Here is a complete guide to painting the exterior of your home like a professional:
Note: You can click on each step to get a more in-depth, thorough, and comprehensive guide.
- Preparation:
- Clean the exterior of your home thoroughly, removing any dirt, cobwebs, or debris. Power wash if necessary.
- Repair any damage to the exterior, such as cracks, holes, or dents.
- Caulk any gaps between trim and siding to prevent moisture from entering.
- Cover any landscaping, windows, and doors with plastic and drop cloths.
- Tape off areas you don’t want to paint, such as trim and windows.
- Paint Selection:
- Choose high-quality exterior paint that’s suitable for your siding type.
- Pick colors that complement your home’s style and the surrounding neighborhood.
- Consider the lighting and climate in your area when choosing a paint color.
- Priming:
- Apply a layer of the adequate primer to the surface, especially if you’re changing the color of your home and on any bare/exposed surfaces including areas that you repaired.
- Allow the primer to dry completely.
- Painting:
- Pour the paint into a paint tray or bucket and make sure the paint is not dirty – if it is, strain it. Depending on the type of paint, you may also need to thin the paint with water or paint thinner.
- Load your paintbrush or roller with paint. Or, if your budget allows it, use an airless sprayer with a larger orifice size to cut down on your labor time and to ensure that the paint is applied more evenly
- Start painting from highest part of your home and work your way down.
- Paint in the direction of the grain of the siding or use a W-shaped pattern to avoid drips.
- Paint the trim last.
- Allow the first coat to dry completely.
- Apply a second coat if needed.
- Clean-Up:
- Clean up your paintbrushes and rollers.
- Remove the tape and drop cloths. (Do not let the tape sit for too long as this may cause the tape to pull of the paint from the surface.
- Step back and admire your freshly painted exterior!
