Painting the outside of your house is a big undertaking. Not only are you painting a large area, you're also painting outside, so the weather determines when and where you should paint. Luckily, here are five expert tips for tackling exterior house painting.
- The secret to a successful house-painting job is proper preparation. First, check for peeling paint, cracked paint and mold, and treat as required. Next, wash the house with soap and water. For a thorough job, rent a high-pressure washer to remove dirt and blast off any loose or flaking paint. If the walls are in good condition, or if the surface of your house consists of stucco or soft brickwork, then stick with a garden hose.
- Who says you have to paint an entire house all at the same time? The job will seem much more manageable if you plan to paint just one side every year.
- Structure your painting job so that you're always working in the shade. Direct sunlight makes the paint dry faster. This a problem for exterior house painting because fast-drying paint is harder to work with and tends to blister, creating a soft paint surface that is easily damaged. You'll also find that sunlight reflects off the surface of the wet paint. If you work in the shade, you'll avoid the eyestrain that the glare can cause.
- Spring and autumn, when air temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold, are the best times of year to paint the outside of your house. Not only will you be able to complete the job more comfortably, but the paint will stay wet longer, too. If you live in an area that has a defined wet season, then that time of year is definitely best avoided.
- Paint won't take to a damp surface, so the ideal time to paint is at the end of a dry spell. Avoid painting on windy days, as dust and grit will blow onto the new paint. You should never paint in frosty conditions or when it is raining. If it starts to rain, stop work and wait until the surface has completely dried out before resuming work.
Keep these five expert tips in mind and you'll be on your way to carrying out your exterior house painting job like a pro.
