Would you like to discover How to Paint the Exterior of Your House ?
In this blog post, we will show you how you can paint the exterior of your house by yourself. This is a great DIY project that will save you money and control the color scheme. If done correctly, painting your home’s exterior could add value to it too.
The key to doing this project successfully is choosing the right paint for your needs and following instructions carefully to avoid any surfaces or get in trouble with the law!
To prepare for painting, make sure that all surface areas are clean and dry before beginning. You should also take steps beforehand, such as sealing off cracks or gaps where water might seep through during rainstorms. Painting your home’s exterior can be a lot of work…
How Long Does Exterior Paint Last For?
In general, exterior paint will last for about three years, depending on weather conditions and climate. For example, in an area that frequently gets rain or humidity, you can expect the paint to fade more quickly than it would in milder temperatures.
Note that how long your paint job lasts depends on how well you prep your home before painting. Some surfaces may need to be sanded down or recaulked before applying new coats of paint, whereas others might not require much preparation at all.
Also, keep in mind that different colors have different ingredients and react differently when exposed to the elements over time.
It is always necessary to learn all basic knowledge about how to Paint the Exterior of Your House !
Things you need to prepare before painting the exterior of your house:
You should also make sure that you have all of the following tools on hand before starting work:
- 10″ roller frame – 6″ and 8″ synthetic bristle or foam brushes
- Ladders OR a tall assistant to help reach high places
- Putty knife and taping knives
- A bucket of clean water for rinsing your brush between colors
- Plastic sheeting along with painters tape AND moisture barrier plastic for covering windowsills and other areas that need it
- A small step ladder (for painting window sills)
- Paint trays and drop cloths to catch drips and spills
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Preparation steps the house for painting
Start with an exterior house wash and use a high-pressure sprayer.
If you don’t own a pressure washer, consider renting one. A pressure washer will allow you to clean your home’s exterior walls more thoroughly and efficiently than if you used another method.
This is especially important if you are trying to remove any dirt, grime, or rust from the siding of your house. If there is mildew growing on your home’s exterior or the paint has been peeling in certain areas, it may be necessary to apply an antimicrobial solution beforehand as well.
TIP: Consider using TSP (trisodium phosphate) instead of bleach when cleaning surfaces around your home for more demanding jobs such as those that involve removing mold, algae, or dried-up paint… For best results, start at the top of your house and work your way down.
Once you have pressure washed and rinsed all surfaces, allow them to dry completely before applying fresh coats of paint. Remember that different paint types will require specific curing times before being used, so be sure to read the instructions on your chosen paint product carefully for more information about this process.
Be sure to get rid of any weeds growing near your home’s foundation or sidewalk leading up to it beforehand. Also, trim back any tree limbs hanging above the exterior walls and shrubs close by, which may hinder the painting process later on due to their proximity.
If there are gutter spikes that need replacing with missing shingles, try to replace them or cover them up with tarps before starting this project.
Remove chipped and flaking paint from the exterior walls.
Check for loose or peeling paint. If you find any, scrape it off carefully with a metal paint scraper to avoid damaging the wall underneath further…
You’ll need to create a mixture of one part denatured alcohol and three parts paint remover. Apply this concoction with medium-grit sandpaper (200 or 220) to remove the existing coatings on your home’s exterior walls…
TIP: When working with chemicals, make sure you wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles so that you don’t damage any exposed skin. Be sure to follow all safety precautions for whatever method you use when removing old coats of oil-based paint from your home’s exterior!
Sand the area you are painting
with high-grit sandpaper (at least 150) to smooth out any rough patches. Rinse with water thoroughly and allow the surface to dry completely before applying new paint…
This will ensure the surface is immaculate and free of dirt or dust, so you won’t have to worry about it interfering with the new coatings at all.
Fill any cracks or holes you find in your exterior’s siding using caulk. Apply primer to these areas first if necessary, then press caulk into place. If the primer doesn’t seem sufficient, use an exterior grade acrylic latex caulking compound instead…
TIP: Make sure not to apply caulk over existing paint. If you do, peel it back carefully and scrape off as much of the excess material as possible with a blade before reapplying with fresh paint. This will ensure that the seal is strong between the new coats of paint and that they adhere to the surface effectively.
