Tips for Painting the Exterior of Your Property

Exterior painting is an exciting home improvement project that offers the home a new identity and makes it stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. A well-executed paint job transforms the home’s outer look, increases its resale value, extends the life of trim and sidings, and protects the walls from various weather damages.

However, painting the exterior surfaces is challenging but rewarding and requires significant time, effort, patience, and perseverance. Exterior painting is more than choosing the right paint colors. It is a detailed process that needs a bit of knowledge and expertise for quick, thorough, and crisp paint application. When done improperly, it leaves a sloppy look on the walls and ruins the external home appearance.

Here are few tips for painting the exterior of the house for enthusiastic DIYers to help achieve a top-quality and flawless exterior paint job:

Prepare the exterior surface
Surface preparation is a critical step before exterior painting. A clean and dry surface without any dirt, mold, grime, and chalky residue is a must for the paint to stick well and avoid paint peeling and blistering later. Seal or patch all the gaps, cracks, and holes, and conduct the required repairs. Wash all the areas that need painting using a pressure washer and sand them properly. Invest in a good primer, especially for a new surface or those significant repairs, before applying the paint for better adhesion, durability, and better protection. Use paint and primer in one product for surfaces, like raw wood, drywall, masonry, and bare porous surfaces.

Prepare the landscape
Exterior painting is messy, and there is a need to protect the landscape from paint drips and splashes. Remove all the furniture, cover all the vegetation, hoses, grills, and any other item lying below the to-be painted area using drop cloths and tarps.

Get rid of the old paint
A valuable exterior painting tip for an efficient painting job is to consider paint stripping. Scrape off and remove all the loose or flaked paint to give the surfaces a smoother and cleaner finish and eliminate issues like chipping and bubbling.

Do not rush into things
Exterior painting requires time and patience. The project can take several days to finish, and avoid trying to complete the project in one go. Consider painting each side as an individual project and concentrate only on that ignoring the others. Paint the intricate and tedious areas first before moving to the more exciting ones.

Invest more efforts in painting the visible areas
Some exterior parts require more TLC than the others. Invest time and efforts in making the highly noticeable surfaces perfect. Surfaces like under the eaves may not require the same level of precision.
Consider the right weather conditions

Avoid painting when there is rain prediction, weather is windy, hot, or humid, or the surface experiences direct sunlight to avoid issues. Plan the painting project when the weather conditions are favorable based on the local weather patterns.

Choose high-quality paint
It is crucial to choose high-quality paint for a lasting paint job. It also offers better coverage, requires fewer coats, looks better. Pick the paint type that falls within the budget range and is suitable for the exterior walls. A professional painter can assist in choosing the best exterior paint for the home’s needs. Carefully read the instructions on the paint can label and follow them to achieve a perfect finish.

Use the correct painting techniques and equipment
The best way to paint is to start from the top, then work your way down, and move side to side for a uniform finish. Ensure purchasing all the required equipment, including a good ladder, rollers, and brushes, a roller tray, drop cloth, and protective gears before starting to paint. Do not forget to clean the paintbrushes and rollers to protect them from hardening and seal the paint containers to prevent drying after completing the day's job.
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Follow these simple and valuable exterior painting tips for a perfect finish. Hire a professional painting contractor if you want someone else to tackle the exterior painting job.