Painting the exterior of your home can be a rewarding DIY project that enhances curb appeal and protects your house from the elements. Whether you’re refreshing an old coat of paint or trying a new color, proper preparation and technique are crucial for achieving a professional finish. This latest guide will walk you through the essential steps, from selecting the right materials to applying the final coat. With a little time and effort, you can transform the look of your home and boost its value. Here are the steps to ensure you do a top-notch job as you paint the exterior of your home.
Prep Carefully
The prep work is important. A new coat of paint will adhere best if it’s going on a clean surface. Remove mold, mildew, dirt and other debris (including paint that’s chipping off) with a power washer, if you feel comfortable using one, or with a bucket of soap and water, a scrub brush, and some elbow grease. Visit your local independent hardware store for some advice on which cleaning products would be best for you to use.
Make sure to cover your plants before you begin cleaning so they aren’t exposed to soap or other chemicals. And clean in sections, taking care to thoroughly rinse one section before moving on to the next.
For the chipped paint, you’ll need to scrape it off, rather than just washing. Homes built before 1978 may have been painted with lead paint, so if your home was built then, make sure to hire a professional to test and see if there’s lead paint on the outside of your home—and if there is, you’ll want a pro to do the scraping. However, if the test comes back lead-free, or if you have a home built after 1978, you can undertake this project yourself. Again, check with your local hardware store on the best tools for the project, but a scraper can go a long way, especially if you don’t have big sections to scrape but are just cleaning up some chipped areas. And make sure to always wear a respirator or dust mask as you scrape—safety comes first!
The next step is to sand. After the scraping and cleaning, go over rough spots with some sandpaper (try 50- or 60-grit first, followed by finer-grit 100- or 120-grit paper) to ensure you have a smooth surface before painting. Use some filler in any areas where there are small holes or indentations, and make sure to sand the filler down smoothly after it dries.
It’s Time to Prime
Now that the prep work is complete, it’s time to apply primer. You’ll need to use a primer that works best on bare surfaces (for sanded areas) as well as previously painted areas (for those parts that just needed cleaning but not sanding). Different types of materials work best with different types of primer, so talk with an employee at your local hardware store to see which type of primer they’d recommend.
You may want to use a paint sprayer if you’re comfortable with one, especially if you are painting large areas, and even more so if it’s not a surface where you could easily use a roller. However, you’ll want to make sure to go over edges with a brush to ensure you haven’t missed any parts of the surface.
You’ll also need to caulk around the seams, especially where two surfaces (such as brick and siding) meet, to keep water from seeping in.
Painting Your House
Finally, it’s time to paint. Before you begin, you need to choose the right paint.
While the color is entirely up to you, a good choice for the type of paint is latex. Latex paint is durable for outdoor use and meets air-quality regulations. You can also add additives to slow down the drying time, reducing the likelihood of visible brush marks. Consulting with a specialist in the paint department at your local hardware store can provide valuable recommendations tailored to your specific needs, including climate considerations.
Before starting, check the weather forecast. The temperature should be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and you should plan to paint over several dry days. Avoid painting on overly sunny days as the sun can hinder visibility and speed up the drying process too much.
Next, decide on your painting method. A paint sprayer offers quick and even coverage but has a learning curve. If you’re not experienced with a sprayer, this might not be the best time to start.
Using a brush provides the best control and thorough coverage, making it an excellent choice for detailed work. A roller is a middle-ground option, easier to use than a sprayer and faster than a brush, but you may need a brush for detailed areas to ensure complete coverage.
Regardless of your chosen method, apply two coats of paint. Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying the second, and sand any uneven spots between coats if necessary.
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