Patch and fill holes in the house’s
Siding using exterior grade wood filler. This material is more robust than standard drywall one and works best when used with exterior grade paints.
Let the wood filler dry thoroughly, then sand away any excess portions before applying fresh paint. Be sure to make any necessary repairs or changes to your home’s roofing as well as windows before painting…
Depending on how much damage has been done to it, you may need a replacement window, along with any cracks that need filling beforehand.
Consider changing out old and damaged gutters if they are too rusty or have holes in them, so water doesn’t pool up around your home during heavy rains or wash away parts of the foundation below over time either.
TIP: Make sure you use an oil-based primer that contains a fungicide to prevent mildew and mold from forming behind your new paint coating. This can create an unsightly white discoloration on your walls over time and isn’t something you’ll want covering up the fresh coats of paint you just applied!
If any loose pieces of wood or siding are sticking out, cut them off using a blade. Try not to damage the exterior’s existing paint coating in the process, which will help keep moisture away from it for as long as possible while maintaining its aesthetic appeal too.
After cutting off any sections of boards or other materials protruding outward, smooth out any jagged edges with sandpaper, so they aren’t sharp or dangerous. Fill in any holes in the surrounding area…
>> Keep reading to discover How to Paint the Exterior of Your House ?
Caulk and seal any windows or openings to prevent air and water from leaking in later on.
Tape off and cover nearby plants, grass, and other landscaping with plastic or a tarp to prevent moisture from irritating them as you paint…
TIP: If your exterior walls are wood or wood-like materials, consider using an oil-based primer instead of latex-based paints only.
This will help protect the raw material underneath from moisture damage such as rust due to excessive exposure over time, which can leave portions of your wall weakened and less structurally stable than they should be when it comes time to remove old coats of paint too!
Apply painter’s tape along with any areas where the new coatings overlap onto adjoining sections. This will ensure that one quarter doesn’t separate prematurely due to expansion/contraction processes taking place as usual when it comes into contact with different temperature levels throughout the day.
Roll a coat of exterior-grade paint onto the siding using a brush. Apply two coats if necessary to ensure proper coverage and penetration takes place evenly without any bare spots or weak points remaining…
Painting the House
Use a paintbrush for better control and better precision when it comes to painting tight corners and other areas where a roller might not fit or isn’t able to get into.
When using a brush, dip the bristles lightly into paint, then wring them out before starting work. This will help prevent “drips” from occurring when you are finished painting which can ruin sections of the coat you just applied if they aren’t protected in time by new layers taking their place over the top…
TIP: Don’t forget to remove your painter’s tape from surfaces once the exterior paint has dried completely!
Leaving it on there until second or third coats have been added can make for some tough clean-up later on and shouldn’t be attempted even though most types of painters’ tape is designed to easily peel away without any damage occurring to your new paint coating.
Start at the top of your house and work your way down to
The bottom, removing as you go. Continue to move in horizontal strips until you have finished painting all of the exterior sidings.
Use a paint roller for better coverage in larger areas, particularly when side sections meet together and need to be covered.
TIP: If you notice any areas where your earlier coats of paint haven’t been applied completely evenly, or look “streaky” or spotty throughout due to poor mixing on your part, consider applying an additional coat here. This should even everything out nicely and provide uniform coloration as well!
Start at the highest point on the wall and work your way down towards the ground, moving horizontally across the surface area as you go. Repeat this process until all exterior sidings have received new layers covering their previous coat(s) of paint…
TIP: If you find that ladders are too unreliable or impractical to use when working on higher surfaces, consider renting an electric power paint sprayer from your local hardware store instead.
While usually more costly in terms of time and effort, they can take a lot of the risk out of painting high areas with ease which is why many DIY enthusiasts keep them around for jobs like these.
Don’t start painting if it might rain.
If it will rain within the next 24 hours, wait for a dry day and remove your painter’s tape from surfaces. If you leave it on there too long, the paint underneath may begin to separate prematurely and come away on its own because of the extended moisture exposure.
Follow the shade.
