morning or late afternoon application on hot days helps avoid the paint drying too fast and leaving brush marks.

Interior Painting Checklist

  1. Start with the ceiling. If you’re repainting a room, always do the ceiling first. It sounds obvious, but a lot of DIYers paint the walls and then realize the ceiling needs work too. Top to bottom, always.
  2. Patch and Sand Before You Prime. Any nail holes, scuffs, or hairline cracks need to be filled and sanded smooth before you open a can of paint. Fresh paint on an uneven wall just highlights every imperfection; it doesn’t hide them.
  3. Don’t Skip the Primer. If you’re making a big color change, covering a stain, or painting over new drywall, primer is non-negotiable. It saves you coats in the long run and helps the final color look the way it’s supposed to.
  4. Ventilate Properly. Summer is a great time for interior painting because you can open windows and let things air out. Good ventilation speeds up drying time, reduces fumes, and helps the paint cure evenly. Don’t paint a room with all the windows shut in July.
  5. Use the Right Finish for Each Room. Flat paint looks great on walls, but is hard to clean. Eggshell and satin are better choices for living areas, hallways, and kids’ rooms. Semi-gloss is ideal for trim, bathrooms, and kitchens where moisture and scrubbing are part of daily life.

General Homeowner Tips

  1. Don’t Forget the Garage Door and Front Door. These are two of the most visible surfaces on your home and often the most neglected. A freshly painted front door can completely change how your home looks from the street, and it’s usually a half-day project.
  2. Check Your Deck or Porch. If your deck is stained or painted, summer is the time to assess whether it needs a fresh coat. Peeling deck paint is a slip hazard and lets moisture into the wood. Catch it early, and you’ll save yourself a much bigger refinishing job down the road.
  3. Take Photos Before and After. This sounds small, but having a record of your home’s condition before and after any painting project is useful if you ever sell, file an insurance claim, or just want to remember what you actually had done.

Why Work With Ellison Painting?

You could spend your summer weekends on a ladder with a roller, or you could hand it off to a team that does this every day and actually enjoys it.

Ellison Painting has been serving Metro Detroit homeowners for years, and can help with your residential or commercial painting project. We’ve painted everything from century-old Craftsman bungalows in Ferndale to new construction in Northville, and we bring the same care and attention to every project.

We understand what Metro Detroit weather does to exterior surfaces, which products hold up and which ones don’t, and how to get a finish that still looks great three summers from now, not just on the day we pack up our gear.

If you’ve got a project on your list this Summer, contact our painting company today to learn more about our services.