Painting the Exterior of Your Home

There's nothing like new paint to brighten up your house's curb appeal. And, this is the season to do it! Also, paint helps your house to defend against the elements of rain, snow and ice.

As soon as you notice the paint starting to blister, peel and crack, you know it's time for a new fresh coat of paint. A proper paint should last for about 15 years if you to it correctly and if you use good quality materials.

Paint Options

 

Type

The two basic types of exterior paint are:

• Water-Based Latex: Cleans up with soap and water, dries quickly, has low odor and stays flexible longer.
• Oil-Based Alkyd: Requires paint thinner for cleanup, is durable, stain-resistant, flows very smoothly and dries with fewer brush marks

Price

One thing to note, the more expensive paints have more pigments so they last longer and have a more thicker, protective coating than the inexpensive paints.

Read the Label

Most of us overlook the label on the paint can. However, this can be a mistake because the label has important instructions about prepping the surface and outdoor air temperature.

 

Prep the Surface

 

Clean

In order for the paint to apply properly, you'll need to prep the surface and make sure it's clean. A power sprayer or hose is helpful, but you can also use a bucket, a scrub brush, soap and water. Of course, you'll want to allow for the outside of the house to dry before you start painting.

 

Caulking

You may need to apply caulking around the windows, doors and trim. If so, make sure the caulking is paintable.

 

Old Paint

You'll need to sand and scrape the old paint down where it has blistered or flaked off. Bare spots should be primed before painting. For nails, you can get a metal primer to prevent rust from bleeding into the paint. Also, if the house was built before 1978, you should check to see if the old paint has lead in it. If so, you'll need to take extra precautions.

Brush or Roller?

The answer is both! The most effective way to paint is with using both a brush and a roller. Use the roller to paint the big surface. Then, use the brush to get in those small, hard-to-reach areas.

Paint in the Shade

Painting in direct sunlight will cause the paint to dry too fast, resulting in the paint not adhering properly. This will start premature blistering and flaking. So, paint on the shady side of the house first. Or, you can paint on an overcast day.

Cover Up the Windows 

Make sure and cover up the windows with plastic and masking tape in order to avoid getting paint on the them.

Protect the Plants

 

You can put down a tarp covering to protect the plants that are near the house. Watch this video for some good tips on taking care of your garden and plants while painting.

Start From the Top Down

Start from the top of your house and work your way down. Paint to the bottom edge of the siding first. Then, paint to the broad surfaces. Try to brush from one wet surface onto another wet surface to avoid lap marks.

Seal It Up

After you are done painting, put plastic wrap on the top of the open paint container. Spray cooking oil over the plastic and tightly secure the lid.

For more in-depth information on painting the exterior of your home, check out this video series.