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Painting the exterior of your home is a big job that requires a lot of work. Depending on the condition of your current paint job, you may be required to scrape the old paint before you can even get started so you end with a nice, clean finish. For instruction on how to paint a house, please read through the information provided on this page.
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Introduction
- Hiring someone else to paint your home's exterior can be expensive, and in a time when the economy has tightened your wallet, you're probably looking for anyway to save a buck. The steps below will walk you through the process of painting your own home just like the professionals would do, if not better.
Step 1: Prep Work
- Before you can even begin painting the outside of your home, there are a lot of little things that will need to be taken care of. General maintenance may include:
- Remove and clean fixtures like shutters, house numbers, mail boxes and downspouts from the house.
- Fill and sand any cracks in the siding.
- Scrub away mildew and rust stains.
- Lay down drop clothes over plants and other areas you don't want to paint.
Step 2: Scraping
- Unless the paint job on the house is smooth, you will need to scrape away old paint before you can begin. Sometimes, a regular scraper may not be strong enough. There are several tools you can use to get rid of old, chipping paint.
- Scraping: wire brushes and putty knives break up the paint so it can be easily scraped away.
- Sanding: an orbital electric sander will help you work away at large areas more effectively than a brush or a putty knife.
- Melting: A melting tool will soften old paint, making it easier to scrape away.
Step 3: Power Washing
- After scraping, it's a good idea to use a power washer to clean away any final debris or paint chips that may have gotten left behind in clean up. This will allow you to start with a fresh, clean surface.
Step 4: Buying Paint
- When you're ready to start painting, you can determine how much paint you will need by measuring your home.
- Multiply the length of your home by the height.
- Subtract 15 for every window and 21 for every door.
- Divide that final number by the square footage listed on the paint can.
- Buy at least one extra gallon, as it's always better to have too much than it is to have too little.
Step 5: Painting the Siding
- The different methods for painting include brushing, rolling and spraying. Research each method, along with the required equipment and decide which one is easiest and most cost effective for you. Once you're ready to start painting, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Tape off trim so you don't accidentally paint it.
- Start out with a layer of primer so your paint job is more even and long lasting.
- Paint in the shade, so you don't have to worry about the paint stiffening while you're working with it.
- Finish whole sides without stopping to avoid lap marks in the paint.
- Apply at least two coats of paint.
Step 6: Painting the Trim
- After you have finished the siding, it's time to paint the trim. Wait until your exterior job is dry, so you can tape off any areas you don't want to accidentally overlap, especially if your trim is going to be a different color.
Conclusion
- Painting your home exterior is a time consuming job, but done right, you can achieve a professional paint job thath your neighbors will envy. Begin by removing any fixtures from the home, and cleaning them. Scrape away old flakes of paint and power wash the exterior. Figure out how much paint you will need, and buy at least one extra can of paint just to be on the safe side. Paint the siding before you paint the trim, allowing it to dry so you can tape off any areas you don't want to paint over when you're ready to paint the trim.
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