Painting and designing your home's exterior adds value and curb appeal, and is also a lot of work.
Preparation is important to assuring satisfying and long-lasting results. Careful examination sets the foundation for a paint job well done. The preparation in some cases may take longer than the actual painting and decorating of the exterior. Quality tools, primers and paints may come at a higher price tag, but are worth it if your budget allows. Painting the exterior of the home creates curb appeal and adds value. Use exterior decorations to highlight the new look of the house.
Instructions
1. Examine the surfaces that you are going to paint. Look for dirt, algae, fungus, or cracked or peeling surfaces. Incorporate this necessary step into the overall project schedule and budget. Asbestos and lead-based paint might be found in older paint jobs and should be handled with care. Lead test kits are available; if you find lead-containing paint, leave it untouched beyond cleaning. Texture coated surfaces and fibrous cement sheeting from before 1983 might contain asbestos. Do not scrape or sand surfaces contaminated with asbestos.
2. Decide what necessary preparations are needed based on the condition of the house. Scraping, wire brushing, sanding, power washing or a heat gun can get rid of damaged old paint. Scraping works well on flat surfaces but is not as effective on stucco or other rough surfaces. Wire brushing is effective when used on stucco and brick. Scraped areas should be sanded down. Power washing lifts off and gets rid of loose paint. Use a heat gun for stubborn varnish and paint.
3. Select the primer. Priming uneven, porous, unpainted or unstained surfaces is a good practice. Primers are also effective on fine paint surfaces. Be sure to obtain the right primer for the correct surface, one specifically developed for exterior use. Ask at the paint store about special instructions for your particular primer, such as spreading rates per liter, drying time and the number of primer coats to use.
4. Inspect all sealant around the house. Remove cracked, old or detaching sealant. Sealant serves to keep out unwanted elements such as noise, smoke, bugs or dust. Also, check loose or cracked putty around the windows. Replace old putty with new oil putty.
5. Select and purchase the painting tools. Look for a brush with long bristles for larger paint reservoirs, bare wood handles for a better grip and metal ferrule that has been nailed to prevent fewer bristles from flaking off. Different size brushes have different functions. Thick and fluffy quality rollers apply paint smoother and thicker with less drip, so look for those. If you will use sprayers to apply paint, buy a good-one to assure a drip-free, smooth spray and more reliable performance.
6. Purchase high quality paint. Water-based or solvent-based paint are the two options for exterior painting. Both types of paints work well outdoors, and the final decision comes down to personal taste. Also decide on the paint finish. Satin, matte and silk are the three paint finish options. Keep weather conditions in mind to assure best workmanship and painting results.
7. Clean, sand, prime and paint the exterior with your newly purchased materials. Ask friends and family members to help whenever possible.
8. Start decorating. Once you've completed the exterior painting job, incorporate exterior decorations to highlight and complement the new paint job. Build a stone or brick walkway from the front of the house to the back of the house. Scatter cypress mulch around bushes, trees and flower beds. Design a garden, water fountain, fire pit or patio to create ambiance in the exterior design. Place unusual garden statues in empty yard corners and add interesting potting items such as an old sewing machine for character. Use spot lighting to highlight the new exterior house appearance and create ambiance for night time entertaining.
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