To avoid applying too much paint or telling where you have already used it, choose shady sections of the house to start on when painting exterior surfaces.
When painting exterior siding, make sure to follow the shade on all sides of your property. This will ensure that there aren’t any areas where you end up with different levels of darkness or lightness in coloration, which can look very “off” afterward and should be avoided at all costs!
FAQ:
Do you have to pressure wash your house before you paint?
No, you don’t. That being said, pressure washing does help speed up the process quite a bit and makes for much easier painting overall, with less risk of paint clumping or drying prematurely on your surface area.
Using a power washer can increase the thickness of the paint coat that gets applied to your house exterior, not to mention it also softens surfaces, so they’re more easily prepped and painted in general.
How do you estimate the cost of a paint job?
Price will vary on location, size, the scope of work, and even the time of year you’re planning to paint. The best way to get a quote is by consulting with a professional contractor first so they can provide you with an accurate estimate based on what’s most practical for your home.
What do I do if my paint starts chipping?
The first thing you’ll want to do when this happens is scraped off any loose pieces that are flaking away using a putty knife or something similar (be very careful not to harm yourself as well!).
How do you paint straight lines?
The best way to paint straight lines is by using a guide of some sort, whether that’s masking tape or simply having someone else help you if it’s possible.
If you use video, make sure to paint right up to the edge but not over it, and be sure to press firmly down on both sides before letting go to ensure maximum hold when drying occurs;
How do I keep my paint from peeling?
If your paint has begun peeling away from the surface area because of poor adhesion, try applying a new primer layer first and then painting with an additional coat afterward. This should prevent any further problems from occurring, which will allow for maximum durability in the long run.
For an exterior wall in my garden, could I use masonry paint without sealer or primer?
No, you should only ever use an exterior masonry paint that has already been made to withstand the outdoor elements.
What kind of brush do I need for painting exterior siding?
You’ll want to use a synthetic bristle brush so that it doesn’t spread around any harmful chemicals onto surfaces after application (chemicals could react with your house’s materials, potentially causing peeling or discoloration). We recommend checking out our specialty brushes section on Amazon.
Why is over-spray so bad for surfaces?
Over-spray can cause damage by leaving behind tiny droplets of paint on the surface area you’re working on. This means that it will have to be sanded down and reapplied afterward, which will take up more time and cause other kinds of paint to chip and peel later on.
Tips when painting exterior house
- Make sure your paint is formulated for a thicker coat if painting over existing paint or primer (explained more in-depth below)
- If you’re using latex exterior house paint, do not thin it out with water beforehand (this applies to all exterior surfaces too). The only time you should be thinning out your paint is when it’s oil-based and then only ever with mineral spirits. This is because water will cause the part of the latex binder responsible for adhesion to break down, meaning that your new coat won’t last very long at all! As an added benefit, thinning with mineral spirits helps speed up drying times and make paints go further overall, so this technique will save you money in the long run!
- Plan and be very thorough when removing all of your window screens and taking them off the house before painting (this is usually quite simple as most screens come apart or can fold down). Suppose paint gets on a screen, especially any with metal mesh material. In that case, it will likely flake away after drying, which will leave unsightly marks and could cause damage if not checked beforehand (due to rusting or flat-out chipping).
- Don’t forget about other accessories such as door hardware; remove locks and handles, then cover them up with plastic wrap so that you don’t get paint on the parts where they meet the frame.
- Take care of any potential peeling paint or chipped areas on the surface first by scraping and sanding them down as much as you can beforehand so that the new application has a clean surface to adhere to.
- Close all exterior windows, doors, screens, etc.; if working in a room with such things before starting work, it will be more difficult to reach certain areas otherwise. Painting from the outside of any window is also possible; however, you’ll need to be very careful not to let the paint drip onto surfaces where it could damage anything underneath (keep your brush wet at all times!).
Conclusion :
If you’re looking for a guide how to Paint the Exterior of Your House ? this is the article for you. We’ll cover how much it costs and what materials are needed as well as advice on which paint colors will work best with your home’s architecture.
Whether you’re an experienced painter or just getting started, we hope that these tips help make your exterior project go smoothly!
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