What You Need To Know Before Painting Your Home’s Exterior

Rainy weather can cause havoc with even the best-prepared paint jobs. Painting a house in wet or damp weather is a bad idea, as it's harder for the paint to dry and adhere to the surface. Wet and humid conditions also cause wet paint to run down the walls or wash away in drips. Plan out your painting job in dry weather and before the start of the rainy season.   

Get out your toolbox and ensure it's stocked with everything you need to complete the job. These items include a scraper for removing old paint, a pressure washer to get rid of dirt, mildew and loose paint, a ladder, rollers, brushes or rollers for applying paint (whichever you choose), supplies such as mixing buckets and brushes, stir sticks as well as safety equipment such as masks, gloves and eye protection.  

To ensure a good paint job and minimize paint peeling and cracking in the future, prepare your house's exterior surfaces first. Dirty, rough, or rotten wood, as well as poorly maintained siding, may cause problems. Take your time removing loose paint, rotted wood, flaking paint, and anything else that may impact your work's quality or result in future repairs.  

Remove all the furniture and anything else that may get ruined by paint splatters or drips. Wear old clothes and shoes while painting to protect your clothes from paint splatters. Cover windows, doors, plants, shrubs and trees around the house with drop cloths, tarps or newspapers to protect them from paint. Cover windows with plastic or cardboard during painting to prevent paint from splattering.  

When it's time to paint, start with the exterior's top surfaces first. This includes the roof, eaves, soffits and fascia boards below. This way, any drips, spatters or running paint will not mar your finished work or be dragged across painted surfaces. Once finished, you can paint the lower areas, such as doorways, windows, trim boards and siding. Paint in a smooth motion, applying even pressure for consistent paint coverage.  

For the best results, use a high-quality exterior primer to protect old paint jobs and extend the life of new paint. The primer coats substrate, such as siding, trim boards and siding, so fresh paint can adhere better to the surface. With uniform coverage and no runs or drips, the primer creates a smoother, more consistent texture, reducing the number of coats needed for the best results.  

Allow two coats for a high-quality finish or three for extra protection. Use a full-strength paint such as latex if you're painting the exterior of your home. A thicker protective coat will withstand harsh weather conditions, protect against mold and mildew and maintain the color vibrancy for years. Allow 4 hours between the first and second coats for latex paint as it dries and 24 hours for oil paint.