Tuesday, May 7, 2024

How to Paint Your Homes Exterior

how to paint exterior house

The right exterior house colors can make or break a first impression. “Paint sets the tone for what you want your home to express,” Katie Burnet, an interior designer with Rumor Designs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, says. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the decision—especially considering what a big, expensive, and highly visible undertaking painting your house can be—you're definitely not alone. That’s why we’ve put together an expert guide to help you choose an exterior color palette you love.

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Keep in mind that DIY paint projects are best for homes with little to no prep or repair work. The material of your home’s exterior dictates your overall house painting approach. This includes taking care of repairs and calculating the amount of paint needed. For example, does your aluminum siding have dents or excessive “chalking” (a powdery coating)? How much paint will you need for porous surfaces such as brick or stucco? Understanding the potential challenges upfront will aid in your decision about who will do the painting work.

Buy Paints and Stain

Complete all pre-paint repair work, including snapping loose siding into place, fully replacing wood pieces, or repairing small wood blemishes with wood putty. Clean your home’s exterior by removing any dirt, mold, and mildew. Be sure to confirm the project length, the number of workers on the job, if the painter is licensed and insured, and what prep and clean up work will be completed by the paint company. Cost plays a role in any home improvement project, including house painting. To determine what’s most economical, you should get at least three professional exterior home painter quotes that include a detailed explanation of what’s part of the contract.

Prime surfaces

Painting a whole house is a huge task, but the work isn’t hard. Depending on the size of the wall, you can complete the painting in two or three days. As long as you’re not changing colors, this is a great option. If you’re painting the exterior a darker color, or if the siding didn’t need any major repairs, you can probably skip the primer.

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Very sunny days are best avoided, as extreme heat can cause paint to dry too quickly and give a clumpy finish. Aim for a day that’s not overly humid either, which can cause problems with paint drying. Check the forecast to make sure that it’s not going to rain on the day after painting too. Consult the weather forecast before diving into your paint project, too.

I painted the soffit last, because it was easier to mask the wall than mask the soffit to paint the wall. What would have taken me an hour with a paintbrush was done in five minutes. Also, if your home is in a state of serious disrepair, it may be worth calling in a professional. If there is substantial damage or plenty of scraping and sanding to do, hiring the project out to a team of house painting professionals could be the way to go. Make sure that the surface of the house is clean before painting.

how to paint exterior house

Step 3: Repair damaged areas.

Bold, moody, and versatile, charcoal black will never go out of style. As an exterior paint color, it’s sleek and hides any dirt or debris buildup. For the Wyoming home of Emily Janak, the designer chose a black protective coating to update the previously mint green and white one.

If you only plan to paint once, consider a boom lift rental to get your project done. There’s no maintenance required, and you won’t need to store it either.

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Should you pressure wash exterior walls before painting?

Instead of masking off the soffit, I just shielded it from the spray using an old cedar shake. Now that you understand the basics of how to paint a house exterior, you can decide if it's a project for you. When you're ready to find the paint and tools you need, see The Home Depot Mobile App to locate products and check inventory in your local store.

It's easy to protect your investment in quality painting tools. Scraping paint by hand is a grueling task because you’ve got to attack it from every direction. But compared to power grinders and sanders, it’s the least damaging way to remove the old layers. You can speed up the process by using a heating gun to soften the paint (as shown). For the cost of a few cases of exterior paint, plus some patching and sanding, you can have a whole new home. Use drop cloths to protect bushes, flowerbeds, decks, lawns and sidewalks.

If the surface has become powdery, it should be brushed down and the wall treated with a stabilising primer before painting which will seal any unstable areas. Primer is especially important for any shiny or porous surfaces and will ensure that the first coat of paint adheres properly. As with interior painting projects, some external surfaces need masking. For instance, you don’t want to get cream masonry paint on black downpipes.

With a minimum investment in tools and materials, you’ll save thousands of dollars, extend the life of your siding and trim and increase the value of your home. The key to a successful exterior paint job is proper prep. These step-by-step instructions will show you how to paint your house effectively and efficiently.

If less than half the old paint is left, however, it may be worth stripping it all off. Small random-orbit or pad sanders make this job go faster. For areas that might get close scrutiny, you can follow up with a 100- or 120-grit rubdown to erase any scratches. That thin skin of resin and pigment also protects your investment, shielding it from sun, wind, and rain—until the paint begins to crack and peel, that is. Using a roller increases production and spraying the paint can speed up the project.

For paint to be applied properly and evenly, your home’s exterior will need to be clean and dry. Plan to power wash, remove any flaking paint, repair loose wood or siding, and sand uneven surfaces before painting. Summer is the ideal time to get any exterior painting projects done, with the weather dry and not too much rain around (hopefully).

Most water-based exterior paints can be used on wood and hardboard siding and trim. They’re also fine for vinyl and aluminum siding, and most masonry. Deciding on a color scheme is one of the first steps to tackle.

Painters often tint primer close to the color of the top coat, but Wallis thinks that’s a recipe for “holidays,” or missed spots. “If I can see the color coming through, I know I need to apply more paint,” he says. On the cottage shown in this story, he chose a gray-blue primer to go under a peach top coat. Re-caulk around door trim, windowsills and other areas that need to be sealed with paintable exterior caulk.

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