The first step in any painting job is preparation. The surface to be painted needs to be thoroughly cleaned before any paint is applied. Painting over dirt will just assure that your finish will not last very long. Rent a power washer and use it to clean off chipped paint, bugs, dirt and deteriorated paint. After you have finished washing your homes exterior you then need to give it ample time to dry. Plan to paint the next day.
Now that you have a clean surface it is time to address any areas that need attention. Any remaining loose paint must be scraped off or sanded off. If you find any holes or cracks now is the time to fill them with spackle or caulk. Be very detail oriented here and be sure not to miss anything. If you find any rotten or loose boards now is the time to fix them.
By now you should have a good surface that you can work with. It is now time to begin taping off areas that you will not be painting like windows. Take your time here as this is very important to the final product, especially if you will be applying your paint with a sprayer. It will also save you time as you can go over areas quicker without worrying about overspray.
Now that all the prep is done, it is time to paint your home. Pick a day that is calm, not too windy, not too hot and of course with no chance of rain. Take your time and do a god job. Remember, if you do it right you won't have to do it again for 10 years or more. Good luck.
Preparation
As with other painting jobs, preparation is a must if you want an excellent finish. You will need to mask the trim to prevent paint from ending up in places you don't want. If for instance you are painting the exterior wall first you can end up getting unwanted paint on your trim which could cause difficulties when painting over it. When painting trim you'll also need to mask to keep paint from getting on the walls. Although you may use paint which is the same colour, they might be different shades.
Windows can be fairly difficult because you can easily get paint on the glass. The question is, do you mask the glass before painting or do you simply wipe or scrape the unwanted paint off later? If you are looking for a great finish and don't want to damage the glass, then masking is the option to choose.
Conditions
Dry Surface - Like other exterior paint jobs, make sure that the surface is dry. This is especially true with trim. It's not so important for large wall areas because the sun will dry the area quickly. However sections of trim have more angles that can trap moisture.
Moisture - If it has been raining, wait a couple of days before you start work. Also, if you start the job a bit later in the day you'll find that the morning dew has evaporated. Also make sure you've finished working by the evening because evening moisture can interfere with your good work.
Temperature - Moisture isn't your only consideration either, temperature is important too. The problem is that paint dries much slower in the cold than it does when it's warm. Temperatures much below 50F/10C can even cause the paint to wrinkle.
In saying that however, high temperatures have its problems too. If the temperature is too high the paint will dry too quickly potentially cause blistering.
Technique
Like other paint jobs, it's always good practice to start from the top down. After you have dipped your brush into the paint, wipe the brush against the rim to remove any excess.
For the first few strokes work your brush perpendicular to the grain. This will help get the paint into the groves of the wood. After that you should make brush stokes that work with the grain.
Make sure that the size of brush you use is appropriate for the size of area you are working. For larger areas you can use a larger brush whilst on smaller more intricate areas use a smaller brush.
If you have a thick area of trim to paint you can use a roller. For instance, on a six inch area of trim using a four inch wide roller is ideal. Just make sure you don't go too fast as this can cause paint to splatter.
Both James Carl & April Kerr are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
James Carl has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lawn Mower, Museum Guide and Hotels and Hostels. Visit for information on house painting in your city.. James Carl's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
April Kerr has sinced written about articles on various topics from Treadmill Exercises, Home Improvement and Health. April often writes articles for site which also has articles relating to. April Kerr's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.